The Nation Newspaper

Tag: democracy

  • For a democracy that delivers

    For a democracy that delivers

    • By Tosin Afeniforo

    Sir: Democracy, with its promise of freedom, equality, and representation, has frequently been celebrated as a guiding light for nations aspiring toward progress and prosperity. Given that Nigeria is the big fish in the pond of African countries and holds an influential role in the continent, the journey towards democratic governance in Nigeria is a big deal, not just in their own backyard, but also for the neighbouring lands. However, the path to democratic success in Nigeria has been an uphill battle, throwing a wrench in the works and leaving the system’s ability to deliver tangible benefits to its citizens up in the air.

    The year 1999 was a significant turning point in Nigeria’s history as the country turned over a new leaf and launched itself towards a stable democratic government. Hopes of transparency, accountability, and inclusive government accompanied the idea of democracy. But for many Nigerians, the achievement of these goals still seems like a far-off fantasy more than 20 years later.

    A major thorn in the side of Nigerian democracy is the rampant issue of corruption. Despite pulling out all the stops to tackle it, corruption continues to be a thorn in the side that chips away at the effectiveness of democratic institutions, shakes public faith, and puts a damper on socio-economic progress. The poor handling of resources, feathering one’s own nest with funds, and turning a blind eye to responsibility have set the stage for a never-ending dance of poverty and inequality, leaving millions of Nigerians feeling left out and disenchanted.

    Furthermore, the Nigerian political scene is a hotbed of ethnic and religious tensions, which often steal the spotlight from the democratic process. Politicians often play both sides of the fence, stirring the pot and throwing fuel on the fire, making the divide even wider and hindering the creation of a united front. In such a dog-eat-dog world, the ideals of democracy face an uphill battle in laying a solid groundwork, as political loyalty is often swayed by tribal or religious ties rather than by merit or policy.

    Pulling strings in elections, playing mind games, and flexing muscles chip away at the credibility of elected officials and erode trust in the democratic system. Without the presence of level playing fields and fair elections, the true essence of democracy goes up in smoke, leaving behind nothing but smoke and mirrors where powerful factions pull strings for their own benefit.

    Read Also: APC settles for direct primary to pick Ondo Gov candidate

    But to dismiss democracy as unsuited to Nigeria’s circumstances in spite of these difficulties would be throwing up the towel too soon. In the face of difficult circumstances, there are rays of optimism because of the Nigerian people’s unwavering commitment and steely will to demand democratic reforms from their leaders. Civil society organizations, activists, and the media are the bee’s knees in uncovering corruption, pushing for political reforms, and encouraging civic participation. Their endeavours are hitting the nail on the head, showing how a vigilant and active citizenry can be the driving force behind positive change within a democratic system.

    If given a fair chance, Nigeria’s youthful population, eager to learn and full of potential, also holds the key to democratization and economic prosperity. In order to create a strong foundation for democracy in the future, it is imperative that young Nigerians be given a leg up via education and political engagement.

    Although the road ahead is filled with bumps in the road and hurdles to overcome, the silver lining of a thriving democracy is too crucial to turn a blind eye to. It is of utmost importance for Nigeria to face its democratic deficits head-on, address the root causes of corruption and inequality, and strengthen its institutions to make sure that democracy works for all Nigerians, not just a chosen few. Only when democracy comes into full realization can it truly deliver the goods of freedom, equality, and prosperity for the people of Nigeria.

    •Tosin Afeniforo,

     Italy.

  • Democracy, development can’t thrive without peace – Deputy Speaker Kalu

    Democracy, development can’t thrive without peace – Deputy Speaker Kalu

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, yesterday said that development and democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace.

    Speaking while playing host to a delegation from German Initiative for Knowledge Transfer led by its country director, Hon. Obinna Ichita in his office, Kalu identified insecurity as one of the major challenges facing the country today.

    The Deputy Speaker said the nation can only thrive in investments, development, democracy only in an atmosphere of peace, saying without peace, every effort to make impact, whether in politics, economics, will not work.

    Kalu said further that this led him to initiate the Peace in the South East Project, PISE-P, a non-Kinetic approach towards achieving peace in the South East, and make better the region that passed through civil war.

    While seeking collaboration with the German agency to build rehabilitation centres and digital skills acquisition for the youths from the region, he disclosed that PISE-P, has eight cardinal pillars of Education; Agriculture; Commerce/Industry; Infrastructural Development; Culture and Tourism; Sports/Entertainment; Governance/Leadership and Reconciliation/Rehabilitation/Reintegration to tackle the challenges.

    He explained that PISEP is not just a partnership but also a commitment to shared responsibility, mutual growth, and sustained peace leveraging the power of ICT to advance common goals and shared aspirations, to create a world that is not only digitally connected but also digitally secure and digitally inclusive.

    Kalu said “It is my profound pleasure to welcome you all today, especially our distinguished guests from Germany, as collaborators striving towards a unified goal – the advancement of knowledge, fostering peace, and strengthening ties through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In today’s digital age, ICT has become the lifeblood that sustains our interconnected world. It is a catalyst for economic growth, a facilitator for social integration, and a tool for creating an equitable society.

    Read Also: Why Ndi Igbo must support, defend Tinubu’s govt – Kalu

    “We need to cultivate a spirit of cooperation, shared responsibility, and mutual understanding – values that are well embodied in our call for collaboration for the Peace in the Southeast Project (PISEP). I call upon you all to join us in this endeavor. Let us foster an environment where ICT is not just a tool, but a beacon of hope for a brighter, safer, and more peaceful world.

    “Let us use ICT as a means to bridge gaps, heal divisions, and promote understanding. And let us commit to a future where cybersecurity is not just about defending our systems, but about safeguarding our shared values, our common goals, and our collective future.

    “We are looking for partners that will help us. We are coming with grants that will take them into training and help them start businesses. So we are looking for partners that can work with to build all these skill, rehabilitation centers where we can train people. So both government participation, Non-governmental agencies, development partners we are looking for such collaboration and partnership.”

    Earlier, the agency’s country director, Obinna Ichita congratulated the Deputy Speaker on his peace project, saying that his efforts towards achieving peace in the region, nation as a whole for the development of the country is commendable.

    He informed the Deputy Speaker that they visited to brief him about the way the organization can partner with the peace in Southeast initiative.

  • Nigeria’s democracy, governance is for all – Youths

    Nigeria’s democracy, governance is for all – Youths

    Southern Nigerian youths have reckoned with the choice of meaningful youth participation in Nigeria’s democracy and governance.

    They spoke at a recent regional town hall meeting, championed by the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) through its YouthGovTracka project, with the theme as “Engaging Youth in Democracy: A Caution for Good Governance”.

    The event had in attendance youths from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Rivers aimed at raising youths to become active citizens, bridge the government-youth divide and drive public accountability.

    Leading the charge were Burabari Nleera for Rivers State, God’sLove-Divine Ngbechukwuyem for Cross River State, Abigail Agwuegbo for Delta State and Blessing Nnabugwu for Bayelsa State.

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    The convener and the Akwa Ibom State focal person for YouthGovTracka, Menyene Ekong in his welcome remarks lauded the efforts of BBYD. He stressed the importance of active citizenship and shared interest in regional and national development.

    “Today’s discourse is consultative. Therefore, I implore everyone to be open-minded, constructive and welcoming in charting ways for meaningful youth participation and government accountability,” he remarked.

    In another segment, Mr Udeme Okono, who led a keynote, said: “Youths must note that they will keep getting sidelined and kept out of governance if we do not take action and make meaningful contributions.

    “No one is going to invite you to the table with open arms, especially when you have nothing to offer. This is the part where self-development comes in; building yourself so intentionally that you become a voice,” he added.

    Miss Unyime Bush Alias JayBush, a YouTuber and technology enthusiast, who spoke on ‘Civic Technology as a Tool for Meaningful Youth Participation’ endorsed that “the YouthGovTracka platform solves the issue of equity; gathering information that is accessible to youths of both genders to drive meaningful participation in governance.”

    Presenting on ‘Youth Engagement in the Budget Process,’ Faith Paulinus, the Governance Reforms and Anti-Corruption Lead at Policy Alert stressed that “as youths and active citizens, we can only hold our leaders accountable when we know the budget, what to expect and track how revenue is spent.”

    The convening proceeded with remarkable contributions from the panellists. They were Ndueso Young – Executive Director of TeenGirls’ Development Initiative, Peace Edem – Executive Director of Youth for Change Initiative and Praise Ebitu – Vice President of the University of Uyo Student Union Government. Others who attended and contributed to the meeting include the Program Manager of BBYDI, Mr Habeeb Adewale and the Director of Youth at the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Mr Emmanuel Akpabio.

    The South-South Regional Town Hall Meeting also exposed participants to actionable steps such as engaging with the YouthGovTracka and other resources and tools including the Office of the Citizen Accountability Toolkit and Menu of Possible Commitment as launched and circulated for civic engagement and government accountability, among other highlights.

  • LG boss tells Nigerians to defend democracy

    LG boss tells Nigerians to defend democracy

    The Executive Chairman of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mayor Olufemi Akanbi Okeowo has charged Nigerians to defend democracy despite the current Economic situation in the country.

    He said this during the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum where he assured the residents of the government’s efforts towards ameliorating the current cost of living.

    According to him, “Any reform that will usher in a lasting solution will have to go through a toothing stage, it is only sincere resilience that can allow a meaningful reform to stand, I, therefore, appeal to the good people of Ifelodun LCDA, in particular, to see the new initiatives as necessary pain that will lead us to prosperity in the nearest future”

    Read Also: Integrous, accountable judicial systems will strengthen democracy in West Africa – Tinubu

    He used the opportunity provided by the forum to highlight the various palliatives his administration has put in place to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal such as the distribution of food palliatives to over two thousand residents, distribution of N50,000 to 50 petty traders in the next 24 months, provision of social security to selected youths, aged and the vulnerable within the Local Government Area, purchase of new Ambulance to handle emergencies, distribution of packed food for over 1000 residents, provision of Free buses to members of staff coming from Badagry and Ikorodu axes.

    He listed some of the roads he has done as follows; Completion of Muda Street, Mosafejo, Olubuade, Amukoko, Olubuade, Coker, Fijabi, Turner, Market Street, Orita Market Street, On-going construction of Oridilu Street, Installation and energized a 500KVA transformer at Oridilu Street, procurement of a brand new ambulance bus, procurement of a fire fighting truck, regular drainage desisting, distribution of school uniforms, bags, writing materials to over ten thousand pupils in our  23 public Primary schools in Ifelodun LCDA.

    “We trained 60 pupils during the long holiday on the use of drones, robotics, Artificial Intelligence, journalism, script writing, use of Computers, and others.”

  • Rethinking democracy

    Rethinking democracy

    • By Tunde Kolawole

    Today, democracy is popularly defined as a “government of the people by the people and for the people”. Presumably; according to Oxford Dictionary, this is a system of government by the whole population and/or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives and political parties.

    The political parties of today are clearly the opposite of what we used to have of old. Party primaries and who flies the flag of a particular party is no longer based on popularity contest or well-articulated programmes but financial standings. More importantly, it is the party that now presents a candidate and imposes the candidate on the electorate in an exercise that can be described as “take it or leave it”.

    Politics in Western democracies have become highly monetized such that it is only those who own the most or are supported by the propertied class that can effectively play the game of politics and win elections. The big businesses such as the arms dealers, who live on the blood of blacks and other racial minorities, come into purview here.

    In other words, those that emerge from party primaries can be described as winners of auctions and bazaars that have been conducted by a conclave of very ruthless and vested interests. It’s the products of skewed primaries that are thrown unto the voters to vote for by the different parties in spite of and in contravention of the tenets of democracy.

    Equally important is the pervasive role that the media now play in the democratic process. With the mass media, it is now possible and very easy for parties and their candidates to reach millions of voters without actually having any inter-personal contacts and social contract with them. This was not the case in the democracy of old or when democracy first evolved.

    Read Also: Tinubu: Presidency blasts Atiku, describes ex-VP as new opposition-in-chief

    Furthermore, with the media, candidates picked by the respective political parties to fly their respective flags are sanitized, cleaned up and deodorized. They are thereafter packaged and sold to the electorate like a bottle of jam or a jar of ice cream. The characters, qualities, health status, integrity and programmes the individual candidates have to offer and the capacity to deliver on those programmes no longer matter in present day democracy. This was self – evident in the cases of Donald Trump of America and His Royal Majesty, Vladimir Putin of Russia.

    The present day democracy has also not been able to accommodate and fit into landmark developmental issues in contemporary human societies such as population growth and epochal scientific breakthroughs. For example, the influences of internet, social media and artificial intelligence, have become so intrusive, pervasive and dominant, in the democratic processes and in contemporary times than when democracy first evolved such that they can no longer be ignored.

    One other deficit of present day democracy is that it hardly accommodates the diverse cultures and values that could be found among different peoples and societies in the different parts of the world.

    Equally, account must be taken of the advent of electronics, robotics, artificial intelligence, cyber engineering and allied sciences and their impacts on democracy. The controversy and allegations that Russian interfered in the elections that made Donald Trump the president of the United States of America is a pointer in this direction.

    The constitutions and the electoral laws of most nations of the world are antiquated and not keeping pace with developments in the democratic arena and have therefore not been too helpful to the democratic processes. Most, if not all of these documents are skewed against popular participation and inclusive governance.

    These are some of the reasons why voter apathy has now become very prevalent in most, if not all, of the Western democracies and albeit around the world. The citizens of the world are becoming more and more conscious and acutely aware that they in fact don’t actually have a say or choice or franchise to select or vote for or determine those who preside over their affairs.

    Given the dilemma or conundrum that western democracies have become, the germane question now is: how can governance be put back in the hands of the people or how can societies return to the citizens or become people-oriented democracy? To realize these objectives, the first steps that would have to be taken is to ensure the constitutions, electoral laws and extant laws of the different societies and countries, provide a level playing ground for all citizens to be able to participate effectively in politics without let or hindrance no matter their material status in life.

    The creation of a level playing ground will also entail the abrogation of parties and professional politicking. In their places should be instituted people’s congresses as the basis for representation and say in societal management and affairs. This proposal should not be equated with a one-party state or a sort of communist structure. Rather, it is suggested that the People’s Congresses run as a bureaucracy of governance akin to but quite unlike government parastatals and ministries. The bureaucracy could be described and called Bureau for National Planning and Development; for want of a better appellation or description.

    For example, in Nigeria, there could be a Nigerian People’s Congress (NPC) to comprise, on almost equal basis, those who have emerged as leaders in a free and fair elections in the student, youth, teacher, health, market, old people, the army, the physically challenged, etc., associations and bodies. The members of this apex organ of state governance or more appropriately, management, are expected to be responsible or saddled with national planning and all important decision making in the different organs of the society: the executive; the legislature and the judiciary.

    Furthermore, referendum will also have a crucial role to play in this form of societal management. To take or arrive at final decisions and consensus on very important and crucial state matters, all citizens should always be invited to vote on issues by way of referendum albeit without compulsion as right not to vote and be voted for and even dissent must be guaranteed as an integral part of the new democracy.

    In the new democracy, very critical attentions must be paid to the justice sector of the society. The adversarial justice system should be deemphasized. In its place should be mediation, conciliation and arbitration. Punishment for crimes should be swift but not draconian. The prisons should become truly reformatory and correctional centres and not slaughter slabs and gulags for destruction or annihilation of errant members of the society. Protests and demonstrations should be jealously protected as a right and should never at any time be abjured or put in abeyance. Open display or promotion of violence by state actors, such as use of guns by security agencies should be of last resort while for non-state actors it should be totally prohibited.

    The present day democracy has become an atomic bomb ticking towards explosion. For humanity to escape mutually assured destruction it must admit that it is no longer sustainable and immediately jettison it. There is the urgent need to develop another system, rules and apparatuses for the management of affairs of men and societies. Inclusive governance has the added advantage of being able to evolve mechanisms for the banishment of poverty in all its ramifications among all citizens.

     •Kolawole, Esq. is a Lagos based Legal Practitioner and a Public Affairs Analyst.

  • Only good governance can sustain democracy in Africa, says speaker Abbas

    Only good governance can sustain democracy in Africa, says speaker Abbas

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has said that the parliament in Africa must work to ensure good governance on the continent in other to sustain democracy.

    Represented by the House leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbare, the speaker when a delegation from the chairman of the conference of speakers and presiding officers of African parliament visited him.

    He said the parliament must also ensure that there is social justice in democratic nations throughout the continent.

    He said even though the military in Africa has been politicised, the only of keeping them out if politics is by ensuring good governance, which he said the parliament must work with the Executive arm to give to the people.

    He said members of parliament in the country are not able to use 90 percent of the Constitutional powers they have duely largely to pressure arising from the rigorous electoral process such as the nomination process, the rigours if elections and litigation.

    He said: “By the time you are through with all these, you will only have about one or two years to settle down to your mandate and then you begin to face another elections”.

    According to him, members of parliament hardly have more than one year to convince their constituents that the actually know why they were elected in the first place before facing another round of elections.

    He emphasised that parliaments must emphasise not just Liberal democracy but democratisation and the promotion of a culture of constitutionalism.

    He said organisations such as the Conference of Speakers was needed to share ideas and experiences among countries on the continent and commended former Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila for initiating the Conveyor Spealers wnd Presiding Officers of Africa Parliament.

    He said the Nigerian parliament will continue to support the Conference to ensure its success, adding that he will encourage the Speaker of the House of Representatives to set up a small group that will constantly brainstorm and come up with ideas to support the group.

    .Read Also: Nwodo lauds Mbah’s willingness to support fallen Enugu fire fighter’s family

    The Leader of the delegation and former Deputy Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament,

    Joe Ghartey recalled that one of the ideas brought to be we by the Conference of Speakers was the issue of debt cancellation for African countries.

    Ghartey who said that Ghana and Nigeria has always has a cordial relationship however saod that while seeking debt cancellation, African countries must be able to look inward and ensure judicious management of their resources.

    He spoke of the need to ensure that Speakers and Presiding Officers on the continent work closely with Leaders of the Executive in th n development of the continent.

    He said Speakers and Presiding Officers should not work alone on the issue of debt cancellation for African countries but must get the buy in of Presidents and their Foreign Ministers.

  • Of good journalism, democracy and politicians

    Of good journalism, democracy and politicians

    By Dr Goodlick F.T. Uguoji

    SIR: Sometimes in November 2023, a viral, contentious dialogic confrontation arose between a journalist and a gentleman identified as a lawyer. The journalist asked a legitimate question, but the lawyer tried to prevaricate, threatened to walk out of the studio and even tried to  belittle the journalist as a “boy”; a badly brought up little boy with no professional journalistic credentials.

    It was an interesting scenario that generated a healthy debate. The consensus was that journalists are the same everywhere, except possibly those in the communist enclaves where the authoritarian theory of the press reigns supreme. In the free world, from Washington to London, Cairo, Nairobi, Accra and Lagos, they are all what Gay Talase says they are: “restless voyeurs who see the warts on the world, the imperfections in people and places.”

    Even non-journalists who are keen observers of the profession have come to accept the notion that, for journalists, normality is anathema; if not an outright abomination. There is nothing like normal life for these purveyors of news; life that is full to the brim with routine, life that is a monumental bore.

    Such life is not the stuff of which news is made. News that makes the front pages, news that makes this fragile earth shake to its foundation, news that informs those with open minds and angers those with closed minds, news that makes the saints smell like roses and makes the sinners stink to hell, news that makes the world go round. 

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    Those who are in this business of reporting are more at home with news of riots and raids. Call it sensationalism, if you like. They are lured by disaster and gloom, disagreements and controversies, deaths and destruction; the more bizarre the piece of action, the better.

    If there is anything you don’t want anyone else to know, for goodness sake, conceal it. But for those who occupy public offices, it could be a herculean task, because the cardinal role of any reporter is to reveal that which a public office holder wants to conceal.  

    This is where the interest of an iconoclastic reporter collides with that of those in authority. In the pursuit of his career, the journalist must have taken Thomas Hardy’s advice to heart: “If a way to the better there be, it exacts a full look at the worst”. Because there will come a time when self-evident truth will stand naked in public. 

    The Nigerian journalists, unlike many other powerful interest groups, are the most patriotic lot. They wield power, no doubt, because they are well informed. But they do not, as Stanley Baldwin once said, “exercise power without responsibility – the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages”. 

    As far as I am concerned, the journalist that can compel a politician to reveal hidden information is a gem of journalism; a paragon of excellence and a journalist’s journalist. Frank Seimonds admonition to his fellow journalists is therefore even more unedifying. He cautions: “There is but one way for a newspaper man to look at a politician, and that is down.”

    • Dr Goodlick F.T. Uguoji, Akute, Ogun State.

  • ‘We’ll deliver more dividends of democracy’

    ‘We’ll deliver more dividends of democracy’

    Katsina State Government has pledged to provide more dividends of democracy to better the living condition of residents.

    Commissioner of Information and Culture, Dr Bala Salisu-Zango, gave the pledge during an interactive session with newsmen in Katsina yesterday.

    He said that Governor Dikko Radda, had already signed a budget of N454.3 billion into law for the 2024 fiscal year, adding that it was aimed at moving the state forward.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget was tagged: “Building Your Future (1).”

    Read Also: Now that Dikko Radda is Katsina’s governor-elect

    NAN also reports that recurrent expenditure stands at N124.3 billion, representing 27.37 per cent, while capital expenditure is N329.9, representing 72.63 per cent.

    Salisu-Zango said that government would give priority to capital projects, particularly in the health, education, water supply, empowerment and agricultural sectors.

    He further stated that government would strive to ensure proper implementation of the budget for the benefits of the people of the state.

    The commissioner, therefore, urged residents to continue to support government’s policies and programmes, which, he said, were aimed at taking the state to greater heights.

  • We need to protect and nurture our current democracy

    We need to protect and nurture our current democracy

    Recently in Phoenix, Arizona, President Joe Biden while declaring open the late Senator John McCain Library at the University of Arizona made some profound statements about democracy and America’s mission to defend it against its enemies all over the world. The American president has made it a point of duty to speak in support of democracy since he came into office about three years ago. This arises from his long service in the US senate and his service as vice president under President Barack Obama and his belief that democracy is America’s gift to the world. Going therefore to honour Senator McCain, a Republican, demonstrated his commitment to democratic ethos of accepting that differences of opinion without rancour is a basic attribute of democratic governance and principle.

    I listened carefully to the president’s call on Americans about the need to defend and protect their democracy by speaking against all acts and actions taken against it by political leaders and influential people in the society. The American president said without naming President Donald J. Trump that the greatest enemy was within America itself. It is of course debatable whether any country can save democracy if the people themselves feel let down by the democratic government they install after every election.

    In the same vein, I feel compelled to raise my voice against undemocratic actions of some functionaries of government that are undermining democracy and if attention is not called to such actions, this may lead to the demise of democracy in Nigeria. We have witnessed happily the return of democratic governance since 1999 when the military exited the scene of government. Although many people felt what we actually had was not democracy but militarised democracy. Whatever we have is however a semblance of democracy and if we protect and nurture it the possibility of it growing to what we want is there.

    About eight years ago there was an intra-party dispute between the retiring governor of Edo State and his deputy who wanted to succeed him. The dispute of succession led to the deputy leaving the governing party and joining the leading opposition party. Incidentally he was supported and financially aided by the leadership of the party in power in Rivers State. When he won the election he was faced with the majority members of his old party in the legislature. When he could not persuade them to follow him into the opposition party he refused to allow them enter parliament by not swearing them to the oath of allegiance to the constitution. He followed this up by removing the roof of the parliament thus daring its members to meet in the open. This went on for four years until the term of the parliamentarians expired. All threats against the governor even from the national parliament in Abuja came to nothing until the governor served two terms of four years each.

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    The lesson here is that the governor is supreme if determined to stay in office even against the opposition of members of parliament and the courts. We are again faced with the same situation in Rivers State. The government there is confronting the former governor of the state who is currently serving as minister of the federal capital territory in Abuja. The new governor in Rivers State even though apparently supported to become governor by the previous holder of the office deservedly want to be his own man against the wishes of his former boss. The vast majority of members of the House of legislature, 27 out of 32 or so , who are beholden to the past governor decided to support the past governor and to impeach and possibly remove the incumbent governor despite the intervention of the president. The whole situation has assumed dramatic turn with the legislators leaving their former party on which they and the governor were elected. The scenario is that when and if they return to the legislative building, they would probably invoke impeachment procedure and send the governor packing. The governor has borrowed from the Edo play book which Rivers State which the incumbent governor and his predecessor had used successfully in Edo State. This time it was even more dramatic. The state governor sent bulldozers to pull down the legislative building on the grounds that it had been damaged when there was a fracas between the two groups.  This destruction of a building worth billions of Naira when the country is facing horrendous economic problems is not only insensitive but totally outrageous.

    In the meantime, the few legislators about four or five of them supporting the governor have approved the 2024 budget. The cabinet of the governor has been hollowed out with the resignation of the supporters of the previous governor. The governor is banking on the hope that if the House members cannot meet in the legislative building, all their decisions would come to nothing. I am not sure that his few supporters meeting in the governor’s chamber and approving the budget could pass through the cannons of law. The governor must be banking on previous history of this kind of contest between the executive and the legislature.

    During the first Republic, Chief S.L.A Akintola in the Western Region fought successfully the parliament’s intention to remove him. He had the support of the federal government at the time.  At the end of the day, the outcome was neither in in the interest of democracy nor the country. One is not sure the federal executive would support the governor now that the majority of the legislature are on the same side with the ruling party at the federal level. The minister of the federal capital territory even though still a member of the opposition party, is likely to follow his colleagues from Rivers State into the governing party. This will have effect on the federal position. The governor can hopefully take solace in that both in Edo and the old Western Region, the governors prevailed against the legislatures. One hopes the Rivers State judiciary will not be dragged further into the political miasma as it’s usually the case to the embarrassment of everybody.

    We have to take legally binding decisions on this kind of scenario for future occasions. There are constitutional provisions about resigning from parties that sent a person to parliament when leaving the party and joining another but those provisions are not strictly enforced. If enforced, the frivolous trading of positions in the parties will be eliminated especially if such people have to leave parliament. The constitutional provisions on impeachment have to be tightened up to include crimes which are justiciable in courts of law not just that the person has lost political majority.

    Certainly the physical attack on parliament must not only be deprecated, it must be forbidden. There ought to be laws to prevent former executives’ attempt to subvert the functions of the government of their successors. This kind of thing caused the crisis in the ACTION GROUP and remotely led to the civil war in Nigeria between 1966 to 1970. Anybody who thinks the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria is here to stay and that we don’t have to guard and protect it is not realistic. The country is too fragile and is beset by all kinds of fissiparous tendencies tearing the country apart ranging from ethnic and existential economic problems to social and political insecurity. Democracy is not a perfect system but it remains the best the human brain has come up with but it has to be protected and nurtured to preserve it.

  • How to address West Africa’s troubled democracy, by experts

    How to address West Africa’s troubled democracy, by experts

    Experts have proffered solutions on how to address West Africa’s troubled democracy amid the global challenges to building stability and peace.

    The discourse, organised by a non-governmental organisation, the African Refugees Foundation (AREF), was titled: “Troubled Democracy: Interrogating Violence, Internal Displacement and Migration in West Africa.”

    The lecture which was held at the foundation’s corporate headquarters in the Surulere area of Lagos, had in attendance discussants including Prof. Kolawole Raheem, Adebayo Olowo-Ake, and other dignitaries.

    According to the Foundation’s Projects Executive, Wole Adediran, he explained that the discourse was designed to rekindle interest in peace and democracy to fully contribute to and understand peace education and what the democratic ethos entails.

    He said: “Several citizens shun their rights to participate in civic activities yet keep on complaining about our politicians that turn politics into a profession. One needs to be involved and add impetus to the democratic template.

    “The prevalence of abject poverty is an indication of inequity and injustice. Democratic principles outline indicators to look for in a sane society, in developed and developing nations. How to develop our nation is the reason behind this discourse.”

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    The foundation’s president, Chief Mrs. Opral Benson in her remarks disclosed that the foundation encourages public discourse on peace education and deliberative democracy.

    “The frequency of multiple crises that produce internally displaced persons (IDPs) will reduce, and chances of securing confidence among stakeholders will scale up. At the level of political leaders, community heads, religion leaders, stakeholders leadership, the essence of equitable governance must be provided.”

    One of the speakers, Prof. Raheem in his lecture titled: ‘Mainstreaming Peace Education into School Curriculum and Non-formal Learning’ called for the inclusion of peace education inclusion into the school curriculum and non-formal learning.

    He said: “The world is in turmoil! There are wars everywhere. We have wars that are precursors to intense armed conflicts. Those are the wars we have to purposively work against to prevent large-scale armed confrontations in our society.

    “I believe that any society that wants to prevent war and maintain peace would have to systematically build a purposive Peace Education for the society. It must be in the form of purposive formal and non-formal peace education for all.

    “I even think peace education in some forms of well-constructed conversations/discussions should take place in government institutions like the ministries, government parastatals, and other workplaces.”

    Also, in his lecture titled: ‘West Africa’s Troubled Democracy as a trigger for violence, Internal Displacement and Illegal Migration, Olowo-Ake lamented the regime of coups and counter coups that dotted the African landscape in the aftermath of the first republic for most countries.

    He emphasised that some of the coups were foreseen owing to the poor governance under the civilian leadership.

    Olowo-Ake said: “Today, the gains of the 2000s appear to be fizzling out. While ECOWAS reversed military regimes and other unconstitutional changes of power in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, and The Gambia, the sub-region suddenly witnessed a rash of coups.”

    He recalled that great progress was made in West Africa in the 1990s to democratise the sub-region, with strong fillip provided for such efforts by the 2001 Democracy and Good Governance Protocol of ECOWAS which greatly influenced the AU into adopting similar policies to frustrate unconstitutional changes of power across the continent.

    “I will find it hard to submit that the recent spate of coups that we have experienced in West Africa amount to an epidemic, but describing the region as having a troubled democracy is definitely apt because out of its 15 member-States, 4 (Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger) are now under military rule.”

    “One common denominator for these countries is the jihadi insurgency on the territories of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.”