The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Forgotten protectors: The need for police pension reform

    Forgotten protectors: The need for police pension reform

    The social contract theory posits that individuals surrender certain rights to the state in exchange for protection and security. Yet, Nigeria’s police pension crisis raises a fundamental question about the reciprocity of this arrangement. Do we truly honour the sacrifices of those who safeguard our communities?

    Nigeria’s police pension system is disappointingly inadequate. After 35 years of service, officers reportedly receive meager gratuities: ASP-SP (below N2 million), CSP-AC: (below N3 million), and DCP-CP (below N4 million). Monthly pensions are equally paltry: ASP-SP (N20,000-N35,000), and CSP-DC (N35,000-N60,000). A retired Commissioner of Police (CP) gets N70,000 as monthly pension while his or her gratuity is reportedly not even up to N5m. Notably, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Inspectors-General (IGs) are exempt from the contributory pension scheme. This contrasts sharply with the generous pensions and perks awarded to senators, representatives, and governors who serve only four to eight years.

    From the above, one can safely say that police pensioners in Nigeria face a daunting reality. Years of service are disregarded, leaving them feeling invisible. This precarious situation exacerbates poverty, erodes morale and negatively impacts families. The quality of life plummets, veteran welfare is neglected and valuable institutional knowledge is lost. Moreover, police pensioners are frequently subjected to humiliation, disrespect and neglect, which undermine their dignity, self-esteem and mental well-being. These issues not only expose systemic inefficiencies but also perpetuate corruption and disregard for public servants.

    The plight of police pensioners in Nigeria has reached a critical point. Over 100,000 retirees are reportedly owed N150 billion in outstanding pensions, forcing 75% of them to live below the poverty line. The situation is dire, with more than 50% losing their homes due to mortgage non-payment. Furthermore, 30% of their families have been compelled to withdraw their children from school, while many retirees have tragically lost their lives awaiting their retirement benefits.

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    It’s alarming to note that police officers fight alongside military personnel in Nigeria’s troubled regions, yet their ultimate sacrifices often go unseen and unappreciated. When military personnel are killed in action, the nation mourns, but police officers who make the same sacrifice are frequently forgotten. This stark disparity underscores a troubling devaluation of police service and sacrifice.

    The Police Pension Reform Act 2014 introduced a contributory scheme for police officers. However, the Nigeria Police Force’s unique needs necessitate special consideration. A proposed bill seeks exemption, providing tailored benefits. The Pension Reform Act 2004 transferred police pension assets to the new scheme. The Nigeria Police Act 2020 reformed police service, including retirement benefits. This reform aims to enhance police officers’ retirement welfare, addressing their distinct challenges. Good on paper! But whither the outcome?

    ‘Poverty’s Police State’! ‘Disarmed and Disregarded’! ‘Social Unrest’! ‘Erosion of Trust’! The police pensioners’ ordeal in Nigeria, which stems from a fractured social contract, where the state neglects its obligations, represents deeper sociopolitical challenges. Unlike other countries where best practices in police pension management are demonstrated, policing in Nigeria reflects a broader crisis of vulnerability, insecurity and disillusionment. It shows that there’s a dysfunction in the entire concept of the police system. Most importantly, it highlights the urgent need for reform to address the plight of the forgotten protectors and restore dignity to those who have served. Philosophical concepts shed light on this issue: ‘bad faith’ (denying responsibility), ‘banality of evil’ (bureaucratic corruption), and ‘being-in-the-world’ (precarious existence). This reality underscores post-colonial disillusionment and the absence of ‘eudaimonia’ (human flourishing).

    In democracies, special dispensation is given to the police system in order to attract and retain the best human capacity. Most of these countries have special discounted mortgages Again, this leads us to another issue! The idea of ‘Barracks’ to house the police personnel is a ridiculous throwback to a colonial Police Force. Take, for instance, the police system in Egypt is called Egyptian National Police (ENP). Established in 1878 in the Khedivate of Egypt, ENP is a department within the Ministry of Interior. Impliedly, the police, being part of the community, should live within the community they serve. Barracks are best reserved for Special Forces during emergencies. The police should be a service and not a force.

    In post-colonial democracies, a police force is outdated. Historically, colonial authorities used police forces to intimidate the local population and the indigenous people. They’re not meant to provide the mass of the people with service. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s police force hasn’t evolved since colonial times. That’s why, instead of protecting and serving the community, it prioritizes regime protection. If we go by the United Nations’ recommendation of at least 300 police officers per 100,000 civilians, Nigeria’s population of 229 million only highlights the disparity between Nigeria’s current policing and international standards.

    To put this into perspective, the Vatican, with just 764 residents, has an astonishing 15,439 police officers per 100,000 civilians. Disturbingly, over 133,000 of Nigeria’s 371,800 police officers are assigned to protect the establishment, leaving most citizens underserved. In a clime where politics has not only become a story but also deepened our pain, the system will continue to dramatize an already dramatic situation.

    In today’s fiercely competitive global economy, Nigeria needs a world-class policing service. Therefore, allowing the police pensioners’ ordeal to continue can have devastating consequences for the country. The economic implications are dire. One, it’s a sure road to increased poverty, inequality and crime rates as desperate pensioners turn to illegal activities to survive. Two, it can erode trust in government and institutions, fuelling social unrest and discontent, and negatively impacting national cohesion and social stability.

    To tackle the police pension crisis, immediate payment of outstanding pensions and increased pension funding are essential. Policymakers must view pensioners as dedicated public servants, not just statistics. Police officers risk their lives daily to protect others. Therefore, their compensation must reflect this sacrifice. Effective short-term solutions include streamlining pension administration to simplify processes, establishing a dedicated Police Pension Board for focused oversight, and enhancing pension benefits to reflect inflation and cost of living. Long-term solutions include establishing special pension schemes for police officers serving in high-risk areas and creating a Police Pension Ombudsman Office to address complaints.

    Resolving the police pension crisis requires accountability, transparency and social responsibility. To this end, Nigeria must also adopt a comprehensive police pension reform, embracing professionalism, cutting-edge technology, forensic sciences and artificial intelligence. For the Police Pension Scheme to gain credibility, a Board of Trustees, ideally led by a retired Chief Justice of the Federation, should oversee it. Annual audited reports from top-tier international auditing firms are also essential; and these reports should be publicly accessible for scrutiny and forensic analysis. This transparency will not only foster trust, the transformation will also align the police with the values and requirements of a post-colonial society, shedding its outdated colonial legacy.

    President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly have crucial roles to play in tackling the systemic inefficiencies plaguing police retirees’ pension payments. To address this, the National Assembly should conduct public hearings to investigate the root causes and identify effective solutions. This proactive approach will not only prevent similar issues in the future but also guarantee timely and efficient benefits for police pensioners. By taking this step, the National Assembly will be seen to be demonstrating its commitment to the welfare of police retirees, ultimately restoring Nigerians’ trust in the government’s ability to provide for its citizens.

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

  •  How to reduce the housing deficit

     How to reduce the housing deficit

    • By Pius Evbuomwam

    Sir: Outside food, housing is the second most essential basic need of man. Housing is critical to the social and economic development of any society. It has a profound impact on the health, welfare and productivity of a man. Housing enhances one’s status. In other words, housing plays a vital role in a person’s standard of living and place in the society. In the most developed economies for instance, housing sector is an important stimulator and driver of economic growth, with multiplier effects on employment, income, access to education and health, among several other socio-economic impacts.

    Because of its importance to the development of the society, to the social, economic and welfare of the people, the developed economies made housing a priority. In Nigeria, reverse is the case; access to affordable housing has largely remained an unfulfilled dream to the vast majority, most especially, the middle and the lower classes of the society. To put it the way it is, housing deficit in Nigeria has grown from bad to worse, and successive governments from the time of Nigeria’s independence 64 years ago have been grappling with this problem, with little and insignificant outcomes. As at today, housing deficit in Nigeria is put at 28 million units, with about N21 trillion required to shore it up.

    Crucial challenges to housing development in Nigeria include non-availability of serviced plots for housing development, challenge of good title that will enhance the marketability of the land after you might have built houses on it, lack of basic infrastructures that will facilitate smooth development or a good title, challenge of finance. Housing is capital intensive and unfortunately, housing sector has been receiving very little in budgetary allocations compared to other sectors. Another challenge is the level of development in our country. We are still glued to the traditional way of mortar and bricks which takes a long time, and which does not take cognisance of the high rate of population and urban growth.

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    In other words, technology and expertise required for construction and development, technology required for mass housing for the teeming population is lacking. We lack the capacity, the technologies and system constructions that can throw up a lot of housing units at a time. To compound the challenge of finance is the absence of efficient mortgage finance system that would have granted easy access to housing. 

    Going forward? ‘Give to Caesar what belong to Caesar.’ Give management of housing sector to housing experts. Estate Surveyors & Valuers are better equipped to manage Nigeria’s housing.

    Most of those who have administered housing knew little or nothing about housing. It is not surprising therefore that housing sector and housing delivery lacks proper planning. Housing sector has suffered a great deal due to lack of proper planning and this constitutes a very big impediment to housing delivery. Allow the Estate Surveyors and Valuers to take charge and commence from the point of proper diagnosis of the problem, re-enact the land and housing policies that will guaranty access to housing on a continuous basis in Nigeria.

    •Pius Evbuomwam,

     Benin.

  • The desecration in Rivers

    The desecration in Rivers

    • By Ike Willie-Nwobu

    Sir: Nigeria’s fitful attempts to clean up its politics is suffering a seismic setback in Rivers State where bitter politics of succession is combining with the desperation of politicians to pollute the environment.

    The flames which licked up some local government secretariats in Rivers State may have only flared up on October 7, but their provenance lay in the past, in the bitter rivalry between Nyesom Wike, former governor of the state and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and Siminalayi Fubara, his successor and the incumbent governor of the state.

    The recent judgment of the Supreme Court on autonomy for local government areas has apparently turned local governments in the state into charged battlegrounds for the former governor and his successor with their supporters at each other’s throats.

    What is clear is that the fiery chaos in Rivers State is the handiwork of politicians who place personal interests above principles of state policy, and the the public, defying and denying what may burn in the process which invariably is Nigeria’s fragile commitment to the rule of law. It is they now who must now  be forced to leash their rabid dogs. It is as simple as that. The Nigerian state cannot be forced to wait on them or for them as no state which works properly can afford to.

    Those responsible for the arson must be prosecuted. Only criminals burn public buildings, and they must be treated as such.

    Again, what is the governor doing conducting elections in defiance of valid court orders? As the chief law officer of the state, he should be seen complying with the law embodied in court decisions at all times rather than pulling out bag after bag of tricks and maneuvers to shirk his responsibility.

    At inauguration, every governor in Nigeria pledges allegiance to the constitution which is the law establishing courts. But like most Nigerian presidents, these governors then go on to devise crafty ways to circumvent the constitution and all those who enforce it. As expected, this does incalculable harm to the rule of law in Nigeria.

    Nigeria needs to dig deeper to pull out new ways by which the rule of law can find a real presence in Nigeria beyond what is on paper and in the lip service of extremely unreliable politicians.

    The unfortunate situation in Rivers State ominously foreshadows what is to come in many states across the country. For many years, local governments operated only at the whims of state governors with no form of autonomy, financial or otherwise. The state of many rural areas across the country is testament to the neglect those areas have suffered because the closest tier of government to them has failed to function properly for decades.

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    The Supreme Court judgment can change that, but it is only if the forces holding Nigeria to ransom allow or are forced to relinquish their hold.

    As for those young people who continue to allow themselves to be used as tools by  desperate politicians, the time for common sense is now. Folly has been extortionate for many years, and having been emboldened by indifference, it is now proving fatal.

    Why burn public buildings when it will only give thieving politicians an opportunity to dip even deeper into the public till? Why the descent into violence when they know that the parties and politicians they are fighting for don’t really care about them?

    Politicians in the country must do more to clean up their politics, and de-escalate the tension in the body politic. No one’s grievance should become projectiles raining down on public buildings, or flames burning them down.

    While Nigerians wait for the holy grail of political reforms, those in the rural areas must recognize the historic opportunity offered by the Supreme Court decision on financial autonomy for local governments. They must now play their part if the local governments are ever to wriggle free from the suffocating grasp of state governors.

    Their part begins from participating in elections into local government areas, and insisting that their votes must count.

    •Ike Willie-Nwobu,

    Ikewilly9@gmail.com

  • The charades called local government elections

    The charades called local government elections

    • By Nurudeen Dauda

    Sir: To start with, free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria are a major challenge at all levels. It is sad to note that the conduct of elections at local government levels by the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) is the “worst” form of election malfeasance. The ongoing ugly trend is that any state governed by APC or PDP or APGA or LP and or NNPP is certain to win 100% of the local council poll. This is our sad reality!

    For a very long time ago now, our governors have been exploiting some lacunas in the 1999 constitution to appoint caretaker committees instead of conducting elections for local government helmsmen. In states where elections were held, they were often kangaroo exercises.

    The Supreme Court has now determined that section 162 of our constitution mandates direct monthly revenue allocation to only local governments with elected officials. Prior to the judgement, majority of our local governments from across the states of the federation were administered by caretaker committees. Now, every state is now in a race to replace caretaker committees with elected officials in order to avoid the possibility of their allocations being withheld.

    It is unheard of and or unthinkable even in the so-called advanced democracies to have a scenario where all contested seats in an election are won by a single political party as it does happen in our local government elections. Election is the bedrock of democracy as well as the primary source of legitimacy; it affords citizens the opportunity to have a say on who governs them.

    It is quite unfortunate that we now often celebrate the brazen electoral fraud at the grassroots level in the name of local government elections. This will not take us to the promise land! For as long as elections are not credible at the local government levels, the much talked about financial autonomy granted to them through the July 11, Supreme Court judgement will mean little or nothing. State governors will continue to plant and/or impose their minions as chairmen via our usual kangaroo elections to guarantee their continuing access to local government funds.

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    All hands therefore must be on deck towards credible elections at all levels in our dear country as a necessary ingredient for good governance; credible elections often make leaders accountable and responsible. We must not settle at anything less than credible elections as the most important tool for achieving good governance.

    It is apt to state that from the year 2011 elections under Prof. Attahiru Jega to date, INEC has witnessed significant improvements in the conduct of its elections owning to the adoption of technology. In the 2015 general elections, card-reader technology was exploited by politicians for lack of legal backing and in the 2023 general elections, INEC Result Viewing (IREV) technology was also exploited for same reason.

    In my thought, the best way to improve our elections at all levels is to embrace modern technology wholeheartedly. This will certainly minimize human manipulations in our electoral process. The use of technology should and or must be made compulsory by both INEC and SIECs.

    For us to get it right, we also need electoral offences commission with a Special Court for trial of electoral offenders. There must be severe punishments for electoral offenders in our dear country in order to serve as deterrent to would be offenders.

    For the local government administration to improve, we must critically re-examine the following sections of our constitution: Section 162 sub-section (6), Section 7 sub-section 6 (b), Section 197 sub- section (1), The 5th Schedule of the 1999 constitution of the 1999 constitution as amended among others.

    •Nurudeen Dauda,

    Kaduna, Kaduna State.

  • Fubara: Not the best of times

    Fubara: Not the best of times

    The Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the voiding of the N800 billion Rivers’ 2024 Appropriation Act, passed by a five-member Rivers State House of Assembly.  So, it’s not the best of times for embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    Only on October 5, he rammed through a controversial local government poll.  On that, however, neither him, the ingrate protégée, nor the mercurial Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s combative benefactor-turned-malefactor, was a saint in that controversial poll. 

    Fubara pushed his authority as elected governor.  Wike was anxious to preserve the PDP “structure” he used to romp Fubara, a minority riverine Ijaw, into Rivers power.  Each had to do what each had to do!

    Still, it was a hysteric Fubara belching reckless statements in the passion of the moment: naming a judge and dubbing his verdict “fraudulent” because he didn’t like it; and virtually drawing the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) into the Wike-Fubara fray — all in the passion of the moment!

    On October 10, the Court of Appeal compelled Fubara to re-present his budget before the 27-member Martins Amaewhule Rivers Assembly, as against the five-member Edison Ehie faction — that became fiction in the eye of the law — that purportedly passed the budget. By the way, former Speaker Ehie is now Fubara’s chief of staff.  So, that legislative faction is down to four, led by “Speaker” Victor Oko-Jumbo.

    In a way, the verdict was a technicality.  The Court of Appeal held that since Fubara failed to defend the allegations against him — he had withdrawn his counter-affidavit before Justice James Omotoso’s Federal High Court in Abuja — he could not logically turn around to mount an appeal.

    That would appear the latest in the long line of Fubara comedy of errors, from either rash executive actions, or plain bad advice — or both. 

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    For context, even the sitting Rivers Attorney-General was confirmed by a four-member Rivers legislature, after the first resigned to protest a cabinet shuffle.  So, unless the governor and aides could prove that Martins Amaewhule and his 26 really defected to the APC and therefore had forfeited their seats, how can the product of confirmation outlawry — the AG himself — advise the governor right, at this crucial juncture?

    Two choices before the governor: to re-present the budget before Amaewhule (horrors of horrors!) or ride his luck to the Supreme Court — and he had better win! If he loses, he is toast!  Spending public money without appropriation is No. 2 crime in a democracy — only next to treason, which seeks to topple the democratic order.

    So, post-loss, it’s a water-right cause for impeachment.  By then, the governor would have set himself up for a neat, clinical legal guillotining!  But it’s all so avoidable, even if Fubara’s powerful foes didn’t give him much of a chance to resist tightening the noose around his neck, in the tragedy of asserting his authority as governor.

    Which is why there must be a third path for rapprochement, a give-and-take of mutual compromises between both camps.  But will those stoking Ijaw tribal passion for Fubara change tack?  Or even the combative Wike camp — are they not too angered beyond any reconciliation? 

    It’s grim times for Governor Fubara as the polity waits.  But whatever happens, the Wike faction too would go down with serious collateral damage.  Rivers people — poor folks — would be the worse for it.

  • Rivers State: Courting emergency rule

    Rivers State: Courting emergency rule

    Sir: Every horrendous development necessary to prompt an emergency rule declaration in Rivers State have occurred. There is no iota of doubt that the law and order has broken down irretrievably in the state.  

    We have a governor who has chosen to throw wisdom, maturity, caution and decorum into dustbin.

    He has continually runs the state outside the provisions of 1999 Constitution, as amended.  

    Governor Sim Fubara’s demolition of the Rivers state House of Assembly complex at the beginning of this year remains one of the most destructive and brazen attacks on the democratic institutions in the annals of Nigeria.

    He even made unsuccessful attempts to demolish the House of Assembly residential quarters in Port Harcourt.

    The governor made frantic efforts to jettison the constitution, by governing the state in denial of the existence of the legislative arm of government. 

    He practically affirmed that the House of Assembly does not exist after 27 members defected from PDP to APC following his egregious, arrogance and act of impunity in conducting the affairs of the state. 

    Before the recent fracas and political pandemonium, the governor has committed several impeachable offences so much that it has become curious and inexplicable why he’s still remain in the office.  

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    Nigerians recall that earlier this year, the president intervened in the political crisis through an eight-point resolution reached at the mediation meeting, the role to be played by the contending parties.

    Regrettably, no sooner than the governor arrived Port Harcourt, cornered and overwhelmed by disgruntled elements around him that he jettisoned the resolution.

    The crisis has since festered and assumed a colossal dimension.    

    For the avoidance of doubt, the recent pandemonium that engulfed the entire state was a direct consequence of the governor’s flagrant disobedience to the court judgment halting the conduct of Local Government elections in the state.

    Instead of the governor to respect the law of the land, he quickly stormed a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Port-Harcourt to obtain a contrary judgment.

    This was the crux of the matter.

    Of course, the ensuing election had an all APP candidates declared as victorious at his behest.

    This is why the entire state has been engulfed in violence and wanton destruction!

    Rivers State is just one of the 36 federating units; enough of this rascality and indiscretion.  As it is, the only one who can save the state and his good people from this regime of anarchy and disorderliness is the president.

    No solution would be appropriate and germane other than declaration of emergency rule.   

    • Kola Amzat (FCA, FCIB)Lagos.

  • Rivers State of anarchy

    Rivers State of anarchy

    Sir: The ongoing political crisis in Rivers State is indisputably tending towards an episodic or cyclical political limbo and as such, if a very drastic action is not taken to curtain the brouhaha, it may degenerate to a state of anarchy.

    Prior to the just concluded local government elections of Saturday, October 5, there have been series of court judgements and counter judgements as to who owned what, did what, where, when and how?

    The back and forth political conundrum is apparently becoming laborious and tense. The two main political gladiators in the state are incumbent Minister of Federal Capital Territory and immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike and his successor and incumbent, Siminalaye Fubara. The two warring factions in the last few days have thrown Rivers State into flames.

    Harold Laswell has contextualized politics as who gets what when and how. This aphorism is incontestable with the situation of things currently in Rivers State at the moment.

    There have been several questions on the lips of so many Nigerians as to what has informed such an episodic political drama with tense atmosphere in the state?

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    Without any sense of prejudice to any of the warring parties, the just concluded Local Government election in River State was not just a charade but a complete subversion of rule of law. In fact, the shenanigans in the elections on Saturday, has incontrovertibly explained the need for federal government to as a matter of urgency, further strengthen the prerogative of the Supreme Court verdict on the local government autonomy. It is imperative to further withdraw the control of state electoral commission expediently and discourage state security agencies including the proposed state policing.

    If state governors are not stripped of this promptly, like it played out in Rivers during the local government elections, governors will incessantly abuse the immunity and take advantage of such to unleash a reign of tyranny. Truth is that most of the governors are power drunk in their respective states.

    If the entire number of registered voters of Rivers State is 3.5 million, according to the data of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and less than 10 thousand voters participated in the just concluded elections, it therefore implies that the entire process was a junk and a shenanigan.

    The most interesting aspect of the charade is that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress APC did not take in the election. Ironically, whereas the APP cleared the 22 out of 23 local government areas, the two major parties ignored the election and refused to participate.

    Sadly, more than three local government secretariats have been set ablaze in the last two days and the situation is yet to be contained entirely.

    Much as the action of the federal government in withdrawing the security agencies from the local government secretariats was a welcome development, a lot of people have equally accused the Nigerian Police to have been complacent.

    So the question I ask here is: to what advantage or favour would it be to the two warring parties, should the federal government declare a state of emergency in River State? Wouldn’t the tense atmosphere persist?

    •Adekunle Alaye, PhD.Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

  • Anambra’s LG election, Cadmean victory for Soludo

    Anambra’s LG election, Cadmean victory for Soludo

    Sir: The just-concluded Local Government Election in Anambra raises serious concerns about the authenticity and fairness of the democratic process. Was this election a victory or an echo of a lost democracy? Was it an illusion of choice?

    On the surface, the Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s government has conducted local elections that have not taken place for over a decade, a fact that, in another time, would be seen as a triumph for democracy. But in this instance, the drums of celebration feel hollow, the dance of progress a mere facade. Governor Soludo, in an unguarded moment, let slip the true motive behind the election. Standing in his hometown of Isuofia, he revealed that the poll was more than just governance; it was a referendum on his performance, a precursor to his bid for a second term in office in 2025.

    Soludo, a professor of numbers and data, understands the power of perception. As a sharp mind, he felt that a quickly arranged election would provide the statistics and validate his quest for a second term in office now that his tenure is ending. He knows that numbers do not always tell the truth in the political arena, but they can be made to appear so. However, he should know that a conclusion built on flawed data would not stand the test of time.

    There was no actual contest in the election. Soludo, wielding the power of the All-Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), ensured that his faction swept all 21 local government areas. There were no ballots, opposition party participation, or result sheets in many places. It was a dance performed to the tune of a single flute; a performance in which the outcome was determined long before the Ndi Anambra even had a vote.

    The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), under Soludo’s influence, played the role of the snake charmer’s assistant. They, too, performed their magic, making the irregularities disappear; at least, that was the hope. But the cracks in the performance were glaring. The absence of ballots, the delays, the low voter turnout, and the lack of electoral independence left a trail that

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    The election therefore, can be compared to a puppet show, where the strings are pulled from behind the curtains. The people are left sitting in the audience, watching a play in which they have no part, their role reduced to that of silent witnesses. The government may call it a victory, but what triumph can there be when the people, the true sovereigns of the land, are left disenfranchised, their power usurped by a process that only mimics democracy?

    Democracy thrives on the blood of credible elections, for it is through the ballot that people breathe life into governance. But what happens when people are denied their voices and their choices are reduced to a mere shadow of their former selves? A democracy without the people’s voice is like a temple without worshipers, a body without a soul. Without balloting, without the active participation of multiple political parties, can we still call that democracy?

    The government’s victory in all 21 local government areas may appear like a conquest on the surface, but is it truly a cause for celebration? Perhaps it is what the ancient Greeks would call a Cadmean victory, a win that brings more harm than benefit. To claim victory where there was no actual battle or contest of ideas is to win an empty prize that echoes hollowly in the people’s hearts. A win that seems more a selection than an election leaves behind the bitter taste of disenfranchisement, making one wonder if the government should be celebrating.

    Soludo has failed the test of authentic leadership in this. Leadership is not about manipulating the system to ensure one’s survival. It is about sacrifice, standing in the gap for the people and working for their good, even at a personal cost. But in this instance, the people were not served. They were spectators in a drama they had no role in shaping.

    Governor Soludo may think he has secured his place in history by conducting local government elections after 11 years of stagnation. But history will not be kind to those who use the instruments of democracy to subvert it. The Anambra people are too bright to be deceived by orchestrated victories. Soludo’s only hope of securing the keys to Agu Awka Government House in 2025 lies in genuine performance rather than pre-determined electoral victories. His only credible path forward is to abandon the politics of deception and focus on service delivery.

    •Pat Onukwuli PhD Bolton, UK.

  • How not to debate

    How not to debate

    When presidential contenders in the imminent United States elections traded tackles on the debate stage recently, the world tuned in to watch the art at among its finest. Vice President Kamala Harris was widely perceived to have outsmarted former President Donald Trump in a game of wits to swing voter loyalties. Multiple verbal jabs were exchanged, but not one got physical. Democratic and Republican number twos, Tim Walz and JD Vance, took their turn just last week. Those debates had a combined effect of offering the world a model to emulate.

    It was not the same story in neighbouring Brazil where, not long after the Harris-Trump debate held, a mayoral debate in the city of São Paulo turned ugly when one of the participants attacked his rival with a chair. The debate that was broadcast live by a famous television channel in the South American country witnessed a tense exchange between two of the participants, José Luiz Datena and Pablo Marçal, upon which Datena hitched up a chair and swung it at Marçal. The assaulter later told the channel, Tv Cultura, that he attacked his counterpart because he (Marçal) brought up an old sexual harassment allegation against him that was dismissed several years before. “He came with a case that was archived, that was not even investigated by the police because there was no evidence. Something from 11 years ago that caused a very serious situation within my family,” Datena said.

    Following the attack, Datena was expelled from the debate. On the following day, he issued a statement in which he acknowledged having made a mistake but insisted he did not regret his actions.

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    Reports said the assaulted candidate, Marçal, suffered injuries from the attack and needed to be taken to hospital for treatment. His team said he was treated for a possible fracture in the chest region and had difficulty breathing; while hospital documentation indicated that he suffered trauma to his chest and wrist, but without any major complications. Speaking later, Marçal compared the chair attack to the July assassination attempt against former President Trump in the U.S., and the stabbing of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro during the 2018 electioneering. He posted images from all three attacks on Instagram with the caption: “Why all this hate?” His team also vowed legal action against Datena.

    Other mayoral candidates continued the debate after the broadcast channel said it regretted the attack and pressed ahead with the event in line with applicable rules after the other candidates agreed. Marçal’s team said it was unfortunate the debate had continued without him, adding: “Pablo Marçal was cowardly attacked by José Luiz Datena, who hit him in the ribs with an iron chair.”

    If you had thought Nigeria was the den of brigand politics, look to a place like Brazil.

  • Inuwa Yahaya: Celebrating a great leader at 63

    Inuwa Yahaya: Celebrating a great leader at 63

    By Ismaila Uba Misilli

    Greatness is not noisy, this I learnt from my principal, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON the Governor of Gombe State, a man of very modest mien, magnificent in achievements and yet without an iota of braggadocio.

    Today, October, 9, as usual, many friends,  associates and well- wishers will be wishing His Excellency a happy birthday. But not many know the deposits of virtues embedded in my Principal. Let me seize the occasion of your birthday, Your Excellency, to share the joy of working with an enigmatic mentor and teacher like you. No one will ever remain a mediocre again in life, after sharing times and moments with you.

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya embodies a rare combination of intellect, influence and humility- so humble in demeanor, disciplined with maturity, and outstanding in achievements.

    Despite holding the most powerful office in the state, he maintains an air of simplicity and modesty that is both refreshing and admirable. When you step into His Excellency’s personal residence, you would never guess that it belongs to a sitting governor. There are no tell-tale signs of power—no flags, no portraits, and no insignia to display his position. It’s a home that could belong to any successful individual, unassuming yet comfortable. Even more telling is the absence of any ostentatious display of wealth. In a country where political leaders are often associated with lavish lifestyles and fleets of luxury cars, Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s residence stands in contrast, his children too.

    This humble approach to life extends to his leadership style. The Dan Majen Gombe doesn’t need to wear the trappings of power to assert his authority. His influence is felt through his actions, not his surroundings. His leadership is rooted in service, accessibility, and a profound sense of responsibility to his people, making him a rare breed among leaders today.

    Working with Governor Inuwa Yahaya means that there’s no room for complacency. His sharp focus on the task at hand drives everyone involved to deliver at their best. His attention is so attuned to the work that you often feel his presence even when he’s not physically around. Under his leadership, there’s a silent but powerful expectation of efficiency, as his commitment leaves no space for sloppiness or half-hearted efforts.

    His calm and composed nature makes him a leader who doesn’t rely on an overwhelming presence to command respect. He speaks sparingly, but when he does, every word is deliberate, clear, and loaded with purpose. His ability to articulate his thoughts with precision ensures that you understand exactly what he expects without any ambiguity. His commitment to respecting time and schedules sets him apart as a leader who values both his time and the time of others.

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    When it comes to core governance matters, Inuwa Yahaya has no tolerance for subpar results. He becomes an architect of precision, carefully scrutinizing every aspect. He takes you to the drawing board, leading the process from the foundation to the finish, bringing his team together for thorough deliberation. If a project doesn’t offer tangible benefits to significantly improve people’s lives, it won’t gain his support. You’d better come well-prepared with thoughtful answers, as his questions will push you to think far beyond your usual scope.

    With this kind of mindset, you will not find a government appointee in Gombe with a tabula rasa head. When you see your Governor working extra hours to achieve his targets, you cannot but be up and doing on a daily basis. This attitude infused in me and many other state appointees has redefined the development landscape of Gombe state, the Jewel in the Savannah.

    The remarkable result, posted by Gombe state which is fast becoming first in many development indices, is the brainchild of a man of vision and unmatched courage. That Gombe State is first in the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria today, best in universal health coverage and most IT compliant State, best in socio-economic development index, is an attestation to the special qualities and disciplined lifestyle Governor Inuwa yahaha has brought to bear on the running of state affairs.

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s fearless approach to leadership, as reflected in his mantra “Ko Gezau,” truly highlights his commitment to making difficult but necessary decisions for the well-being of his people. His steady resolve is a mark of strong leadership, always prioritizing progress and the greater good. It’s inspiring to see how his decisiveness has shaped his governance.

    He is prudent to a fault, never indulging in unnecessary extravagance on unproductive ventures; every kobo is accounted for. His background in business and accounting must be the reason for the strict level of accountability seen in Gombe State. Inuwa has instilled in us the importance of managing scarce resources efficiently to achieve maximum results.

    Every action and decision under his administration follows strict adherence to established procedures and regulations. His leadership has seen an unprecedented number of Executive Council Meetings, ensuring that key decisions are made transparently and collectively. Cabinet members are actively involved in the decision-making process, fostering a sense of inclusivity within the government.

    As a media aide, the Governor has shown me that any task worth doing must be done well.  From my principal, I’ve learned that a good leader is always teaching and guiding his team. He continuously finds ways to help you succeed. No matter how low your confidence might be when you join Inuwa’s team, you’ll soon stand taller, filled with a sense of self-belief and a ‘can do’ spirit.

    It’s great to see how Governor Inuwa’s leadership has shaped my approach to work, especially as regards thoroughness, accountability, and continuous learning. His ability to mentor and elevate those around him seems to have had a profound impact on my professional growth, especially in the demanding field of writing and media management. This is a clear indication of how a good leader inspires confidence and brings out the best in their team!

    Care personified, the Dan Majen Gombe is not a slave driver who wants you to work all your life away for him to take the shine. Often times, when you are with him he will ask you to call your wife and children and he will greet them and thank them for giving him a gift of their husband and father. With this attitude, your family will always show concern and understanding for you even when duty calls and they don’t see you for days or weeks.

    Inuwa embodies a transformative spirit, with a remarkable drive to elevate situations from poor to excellent. Many of the policies formulated and implemented in Gombe today stem from his mindset of transformation. His commitment to inclusive development spans all areas, from infrastructure to social services, ensuring that every corner of the state benefits from government programmes and projects aimed at enhancing the lives of the citizens.

    Take a look at his road projects especially, the network 11-100. He imagines what Gombe will look like when every of the 11 local governments have at least a hundred kilometers of road with each one connected to another. Pronto! He has opened up the state for ease of movement of goods, people and services. The results are astonishing.

    Another mind blowing output of industrialization of his state is the 1000 hectares sprawling Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park located in Dadinkowa.This Park will have every industry situated in one location with its attendant economies of scale for every business enterprise. The park boasts of already tarred roads, light and water in place. This park will be a wow factor for the economy of the state in years to come.

    Inuwa yahaya has just returned from his investment mission which took him earlier to Morocco, then to China and finally the United States of America. Gombe has a great gain from these business drives.

    The Gombe State Geographic Information System (GOGIS) is yet another success story of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration. It has greatly improved land administration by enhancing data management and ensuring transparency, leading to improved revenue generation. GOGIS was recently rated the best in digital compliance, reflecting its effectiveness and commitment to modernizing land governance in the state.

    Not relegating health issues, Gombe State under Inuwa Yahaha has  delivered three state-of-the-art specialist hospitals in each of the three senatorial zones in the state, in addition to construction or revitalization of PHCs across the 114 wards. Gohealth, the state health contributory scheme is so successful that the National Health Insurance Scheme sends other states to come and learn from the Gombe state template.

    His educational policies are geared towards producing great results. He declared state of emergency on education immediately he got the mandate of leadership, moved the academic success ratio for SSCE examination from about 22% to over 75% and equally returned almost half a million out of school children back to class with great improvements in the condition of learning, modern classrooms and well-motivated teachers.

    In collaboration with his colleagues at the Northern States Governors’ Forum, being the chairman, they have turned their attention to the age long Almajiri phenomenon. Inuwa hates failure. He is sure to post remarkable results in this task as well, as being done in Gombe.

    A man of great compassion for the poor and the lowly, there’s no time the masses are ever neglected in his policies and programmes. He will always put them in the scheme of things. There have been many empowerment programmes as well as welfare packages for them since his leadership of the state.

    Indeed, calling my Principal an all-rounder would be hitting the bull’s eye. A deeply God-fearing man, he is known for his respect for both traditional rulers and religious leaders alike. Governor Inuwa Yahaya holds a special place in my heart in many ways — as a father, brother,  teacher, leader, and exemplary mentor.

    On this special occasion of your 63rd birthday, I join countless others in celebrating the blessings Allah has bestowed upon you. I wish you sound health and continuous success as you rise to even greater heights in leadership and service to our fatherland and humanity.

    Misilli is DG Press Affairs,  Government House,  Gombe