SENATE President David Mark has advised Nigerian politicians to allow the citizens the freedom to choose their leaders without intimidation and victimisation.

Mark pledged that the Upper House would strive for free and fair elections in 2011.

To the National President of the Nawar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Adegboyega, what Nigeria needs to hold free and fair elections is not the reformation of the electoral laws, but a change of attitude by politicians.

Also, Catholic clergyman, Rev. Father John Odey, has said that the prevailing culture of democratic tyranny in the country was compounding the prospects for the nation's self-redemption. He added that Nigeria's "real problem is that those who are responsible for all the negative manifestations that have made it a laughing stock in the international community are not prepared to have a change of heart."

Receiving some leaders of the Action Congress (AC) in his office yesterday in Abuja, Mark cautioned politicians against the prevailing "do-or-die" approach to politics. He said governance is to deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizenry and not self-aggrandisement.

Mark remarked that multi-party system was the best in a democracy, stressing that people should be allowed to belong to the political party of their choice without being harassed.

"Since all of us cannot belong to the same political party, people should be allowed to belong to any party they want; politics is not a do-or-die affair. The idea of democracy is to deliver the dividends to the electorate.

"In the Senate, different political parties are represented and we are all working together for the same goal. This is really helping our legislative functions. We encourage team spirit in achieving our objectives as one family bind by a common mission and purpose."

Senator Munirudeen Muse, who led the team, sought capacity building for legislators at the state and local government levels to improve their performance.

The Leader of the AC in Lagos Island, Shehu Makanjuola, canvassed massive infrastructural development by the Federal Government to restore the mega status of Lagos State.

Also, Adegboyega, who spoke in Abeokuta yesterday, described the lingering political crisis in Ogun State as not only painful but also shameful and disappointing.

He condemned the frequent religious riots in the northern part of the country, saying those involved were not true Moslems.

At a media briefing to herald activities lined up to mark the 70th anniversary of the group, Adegboyega insisted that there was nothing wrong with the country's electoral law but its practitioners.

His words: "What is wrong in Nigeria now is not because the electoral law is faulty, but the politicians and their followers; our politicians are greedy and selfish."

In a paper he delivered at the sixth Ralph Okpara Memorial Lecture organised by the National Association of Seadogs yesterday at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, Odey said as a nation on trial, Nigeria's self-redemption was a costly venture because "the fathers and godfathers of the almighty Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are busy planning strategies to turn Nigeria into a strangulating one-party state."

The cleric said the organised destruction of the country was real and charged the citizens to wage a relentless non-violent battle against the despoliation of the country.

Odey said: "Anybody who is not prepared to die for his conviction if the need arises is not worthy to live."