Tag: Democracy

  • Resisting Military Rule in West Africa

    Resisting Military Rule in West Africa

    In light of recent events, it is crucial to stand united in rejecting and resisting military rule in West Africa. While acknowledging that no democracy is flawless, we must remember that military intervention is not the answer to our challenges.

    Surprisingly, there seems to be a growing wave of support for military rule among young people, as observed in social media comments. Undoubtedly, this sentiment stems from the disappointment and frustration with the political class. However, rather than resorting to military solutions, it is imperative that we channel our energies towards improving our democratic institutions.

    read more:Thugs Burnt Down Muri Campaign Office Again In Lokoja

    Though our democracy may not be perfect, no democracy is without its flaws. Instead of abandoning it, we must strive to make it better. By actively engaging in the democratic process and advocating for positive changes, we can bring about the improvements we seek.

    Together, we can overcome our challenges and make progress towards a more robust and inclusive democracy. Let us stand firm against military rule and work collectively to shape a brighter future for West Africa.

  • Our votes must count in Order for Nigeria’s Democracy to Flourish – Peter Obi

    Our votes must count in Order for Nigeria’s Democracy to Flourish – Peter Obi

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has encouraged voters to exercise their franchise in the governorship and state house of assembly elections.

    The LP leader, who went to the polls in company with his wife, Mrs Margaret Obi, shared photos of the couple at the polls.

    Calling on members of the electorate who had yet to cast their votes to do, he said Nigeria’s democracy would benefit from the performing their civic duty.

  • Mullti-Party Democracy Better Than Military Regime –  Buhari

    Mullti-Party Democracy Better Than Military Regime – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that multi-party system of government is far better than military rule.

    According to him, having served as military head of state and civilian President, he could attest to the fact that multi-party democratic rule is the best form of government.

    Speaking Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, while playing host to a delegation of the Universal Peace Federation, the President while delving

    into his experience with both military and civilian rule, submited that multi-party democracy is the best system.

    He wondered why some African countries were still descending into the abyss of unconstitutional change of government, saying: “I thought we had finally put that behind us.”

    On the Peace Summit being planned for Abuja, to bring all African countries together before the end of his administration by May, 2023, President Buhari pledged Nigeria’s support, “relative to resources, to help in stabilizing neighboring countries.”

    He decried the problems in the Sahel belt of the continent, lamenting that it is of great concern, as it affects both agriculture and businesses negatively.

    The President described the interest of Universal Peace Federation Africa in the continent as “quite genuine,” saying he was very pleased at the development.

    Earlier in their speeches, Chairperson of the Federation in Africa, Dr Katherine Rigney and Chairman, Universal Peace Federation International, Dr Thomas Walsh, said they believed the forthcoming summit in Nigeria “will top them all,” having held similar meetings in the past in Niger Republic, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, among others.

    During the Abuja Summit, President Buhari will be given the Leadership and Good Governance Award, “as appreciation of the fantastic results you’ve brought to Nigeria, and a celebration of your anti-corruption credentials.”

  • In Guinea Bissau, Buhari Vows To Defend Democracy As He Returns To Daura

    In Guinea Bissau, Buhari Vows To Defend Democracy As He Returns To Daura

    President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the commitment of Nigeria to work with Guinea Bissau and other countries towards sustaining and strengthening democracy and good governance in the sub-region and the entire African continent.

    The President spoke on Wednesday in the course of a one-day State Visit to the embattled West African country.

    He gave words of encouragement to the people of the country for standing with the democratically chosen administration of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló against threats by undemocratic forces.

    President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, welcomed the conferment of the country’s highest national honour, the Amilcar Cabral Award upon him and the naming of a major street in Bissau, the capital city, after him.

    On his part, the President of Guinea Bissau praised Nigeria for always standing with them in their 20 years of instability.

    President Embalo promised to re-invite President Buhari to commission the new Presidential Villa, now under construction even after leaving office, and the edifice is to be named Muhammadu Buhari Villa.

    Nigerian officials that received the country’s merit award are: Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari and Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency.

    The others were Sarki Abba, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters and the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.

    The President landed in Katsina and is now in Daura, his hometown.

  • Nigeria’s Democracy Needs Fair Treatment Before 2023 Elections – Gambo Sallau

    Nigeria’s Democracy Needs Fair Treatment Before 2023 Elections – Gambo Sallau

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    Former speaker, Kano state House of assembly Rt. Honourable Gambo Sallau opined that democracy in Nigeria in needs of fair treatment before the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

    He disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Kano, adding that it is important for both the political parties, the Nigerians electoral body and the stakeholders to give free treatment to democracy especially at present when the country’s political agitation is taking new dimension.

    Gambo Sallau lamented that ” it is time for all the political class, the electoral body and those aspiring for various elective positions in Nigeria to promote patriotism, unity and togetherness in order to ensure better Nigeria in 2023 and beyond”. He concluded.

    Commenting on youth in the Nigeri’s politics,the former speaker stressed that although it is time for the youths to be actively inclusive into elective positions, but it is important for them to learn the way politics is being practiced from their political instructors, where he assures that Nigeria would continue to progress in a democratic dispensation of given fair treatment.

    Speaking on the political tussle facing Kano APC, Honourable Gambo Sallau said that ” what is happening in Kano is something natural in democracy, and all of us are law abiding whatever the case might be,we are waiting for the final verdict from the supreme Court where the case would be laid to rest.

  • Amended Electoral Act Will Deepen Internal Democracy – Akpan

    Amended Electoral Act Will Deepen Internal Democracy – Akpan

    The Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East and Chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Obong Albert Akpan has expressed optimism that the recently signed electoral act (amended) would deepen internal democracy among political parties in the country.

    Akpan told journalists in Uyo that the act would also guarantee increased participation in future elections, describing President Muhammadu Buhari as a true democrat for yielding to the yearnings of Nigerians despite pressure from some quarters.

    “The President is a true democrat. We have used the old electoral act for two elections. The recent review was necessary because of the need to address critical issues from the past elections. Some of these issues were not provided for by the law. Hence the President has signed the new act that will go a long way in enhancing the transparency of the election process.

    “Political parties now have a clear mandate of choosing between direct, indirect and consensus approach in the nomination of candidates who will represent them at the polls.” Akpan reiterated.

    Commenting on consensus candidacy as enshrined in the new law, the lawmaker said the law would make the process more participatory and transparent as all candidates seeking an elective office must append their signatures to adopt any consensus position before ratification by delegates.

    He noted that where a political party cannot secure written consent of all cleared aspirants for the emergence of a consensus candidate, the law has mandated the party to revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomination of a candidate for the desired office.

    Reflecting on voter apathy, which he said has marred previous elections in the country, Akpan posited that a free and credible nomination process is critical towards mitigating the effect of voter apathy in future elections.

    “Voter apathy usually emanates from the process that produces candidates in different political parties. The new electoral act will enhance transparency in our electoral processes. The burden is now on political parties to do their best in advancing internal democracy. I believe that the coming elections will witness increased voter turnout because of the reforms we will see because of the new law.” He said.

  • Group Advocates Synergy Between Politicians, Electorates To Achieve Dividends Of Democracy In Kogi

    Group Advocates Synergy Between Politicians, Electorates To Achieve Dividends Of Democracy In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Lokoja and Idah on Tuesday Advocated for closer relationship between elected representatives and citizens to enhance peaceful coexistence in kogi state.

    This was contained in the the sensitization message of the two commissions during a day sensitization town hall meeting organized for key community leaders and citizens held at M&G Hotel in Anyigba on Tuesday.

    The sensitization meeting which was drawn form Idah, Ejule, Anyigba, Ankpa and Agaliga in kogi east senatorial district and part of JDPC Lokoja and Idah Legislative Advocacy Projects being implemented since 2016 commended some law makers for quality representation.

    The project officer, Success Adejoh Sunday who delivered a key note address on behalf of the project coordinator, Rev. Fr. Augustine Okafor noted that the aim of the project was to bridge communication gap between the people and elected representatives through active constituency offices and periodic town hall meetings.

    Adejo noted that the commission is out to advocate for improved access to portable water in kogi state stressing that despite the natural blessings of rivers Niger and Benue in Lokoja, access to portable water remains a great challenge in several communities.

    Some of the community representatives present at the event thanked JDPC for her efforts and recounted that the advocacy project has really touched lives in the communities as it has attracted interventions of the duty bearers in their communities especially in the area of water provision.

    Participants from Anyigba, however, lamented that the government owned central water facility in Anyigba is currently not working thereby subjecting the people in the area to a severe hardship to access portable water.

    On sanitation, the group pointed out that the level of indiscriminate refuse dump in Anyigba community is very high and called on Dekina local government authority to take urgent steps in this direction.

    The representative from Agaliga community, Mr. Francis Abuh stated that only one borehole provided by the local government council in 2019 is the only source of portable water in the community at the moment which is highly inadequate.

    Representatives of Ejule, Idah and Ankpa communities, thanked their elected representatives for providing them with boreholes and promised to take steps towards the maintenance of the facilities.

  • Democracy Has Come To Stay In Nigeria – Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor

    Democracy Has Come To Stay In Nigeria – Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Major, General Lucky Irabor, has pledged the loyalty of the military leadership to democratic rule in the country.

    Irabor made the pledge on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he commended the efforts of military personnel ahead of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    “Today, I believe that Nigerians are no longer in doubt as to the subordination of the military to civil rule; I believe that no one is in doubt that democracy has come to stay,” he said amid the recent military takeover of government in some African countries.

    “I believe that no one is in doubt any longer that the current military leadership, and of course, since the democratisation in 1999, that the military is well focused to perform its constitutional roles.”

    Recently, some countries on the continent witnessed a forceful takeover of power by the military, including Mali, Guinea, and Sudan.

    The people of Guinea were taken by shock on September 5, 2021, when army putschists in the country said they had arrested President Alpha Conde and staged a coup.

    Seven weeks later, Sudanese armed forces detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok over his refusal to support their coup on Monday.

    Back in the country, General Irabor admitted that some Nigerians might still be struggling with their experience regarding military involvement in politics in the past.

    He believes those who have very strong reservations in this regard may not actually give room for escalation of discussions that have to do with repositioning and bringing the military to full focus in terms of what good it has brought to the nation.

    Speaking about the significance of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the defence chief stressed the need to educate the upcoming generation about the nation’s history

    “I am sure you also know that issues that have to do with civic responsibilities still require a little push; I am sure you know that literacy level in the nation still requires a little push; and so when you bring these factors among several other things, you know that quite a lot of work needs to be done,” he said.

    “Going forward, I believe that some of these misperceptions that some Nigerians have had with respect to military engagement will begin to change.”

  • Decamping Into APC Is A Boost To Nigeria’s Democracy – Dr. Saleh Wailare

    Decamping Into APC Is A Boost To Nigeria’s Democracy – Dr. Saleh Wailare

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    Nigeria’s democracy is getting more progress nowadays when politicians remain more concerns about the ruling party especially where more big figures making move to decamp into the party.

    This was disclosed by an APC stalwart from Dambatta and Makoda federal constituency while reacting to the recent decampings by the Zamfara state governor Matawalle and other prominent persons across the country.

    He lamented that Nigeria’s democracy is now boosting because everybody accepts that APC is the best political party that cares about the people of all categories, where he assured that the party’s manifestos remained human angled choice at both rural and urban areas.

    ” I am of the opinion that All progressive Congress is the best party that embraced everybody and that is why almost every concerned citizens supports the party, and from what is happening, APC is loved by the majority of Nigeria’s citizens for it’s determination to restore viable domocratic activities that are of important to the electorates”. He added.

    Dr. Saleh Musa Wailare disclosed that the decampings of the former kano state governorship candidate, Salihu Sagir Takai is a testimony that APC is a trusted political party and always ready to promotes peace and development to the people with best results.

    Dr Wailare disclosed thà Takai is a good leader who thinks over before he acts, that is one of the reasons that his political career would continue to be passionate with huge crowd of supporters, and praised the former commissioner and governorship candidate for joining the best and safe journey in the Nigeria’s politics.

    He finally welcomed those who decamped from thee parties for their commitments to the service of the humanity, and thanked his Excellency the executive governor of Kano state for his transparent leadership style in Kano state that is being enjoyed.

  • President Muhammadu Buhari Enjoins Political Leaders To Emulate Governor Zulum In Providing Dividends Of Democracy To The People

    President Muhammadu Buhari Enjoins Political Leaders To Emulate Governor Zulum In Providing Dividends Of Democracy To The People

    By  Dauda R PamMaiduguri

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on elected political leaders to emulate the sterling   leadership qualities of Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for his selfless service to the people, as opposed to buck-passing and game blame syndrome.

     He made the call on Thursday, during a one day state visit and security assessment of Operation Hadin Kai theatre command headquarters in MAIDUGURI, where he took time-off, to commission seven out of the 556 capital projects executed by the  Borno state Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum’s two years in office.

    Hear him, “I am highly impressed by the very dynamic leadership that, Governor Babagana Umaru Zulum, has been providing in Borno State in the last two years. 

    He is very selfless and has been taking a lot of personal risks in order to guarantee the safety and welfare of his people.
    I wish that every other person who has responsibility for the people at various levels will emulate Governor Zulum, instead of squandering so much time on unhelpful buck-passing and blame games.  I have gone round to commission some of the capital projects executed by the Zulum Administration in two years. I am very happy with what I saw”.

    At the Muna Vocational Training Institute, the President described it as, “a very dynamic answer to skills acquisition and job creation efforts” which has the potentials to drastically reduce youth unemployment in the state.

    The institute, it was gathered, was designed to train about 1,500 persons annually, it has 14 workshops for Automobile and Mechatronics, Electrical Installation, Solar Installation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Leather Works, Barbing and Cosmetology, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting, GSM Repairs, Welding and Fabrication, Maisonry and Building, Carpentry and Joinery; Tie and Die, ICT, as well as Tailoring and Fashion design.

    It also has, six hostels of about 200 rooms, a kitchen and common room, as well as an Auditorium, administrative building, and sporting facilities.

    The President commissioned the Borno State University, which was completed by the Zulum administration including the senate building, two large hostels with 150 rooms for 1,200 students,34 units of duplexes and bungalows for Professors, senior and intermediate staff.

    Other projects included, seven kilometers of road and drainage network, landscaping works across the University, just as, the major infrastructural works were earlier done by the Kashim Shettima’s administration, the founder of the state university.

    Also commissioned, were two mega-size Government Day Technical Secondary Schools in Njimtilo and Goni Kachallari and a higher Islamic School, near the Shehu’s palace, all of which have 60 air-conditioned classrooms for at least 2,400 students; vocational workshops, laboratories for sciences and ICT, auditoriums and sporting facilities. 

    It will be recalled that, Zulum, has built 16 of such schools across Borno State within the two years in office.. 

    Others commissioned were Abbaganaram Maternal Healthcare Centre, which has 50-bed spaces, theatres, diagnostic equipment, blood banks and laboratories and another replicated in Gwange.

    Roads and drainages were not left out, as the President also commissioned roads and drainages constructed in Jiddari Polo and first phase of 10,000 resettlement houses he had approved for Borno State from which 4,000 have been completed. 


    In another development, President Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work with Borno Government in identifying areas through which the FG can support on-going construction of Borno State University Teaching Hospital through intervention, equipment and manpower. 

    The support, according to him, is to compliment the state government which, in two years, executed 58 capital projects on health, which included establishment of 74 primary healthcare centres, new doctors quarters, and the overhaul of eight hospitals.

    Also delivered were, 10 capital projects on security; 13 capital projects on Agriculture; 15 capital projects on commerce and industry and 28 capital projects on Jobs creation, Youths Empowerment and Humanitarian support. 

    As well as 53 capital projects executed on Reconstruction Rehabilitation and Resettlement which involved more than 6,000 resettlement houses for IDPs and Refugees in 15 towns.

    On capital projects,59 delivered on water and environment; 63 capital projects on governance, and another 63 capital projects on roads, transport, rural and urban development, with education having the highest number of 194 capital projects including rehabilitation, completion and fresh construction of Mega-size government technical colleges and primary schools in different communities.