The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • The PDP debacle

    The PDP debacle

    • By Sunday Olagunju

    Sir: The gargantuan political vicissitudes that befell PDP and wreaked somewhat irreparable havoc on its psyche, reminds one of the timeless and immortal words of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first President of Nigeria, “It is not a sin to fall, but it is a sin to refuse to rise after a fall”.

    Since committing what one political scientist described as a political hara-kiri, the once inimitable PDP has not only fallen from the pinnacle of political success to the abyss of political guagmire but like the Biblical Simon, it is now singing its own political nunc-dimittis.

    The PDP debacle at its very onset was its failure to distinguish between the personalities of the party and party doctrinal principles and their roles and obligations to their numerous esteemed electorate that voted tem to power.

    At its pinnacle, the personalities loomed large at the peril of party’s nuances, principles and objectives agreed upon at its formation. Under President Olusegun Obasanjo, the turn-over of senate presidents was unprecedented because of his hold on the party at the expense of the party constitution.

    Read Also: Tinubu orders security chiefs to restore peace in Benue

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has contested the presidency more than three times as the party’s flag bearer, and his penchant to still contest the 2027 remains not just high, but almost incontrovertible.

    The party’s chairmanship and the presidential candidate have remained in the North and all appeal to decentralize the position have fallen on death ears. The PDP as a political party places more premium on personalities and influential individuals at the detriment of the party constitution and supremacy.

    Since the loss of 2015 election, the PDP has become boundless in principles and conscience with the governors and the National Party Executives (NEC) at each other’s jugular for the control of the lever of the party. As the main opposition political party that has all it takes to challenge the ruling APC in 2027, the PDP has descended to the lowest base of consciousness by uniting in cahoots with splinter political groups to a rather irreverent coalition that appears dead before arrival. It is like falling from grace to grass.

    The wholesale defection of the entire PDP in Delta State and Akwa Ibom to APC is a sign that all may no longer be well with the PDP. Described as political tsunami, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, ex-Governor Okowa and the PDP leaders moved en masse to join APC. Described as unprecedented in the country’s political history, it is the height of loss of faith in PDP and whatever future it stands for.

    Since 2015, the PDP leadership has not only lost direction they have touted leaders who imbibe the selfishness motive and greedy character, lacking the zeal and quintessential attitude to pilot a drowning party to safety.

    Like Simeon’s nunc-dimittis “Now lettest thou depart”.

    •Sunday Olagunju,

    Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • Why the drug war needs us all

    Why the drug war needs us all

    • By Ebun Okedepo

    Sir: I found the recent Trust TV documentary on the drug problem in Abuja both troubling and inspiring. The report sheds light on the scale and complexity of illicit drug trafficking and abuse within the Federal Capital Territory and made me realise just how enormous the task is for agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    Until now, I must admit, my understanding of the issue was rather superficial. However, after watching the real-life accounts—particularly from drivers and those working daily in the transport sector—it became clear to me that the NDLEA operates under immense pressure. What struck me most were the confessions of commercial drivers who described the difficulty of transporting drugs out of Abuja due to the agency’s effective highway monitoring and surveillance. In my view, this is a significant development in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking and a testament to the dedication and vigilance of NDLEA operatives.

    Another commendable aspect highlighted in the documentary was the explanation by the NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, regarding the use of body cameras during raids. This initiative is not only progressive but also promotes transparency and accountability—key ingredients in fostering public trust. At a time when confidence in institutions is often fragile, such measures help to rebuild faith in law enforcement and demonstrate that the NDLEA is not merely reacting to challenges, but evolving in how it fulfils its mandate.

    Read Also: 2027: Northeast APC declares support for Tinubu/Shettima ticket

    While the tireless efforts of NDLEA officers deserve high praise, it is equally important to recognise that tackling drug abuse and trafficking cannot be left to the agency alone. The menace of illicit drugs permeates every layer of our society—our homes, schools, and communities. As such, the responsibility for safeguarding our cities must be collective.

    This issue is far too complex for any single organisation to address in isolation. The NDLEA may form the backbone of enforcement, but what is needed is a whole-of-society approach to create lasting change. Parents must pay closer attention to their children. Schools should integrate drug education into their curricula. Religious leaders ought to speak out against substance abuse from the pulpit, while community leaders must take ownership of the fight within their localities.

    As members of the public, we must actively support law enforcement efforts. This means reporting suspicious activity, backing public awareness campaigns, and resisting the urge to shield offenders—regardless of personal ties. Our silence or indifference only empowers traffickers and undermines the national effort to combat this scourge.

    The documentary delivered one resounding message: progress is being made, but it must be sustained and strengthened through collaboration. The NDLEA is doing its part. Trust TV has fulfilled a crucial role in exposing the underbelly of drug activity in the capital, thereby providing valuable insight into areas where law enforcement should concentrate its efforts. Now, it is our turn to act—as partners, as parents, as community members—in protecting our society from the grip of drug abuse and trafficking.

    •Ebun Okedepo,

    Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • The opposition blame game

    The opposition blame game

    • By Chionye Hencs Odiaka

    Sir: As Nigeria heads toward the pivotal 2027 general election, the political landscape is once again shaped by turbulence, particularly within the opposition. Grappling with internal crises, many opposition parties have been quick to accuse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of deliberately destabilising their ranks in a bid to steer the nation toward a one-party state.

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed these claims, insisting that the opposition’s troubles are largely self-inflicted.

    Yet internal crises are nothing new in Nigerian politics. What we see today reflects a long-standing pattern. Even the APC wrestles with its own disputes across states. The key difference lies in management: the APC, despite its challenges, has largely kept its internal issues from spilling into the open, while opposition parties appear unable to contain theirs, preferring instead to blame the president for their woes.

    Politics is, after all, a contest of ideas, organisation, and strategy. Power is not handed over voluntarily; it must be earned, seized, and defended. For the opposition, this requires principled, resilient leadership capable of uniting factions, inspiring loyalty, and presenting a clear, credible vision. Without such internal strength, parties remain vulnerable to division, infiltration, and manipulation.

    These dynamics are by no means unique to Nigeria. In every multiparty democracy, dominant parties work, often ruthlessly, to weaken their rivals. It is the duty of the opposition to build structures that can withstand these pressures. To expect otherwise is naïve. This is the nature of politics the world over.

    Across democracies, from the United States and United Kingdom to France, Canada, Germany, and Australia, ruling parties have long employed tactics to divide, weaken, or co-opt the opposition.

    In the U.S., parties have funded fringe candidates in opposing primaries or lobbied lawmakers to switch allegiance. In the UK, Brexit-era politics saw offers of peerages and government posts to opposition defectors. In Australia, governments have offered committee posts, perks, or negotiating positions to independents or minor party members to secure crucial votes. In France, President Macron’s rise owed much to recruiting key figures from rival parties, hollowing them out in the process.

    Such manoeuvres though rarely admitted publicly, are well-documented by journalists, historians, and political insiders alike. The lesson is clear: power is not given; it is taken through strategic action and disciplined organisation.

    Read Also: Tinubu orders security chiefs to restore peace in Benue

    If Nigeria’s opposition truly hopes to unseat the ruling party and offer the nation a credible alternative, it must stop expecting an easy path to power. The hard work begins within: building strong internal structures, fostering unity, and establishing mechanisms that protect against external interference.

    This is where the PDP, Labour Party, and others have repeatedly fallen short, leaving themselves vulnerable. The APC’s triumph over the PDP in 2015 was not just about merging parties; it was about building a solid structure and forging a unified, loyal leadership. Figures like Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu commanded respect and brought together diverse factions into a cohesive force that external actors found difficult to divide.

    That’s not to say the APC is immune to internal challenges; far from it, but it has so far managed them with greater success.

    This is the critical lesson for the opposition: less blame, more action. If they cannot govern their own parties effectively, how can they persuade Nigerians they are fit to govern the nation?

    Nigeria has endured enough from weak leadership. What the country needs now is not more excuses, but leaders of competence and vision. While the ruling party may have fallen short of expectations, Nigerians deserve a credible alternative, not leaders who merely capitalise on discontent, but those who can chart a better path forward.

    •Chionye Hencs Odiaka,

    Asaba, Delta State.

  • Maryam Abacha’s amnesia

    Maryam Abacha’s amnesia

    • By Kene Obiezu

    Sir: History may appear meek and malleable, but the ferocity with which it singes the fingers of those who attempt to rewrite it is often enough to deter the most spurious of scribes.

    The privileged wife of a long-deceased dictator, one who perhaps was Nigeria’s most brutal, sitting regally in her seating room, well-appointed no doubt with Nigeria’s money, on national television, 27 years after his death, to accuse Nigerians of lying, tribalism and religious bigotry over well-founded claims that her husband, Sani Abacha, looted public funds while he was president, and stashed his loot in offshore accounts all over the world, is most tragic..

    She asks for evidence that her husband stole money, for signature. Furthermore, she alleges that the money her husband left for Nigeria vanished without a trace and says she is praying for Nigerians that they may have goodness in their hearts.

    If she had any modicum of conscience and not condescension for the country and citizens that her husband treated with such murderous indignity, Maryam Abacha would have used the window of the interview to beg Nigerians for forgiveness. Instead, she felt it was a rare opportunity to put Nigerians in their place for falsely accusing her husband of stealing the country blind.

    Indeed, whenever Nigerians who notoriously let things slide easily look like they will forget about Abacha, his loot, somewhere across the world will cry out to Nigerian skies for recovery, unleashing an avalanche of accusations and acrimony. Such is his legacy. Such is the stain to his name that his family must now bear.

    Read Also: NASS to Tinubu: Make State of Nation Address to Nigerians from parliament yearly

    The money recovered as part of the Abacha loot may have been re-looted by notoriously corrupt Nigerian public officers, but it cannot detract from the heist the late dictator perpetrated against Nigeria.

    So, Mrs. Abacha should spare Nigerians her sanctimonious sermons or self-serving prayers about having goodness in their hearts. Nigerians already have goodness in their hearts. This goodness is reflected in the fact that they have largely restrained themselves from speaking ill of the dead in discussing her late husband, despite the unaccountable iniquities he initiated or tolerated after he seized power through a military coup. That is goodness enough. That Nigerians have not called for the prosecution or ostracisation of members of his family for his deeds is further evidence of the goodness of their hearts, which goodness he doesn’t deserve.

    No, Nigerians are no fools. They have never been. Despite their grit and grace in the face of profound national challenges, and their ability to let things slide, they are no amnesiacs. They remember those who have ruined their country, and they will pass their names to posterity.

    •Kene Obiezu,

    keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Tackling the menace of erosion in Anambra

    Tackling the menace of erosion in Anambra

    • By Obinna Odogwu

    Sir: Anambra State is arguably the erosion capital of Africa, if not the world. As of today, the state reportedly has over 1,000 active erosion sites. The figure was around 950 as of April 2022 according to the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo. The governor made the revelation during a roundtable meeting with the taskforce team of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) held at Bon Hotel, Awka, the state capital.

    The team were then in Anambra for a three-day workshop that centred on the organisation’s Additional Financing (AF) Implementation Completion and Result Report Mission (ICRM).

     A year later, the Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, an engineer, revealed that erosion sites in the state had hit 1,000 based on his findings. He made the revelation while unveiling the state’s programme for the 2025 World Earth Day (WED) in Awka.

    While lamenting that Anambra was losing arable land to gully erosion, the environment commissioner revealed that new erosion sites were still emerging in the state.

    From 2022 to 2025, available reports show that more erosion sites have emerged in various parts of the state.

    A god example is the very deep gully threatening the fence of Amanuke General Hospital, Amanuke in Awka North Local Government Area of the state, as well as the family home of a citizen which shares boundary with it. In fact, if urgent action is not taken, both the hospital’s fence and the residential building may cave in anytime soon.

    Also in Nnewi South, many communities in that LGA are currently battling with erosion issues. The same applies to parts of Nnewi town in Nnewi North LGA.

    Read Also: Tinubu has fulfilled Abiola’s vision for a democratic Nigeria — Shettima

    Erosion sites in Agulu community, Anaocha LGA; Nanka and Oko communities in Orumba North LGA are still very much active. In fact, the trio is regarded as the headquarters of gully in the state.

    Erosion issues in the three communities are so bad that their residents reportedly spend each day in fear, not knowing when and where the next landslide would take place.

    So far, scores of lives have been lost and property worth several millions of Naira destroyed even as farmlands and economic trees have been swept away.

    The Federal Polytechnic, Oko is also under a serious threat. Already, a part of the institution’s perimeter fence has been pulled down by a very deep gully with some buildings near it threatened.

    In other parts of the state, there have been a series of reports about the devastating impacts of gully erosion.

    There is hardly any community in the state that does not have its own share of the erosion issues.

    Despite this sad condition of the state, some of the residents still engage in unwholesome practices that promote the development of new gully erosion sites and the worsening of the already existing ones.

    Across many communities, incessant excavation of the soil surface is still going on. There is also the indiscriminate disposal of wastes, as well as the deliberate blockage of water channels by unscrupulous individuals.

    These negative actions undermine the efforts currently being made by the state government to check gully erosion and their devastating impacts in the state, as well as the remedial work already done by NEWMAP.

    The state government under the leadership of Soludo has spent and is still spending its scarce resources in its efforts to reclaim lands taken by the gully erosion.

    There is, therefore, a need for the people to join hands with the government to prevent further deterioration of the environment and the emergence of new erosion sites in the state. Indiscriminate excavation of the soil surface must be stopped.

    There is also a need for stringent laws and regulations to be made by the government, and where necessary amend the existing ones, to protect our environment.

    It is important that religious, traditional and social organisations, as well as influential individuals in the state lend their voices and support to the efforts being made by the state and federal governments to protect our environment and make it safe for everyone.

    •Obinna Odogwu,

    obinnaodogwu77@gmail.com

  • Tinubu’s healthcare reforms: Turning point or déjà vu?

    Tinubu’s healthcare reforms: Turning point or déjà vu?

    • By Oladoja M.O

    Sir: In the annals of Nigeria’s healthcare odyssey, the narrative has long been marred by systemic inertia, infrastructural decay, and a pervasive sense of despondency. For decades, the nation’s health sector languished in a state of neglect, characterized by underfunded primary healthcare centres, a dearth of medical personnel, and an overreliance on foreign aid. The corridors of our hospitals echoed with the silent cries of the underserved, while policymakers offered platitudes devoid of actionable substance.

    Enter the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2023, heralding a paradigm shift that seeks to redefine the contours of Nigeria’s health landscape. At the heart of this transformation lies the comprehensive overhaul of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), a mechanism previously crippled by bureaucratic bottlenecks and inadequate financing.

    The reimagined BHCPF now boasts a projected infusion of at least $2.5 billion between 2024 and 2026, a testament to the administration’s commitment to fortifying the primary healthcare system. This financial renaissance is not merely a numerical augmentation, but a strategic realignment aimed at enhancing service delivery at the grassroots. The direct facility funding to primary healthcare centres has been escalated from N300,000 to a range between N600,000 and N800,000 per quarter, ensuring that resources are channelled efficiently to where they are most needed. Such fiscal decentralization empowers local health facilities, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability that was hitherto absent.

    Complementing this financial strategy is an ambitious infrastructural agenda. The administration has embarked on a mission to double the number of functional primary healthcare centres from 8,809 to over 17,600 by 2027, a move poised to bridge the accessibility gap that has long plagued rural and underserved communities. These centres are envisioned not as isolated units but as integral components of a comprehensive emergency care system, ensuring a seamless continuum of care.

    Read Also: NASS to Tinubu: Make State of Nation Address to Nigerians from parliament yearly

    Human capital development forms another pillar of this transformative agenda. Recognizing the critical shortage of healthcare professionals, the government has initiated the training of 120,000 frontline health workers over a 16-month period, encompassing doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health extension workers. This initiative not only addresses the immediate workforce deficit but also lays the groundwork for a resilient health system capable of withstanding future shocks.

    In a bold move to stimulate local pharmaceutical production and reduce dependency on imports, the administration has eliminated tariffs, excise duties, and value-added tax on specialized machinery, equipment, and pharmaceutical raw materials. This policy is anticipated to catalyse the domestic manufacturing sector, ensuring the availability of essential medicines and medical devices while fostering economic growth.

    Public health initiatives have also received a significant boost. Nigeria has become one of the first countries to roll out the Oxford R21 malaria vaccine, a landmark development in the fight against a disease that has long been a scourge in the region. Additionally, the administration has launched targeted programs aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, focusing on 172 local government areas that account for a significant proportion of such deaths.

    However, amidst these commendable strides, challenges persist. The sustainability of these reforms’ hinges on robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure transparency and accountability. The spectre of corruption, which has historically undermined health sector initiatives, must be vigilantly guarded against. Furthermore, the success of these programs requires the active collaboration of state governments, civil society, and the private sector.

    In all, the Tinubu administration’s approach to healthcare reform represents a departure from the perfunctory gestures of the past. It is a comprehensive, well-funded, and strategically articulated plan that addresses the multifaceted challenges of the sector. While the journey towards a fully revitalized health system is fraught with obstacles, the current trajectory offers a beacon of hope. It is imperative that all stakeholders coalesce around this vision, ensuring that the momentum is sustained and that the promise of accessible, quality healthcare becomes a reality for all Nigerians.

    •Oladoja M.O,

     Abuja.

  • For Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement to work

    For Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement to work

    Sir: In 2018, a noble dream was birthed in Kigali: The dream of “one Africa market” to be guided by Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. AFCTA aims to create a single market for goods and services in Africa and trigger intra-African economic integration for the purpose of prosperity.

    AFCTA’s aspirations are very lofty and very important considering the disjointed economic blocs in Africa running on sub-regional ethos against continental economic goals. The disjointed sub-regional economic blocs such as ECOWAS, EAC, COMESA, AMU, CEN-SAD etc. have rendered African Union (AU) practically “shirtless” as it operates largely as a “political union”. Unfortunately, the disjointed sub-regional economic blocs have not able to achieve much for member-states making AFCTA a necessity regardless of justified or unjustified paranoia.

     According to the Afreximbank’s Africa Trade Report 2024, intra-African trade is worth $192.2 billion as at 2023; this is nothing significant when compared with EU intra-regional trade for 2024 which valued $4trillion+ according to Statista reports. In 2022, 56 percent of the value of Asia’s trade originated within the region.

    AFCTA enjoys the privilege of being the largest trade area by number of participant-countries numbering more than 50 but the dream lacks specific action plans and  ambitious plans. Africa being the most populous continent but the poorest will have to be more strategic and intentional to trigger prosperous trade. Africa needs strategic infrastructures and uniform trade policies to unlock prosperous regional trade which can rival that of Europe in 20 years considering the untapped potentials in human resources, natural resources and geography.

    The following are the proposed fundamental solutions to unlock regional trade in Africa and benefit more from globalization leveraging on AFCTA.

    First, Africa needs to invest more in strategic infrastructures especially super railways, super highways, strategic ports and fibre internet. Africa needs infrastructure project similar to Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) that will connect Lagos-Abidjan, Kano-Fez, Pretoria-Luanda, Oyo-Yamousoukro, Cotonou-Mauritania, Cairo-Addis Ababa etc. AFDB can mobilize $100billion strategic investment fund to finance these infrastructures subject to unique investment treaties. The super fibre internet project (UBUNTU) is also important to enable Africa’s sovereign data integrity and security.

    Secondly, Africa needs a common/uniform tariff on import trade in Africa. I will recommend 1.5% import tariff rate on all imports involving trade partners and zero tariff on agri-produce and medical products. African countries have the highest import tariffs when compared to European and Asian countries. Most African countries charge 10-20% on average rates for import tariffs while fast developing economies in Asia and Europe charge 2-6%.

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    Africa must rethink its “import substitution” policies, unite sub-regional economic blocs and fashion beneficial bilateral treaties engaging non-African trade partners. Cheaper import tariffs for Africa trading partners will attract more foreign investments. Albeit, this policy should also be backed up with “seamless port clearance standards”, a standard that will be mandatory on all trading partners on ensuring modern, speedy and seamless port operations.

    Air transportation is another important avenue of boosting regional trade and economic integration but it is cheaper flying within Europe than flying within Africa. For example, a direct flight from Berlin to Istanbul cost almost $150 but flying from Lagos to Kinshasa costs $400-$500 according to Business Insider. There is a need for a common benchmark on aviation charges/levies across Africa to limit over taxation of air transportation by many African countries to foster cohesion through trade and tourism. Visa policies can be left as an independent state policy pending the creation of regional identity system.

    The world needs Africa because it houses the largest youthful population but Africans need each other by sharing prosperity, breaking trade barriers and transacting more regardless of political frictions.

    •Dada-Kadri Esq; Abuja.

  • The hidden health crisis in Mokwa

    The hidden health crisis in Mokwa

    Sir: As rescue teams continue their desperate search for survivors and the displaced mourn their losses following the catastrophic flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, a silent yet potent health threat rises with the receding waters: microbial contamination. On May 28, the peaceful town of Mokwa was swallowed by floodwaters after torrential rainfall and alleged collapse of a nearby dam. The resulting devastation was staggering: “at least 175 lives lost, more than 100 people missing, 121 injured, and over 3,000 residents displaced,” according to reports. President Bola Tinubu swiftly ordered emergency response measures, including the provision of relief supplies and temporary shelter.

    While national attention rightly focuses on the immediate toll of the disaster, the microbial consequences of such flooding could provoke a secondary wave of suffering if not urgently addressed.

    Floodwater is rarely just water as it becomes a hazardous cocktail of sewage, chemicals, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste. In Mokwa, as in many parts of Nigeria, the proximity of pit latrines, open defecation areas, and poorly managed waste systems to residential zones has led to widespread microbial contamination. When floodwaters invade homes and public areas, they introduce a variety of disease-causing microorganisms. One of the most common is Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is a key indicator of faecal contamination and is known to cause diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, and severe gastrointestinal distress.

    Another serious threat is Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, which thrives in unsanitary flood conditions and can lead to fast-spreading outbreaks.

    Other pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella, and Giardia lamblia are also frequently present in floodwater. These microbes are linked to gastroenteritis, which may result in long-lasting intestinal problems if untreated. Moreover, the bacterium Leptospira interrogans, commonly spread through rodent urine, can cause leptospirosis, a condition that may lead to kidney or liver damage and, in severe cases, death.

    With more than 3,000 residents displaced and now residing in makeshift camps or overcrowded public facilities, the risk of microbial infection is intensified. These environments often lack access to clean water, proper sanitation, and basic hygiene supplies, creating ideal conditions for microbial transmission. Health experts warn that without immediate and sustained sanitation interventions, the region could face a cholera outbreak within weeks, potentially compounding the already heavy toll of this tragedy. Vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of illness from these invisible but dangerous threats.

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    While President Tinubu’s call for relief and temporary shelter is commendable, microbial threats demand a more targeted response. There is an urgent need for mobile water purification units to be deployed, along with the distribution of chlorine tablets to help purify local water sources. Emergency vaccination campaigns against cholera, hepatitis A, and typhoid should be initiated in high-risk areas to protect the most vulnerable populations. Routine microbial testing of both water sources and sanitation facilities must also be prioritized to monitor the spread of infections and identify potential hotspots.

    In addition, community members need to be educated on basic public health practices, including proper hand hygiene, safe food preparation, and how to recognize the early signs of infection.

    As Mokwa counts its dead and begins the painful process of recovery, Nigeria must recognize that the most dangerous threats often remain unseen. The microbial effects of flooding are not merely a side note; they are a looming public health crisis. If unchecked, these pathogens could unleash a post-disaster epidemic, turning a natural tragedy into a full-blown health catastrophe.

    •Dr. Umezurike Emeka Taye,Lead City University, Ibadan.

  • Democracy Day: Nigerians’ expectations

    Democracy Day: Nigerians’ expectations

    Sir: As we mark another June 12 — a day symbolic of our collective struggle for democracy, justice, and the voice of the people — Nigerians have clear and heartfelt expectations of their leadership. These are not mere wishes, but urgent calls to action for healing, progress, and transformation.

    Top on the list is restitution and justice for the June 12 legacy. The annulled June 12, 1993 election remains a painful scar on our national conscience. As many patriots have rightly pointed out — including Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and former governor, Sule Lamido — there can be no true reconciliation without restitution.

    Nigerians expect the federal government to offer official restitution — including financial compensation and a national monument — to the family of Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, the widely acclaimed winner of that election.

    This is not just about a family; it is about restoring dignity to our democratic foundations.

    Second is the need for genuine electoral reforms. A stable democracy demands free, fair, transparent and credible elections. The spirit of June 12 calls for an electoral system where every vote counts and no citizen is disenfranchised.

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     Nigerians expect the President and National Assembly to implement the recommendations of past electoral reform panels (e.g., Uwais, Nnamani Committees); strengthen INEC’s independence and transparency, push for the use of technology for real-time results collation, protect voters and electoral officers from violence and manipulation.

    Thirdly, to reclaim our nation’s greatness, we must build a vision rooted in good governance, equity, innovation, and national unity.

     The people expect a leadership that empowers entrepreneurs, particularly youth and women, invests in public health and universal healthcare, one that fosters sustainability and environmental resilience, strengthens institutions and the rule of law, and prioritizes education, job creation, and digital transformation.

    Without security, there can be no freedom. Without unity, there is no future. Nigerians yearn for decisive and intelligent responses to banditry, terrorism, and communal conflict, community policing and intelligence-driven security, national healing across ethnic, religious, and regional divides, and justice for victims of violence, injustice, and neglect

    The Nigerian people no longer want promises — they want results. Democracy Day must not end with symbolic speeches. Let it mark the beginning of tangible reforms, courageous decisions, and people-first leadership.

    June 12 is a call to conscience. It reminds us that power belongs to the people, and leadership must be used to right wrongs, build trust, and deliver hope.

    Let this year be the year we take a bold step forward — not just in memory of the past, but in service of our future.

    •Richard Odusanya, odusanyagold@gmail.com

  • Police and the protection of human rights

    Police and the protection of human rights

    Sir: There exists, inevitably, a latent temptation for the police to act beyond their statutory authority. As Don Campbell aptly observed in his book Police: The Exercise of Power, “There will always be an apparent conflict of interest between those who must investigate crimes and those who wish to limit the power of the state over a citizen’s life. On one hand, a conscientious investigator may resent limitations that hinder effectiveness; on the other, any extension of police power risks the erosion of individual freedoms.”

    The Nigerian Police Force (NPF), despite its structural challenges and systemic lapses, has made commendable contributions to national security. Many officers serve with integrity and dedication. Yet, these individual efforts cannot obscure the institutional deficiencies and abuses that undermine public trust. The pervasive reports of brutality, unlawful detentions, extortion, and torture, often shared on social media, demand urgent and sincere reform.

    Arbitrary arrests and detentions for the purpose of extortion have become alarmingly routine. Despite the clear constitutional provision that makes bail free, what has been obtained in reality is different. A report by Human Rights Watch documented testimonies from individuals across Lagos, Anambra, and Kaduna who were compelled to pay bribes to secure the release of detainees, most of whom were neither charged nor informed of any offense.

    This impunity flagrantly violates Section 35 of the Constitution, which guarantees every person the right to personal liberty and stipulates that no one shall be deprived of such liberty except in accordance with due process.

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    The Police Act (Section 4) outlines the statutory functions of the police, which include crime prevention, the apprehension of offenders, and the preservation of law and order. Yet, these constitutional and statutory responsibilities are routinely betrayed. The ACJA (Administration of Criminal Justice Act), particularly Section 30(1), mandates that persons arrested without warrant for non-capital offenses be charged within 24 hours or released on bail. This legal safeguard is regularly flouted.

    In The Federalist Papers, John Jay reminds us: “Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government; and it is equally undeniable that, whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.” The Nigerian people have ceded such powers in good faith. The government must now reciprocate with duty, by investing in police reform, enforcing accountability, and upholding human rights as non-negotiable.

    The answer lies not in mere rhetoric as it seems to be the case. An independent oversight mechanism must be put in place, there has to be vigilance by civil society organizations  and unflinching political will on the part of the government is needed to transform the Nigerian Police from a force feared by the people into one respected by them.

    •David Bassey Antia, Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State.