Nigerians pay Tribute to Honour Bjorn Beckham as a democratic Icon

Prominent Nigerians over the weekend paid tribute to Late Bjorn Beckham considering his role to the achievement of a democratic process in Nigeria.

The Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) Dr. Otive Igbuzor while speaking in Abuja at a memorial colloquium for Late Beckham described him as an icon who has impacted positively in the lives of many scholars and students in Nigeria.

According to Dr. Igbuzor, Late Beckham portrayed students’ union power, peasant and citizens and their place in democracy which is very relevant to us today in Nigeria.

Dr. Otive emphasised that the life of Late Beckham shows that democracy is not just about elections but about giving dividends of democracy to citizens.

He added that the life of Late Beckham shows that though we currently have challenges with our democracy, but the military is not an option.

” For me the life of Late Bjon Beckham brings lots of things that we can learn for those of us alive, that if you live you life, you leave a legacy, so that when you leave, people will celebrate you as we are celebrating Beckham”.

Dr. Otive maintained that democracy is not working well for us but military is not an option.

“We know what to do to make democracy work for us, what we need to do is to organize to show that the voice of ordinary citizen, wishes and aspirations of the people is reflected on those that are elected and ensure that people of integrity and good character participate in politics because for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”.

Also, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani noted that Late Beckham had impacted positively into the socio-economic and political development in Nigeria through his writing, mentoring and induction of many young Nigerian and across the world.

“Late Beckham’s contribution has not been washed away because we are still alive and still fighting the causes of retrogressive in this country, so while we agree that we have suffered serious setback in the aspiration and the vision that we had to ensure democratic governance in Nigeria, we will continue to insist that the right thing is done”.

Late Bjorn Beckham was born in 1938 and died in 2019.