Tag: Democracy

Tinubu eulogises late Ndubuisi Kanu as great patriot, rare breed democrat

Sen. Bola Tinubu, former Lagos governor, has described the late retired Rear Adm. Ndubuisi Kanu, as a rare breed for his singular consistency and unwavering commitment to social justice, democracy and federalism in Nigeria.

Kanu, a former Military Governor of Imo (1975) and of Lagos State (1976) died on Wednesday morning in a Lagos hospital at the age of 77.

He was also the Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

Tinubu, in his tribute to the late Naval Chief on Wednesday in Lagos, also described him as highly principled and a great patriot

The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) also expressed sadness over the great loss of the ex-military administrator.

He said: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of former military administrator of Lagos and Imo states, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu.

“He was my brother and a very courageous partner in the struggle for democracy and enthronement of true federalism in Nigeria.

In everything he did, from his work as former administrator of Lagos State to the sacrifices he made to help NADECO during the struggle for the actualization of June 12, Rear Admiral Kanu was highly principled.

He provided democratic vision and meaningful ideas to advance that historic struggle.

“He was a patriot and a progressive. A rare breed in his consistent and unwavering commitment to social justice, democracy, and workable federalism in Nigeria,” he said

The APC leader said that the deceased was a Lagosian and a true Nigerian nationalist in the very best sense of that phrase.

He noted that after his retirement, he freely offered to bring progress to Lagos State by lending creative ideas as well as the fruits of his ample experience to successive administrations in Lagos, including mine from 1999 to 2007.

“He demonstrated true belief and interest in the progress and development of the state.

“With his immense experience and gentle mien, the Admiral offered intelligence and meaningful advice which always proved helpful in solving problems at critical times,” he said

Tinubu condoled with the deceased family, particularly his wife and children, and all those who loved and respected this extraordinary Lagosian and Nigerian.

He prayed God to strengthen and comfort them at this moment, adding that only God could help them bear the loss.

Tinubu also extended his sympathies to Governors Babajide Sanwo-olu and Hope Uzodinma of Lagos and Imo respectively, the governments and people of the two states which late Rear Adm. Kanu served with such distinction and dedication.

“This outstanding man and patriot is now with God and may his soul now rest in perfect peace.”

NAN reports that Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) was born on Nov. 3, 1943, and died on Jan. 13.

He was appointed military governor of Imo State in March 1976 during the military regime of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was the first governor after the decree that established the state from part of the old East Central State. He was later transferred to become governor of Lagos State in 1977, leaving office in July 1978.

January 14, 2021
Trump’s character tragedy: Lessons for Nigeria – Dakuku Peterside

By Dakuku Peterside

“Never has man reached his destination by persistence in deviation from the straight path.” – Mahatma Gandhi.

It was apparent to some from the outset when he declared his intention to run for the office of the President of the United States of America that Donald J. Trump lacked character. He lacked the moral values of a town union leader, let alone the ‘leader of the free world’, the most powerful man in the world.

The United States Republican Party, known for it’s conservative principles and family values, was aware of the egregious stories around Trump’s personal and business endeavours. For a man who likes attaching his name to his business ventures, who had so many failed business ventures, it is surprising that he had enough ‘brand equity “to be a populist politician.

Before they overwhelmingly voted for him as President on November 8, 2016, most American Christians have heard the ‘Access Hollywood’ tape on which Donald Trump boasted of forcing himself on women, about his habit of sexually assaulting women. The GOP was aware of Trump’s racist credentials. They knew that he spearheaded the Birtherism Movement against Barack Obama. He expounded the insane conspiracy theory that he was not born in America.

Trump did not pretend to have any modicum of decency or that he was a committed democrat. He levelled insults at his opponents during the Republican Presidential Primaries in 2016, he lied without compunction, mocked a disabled reporter, and shattered all forms of decorum . During the presidential contest, he refused to commit himself to concede the election in the event of a loss. He insisted that he would only accept the results of the election if he were the winner.

It was all politics, and the United States Republican party was only interested in capturing political power. Trump exploited the anti-immigrant fears of the American dominant Caucasian population and quite a percentage of Americans were tired of politicians and admired the anti-establishment candidate who promised to shatter the norms and ‘drain the swamp.’ Trump, the billionaire, positioned himself as a fighter for the oppressed Americans; however, many of his countrymen were swindled despite the paradox.

As President, most of Trump’s policies anchored on the themes’”America First”and “Make America Great Again”shattered norms. His immigration policies were blatantly racist as they targeted poor and Muslim countries. Trump placed a ban on seven Islamic countries from entering the United States – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Saudi Arabia was not on the list even though most of the terrorist that blew up the World Trade Centre in the infamous ‘9/11’ debacle were Saudis. None of the citizens from the counties placed under Trump’s travel ban had ever committed an act of domestic terrorism in the United States.

In the diplomatic arena, Trump pulled the United States out of the Iran Nuclear Deal and the Paris Climate Accord. He riled other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) members and issued a travel ban on some of the International Criminal Court (ICC) judges. Trump cuddled up to dictators and threw insults at fellow leaders. He famously called Africa a ‘shithole’ and reportedly disparaged President Muhammadu Buhari before his assistants during the latter’s diplomatic visit to the White House.

Little wonder many people had cause to look up to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel as ‘the leader of the Free World’, a term customarily accorded every US President.

However, Trump lacked the moral character to be President of the United States of America. His traducers consider him as an embarrassment to Western civilisation. This lack of character later became his Achilles heels.

When he lost the 2020 Presidential elections to Joe Biden by huge margins – 7 million-plus popular votes and 74 Electoral College votes, he would have gracefully conceded as every American President in the past had done. In this way, he would have left office proudly with some remarkable achievements and his supporters would always revere him, even many who never liked his style.

But, as a braggadocio demagogue, Trump continued to expound silly conspiracy theories to explain away his apparent electoral loss. He propagated lies, used insults and intimidation against American public servants overseeing the electoral process for merely doing their jobs and refusing to bend to his dubious will.

Even when his legal team lost over 63 court cases, and judges he appointed faulted his absurd legal filings, he continued to deceive his followers that somehow, he would continue in office for four more years.

Trump did not care that his dubious antics cost his party control of the Senate, removing the last bastion of check his party would have had on the incoming Biden administration. He was only concerned with his grievances, his slippery, futile battle to cling on to the presidency.

A power-drunk Trump called his followers to the US capital on January 6 to intimidate the legislators at the Capitol into upturning the American public’s will, something that would have ended the US as a constitutional democracy. He tried to intimidate his ever-loyal Vice President into exercising powers the latter did not have. He insulted Mike Pence, decried his deputy’s lack of courage, and tried to turn his deranged ‘MAGAites’ against the Senate’s ceremonial President.

It should not be unexpected that Trump’s long indoctrinated followers felt they owed it a duty to their supposed demigod to teach the legislators who were trying to take power away from their leader a big lesson. So, they stormed the legislative building, sacked the lawmakers, and desecrated one of the most sacred edifices of democracy on earth.

Now the ’emperor’ is naked, and the long knives are entirely out. There are mass resignations, all-round condemnation, talks about invoking the 25th Amendment (through which members of his cabinet can remove a president on the grounds of incapacitation), looming unprecedented 2nd impeachment, bipartisan calls for his resignation and the sudden death of ‘Trumpism’ as a serious political movement.

The Trump presidency will forever be defined not by the Christian-friendly posturing, anti-immigrant sentiments and policies, the tax cuts, the three conservative Supreme Court judges, the vast rallies or the enormous lies, bombastic talks, inane exaggerations, or unbridled insults but by the horrible events of January 6, 2021. A date when he egged on his followers to embark on an insurrection against America’s elected representatives. His name will be mired in infamy forever.

The events of the past three months in America underscores the importance of 2 ingredients of democracy. One is the importance of strong institutions. The second is the importance of the character of a leader.

US institutions withstood the onslaught and barrage of assaults from Trump’s political machinery and his cronies. The judiciary threw out over 63 court cases. All the states certified the election results even when Trump called on some Republican States to rescind. Even when Trump’s mob attacked the holy chambers, the legislature stood its ground to complete its traditional function of accepting the electoral college results. The Georgian governor, the Vice President, and many republican officials stood their ground against Trump and his family members’ threats if they fail to do their bidding stalling the democratic process. Both institutions and actors in the political space allowed democratic principles to prevail against all odds.

The lesson for Nigeria is that we must build strong institutions that can survive any onslaught by a radical political juggernaut or demagogue. Strong institutions make strong democracies. Imagine if one judge in one federal high court has issued a court injunction against the election, the drama and lies and subterfuge would have continued in the US. We remember that one of the reasons given for the annulment of the ill-fated June 12, 1993, election was the court injunction gotten by an obscure group stopping the votes’ counting. In times of crisis, institutions should be guarded by national interest and democratic principles. Now is the time to strengthen these institutions to be in a good position to withstand pressures in future.

Character is essential in leadership. Trump’s lack of good character has finally undone him. His despicable place in infamous history is assured. However, people know about his character and did not think it matters before voting for him.

Character is everything! Leaders with lousy character will eventually ruin the system or tarnish the image of the country. It does not matter how skilful or knowledgeable they are as leaders. Never in Nigeria’s democratic future should we fail to examine the character of whoever wants to lead us, nor ignore the evil nature of would-be leaders and vote them in. It will come back to haunt us. If there is proof of corruption, laziness, habitual lying, and tendency to be authoritarian for any would-be-leader, they must not be allowed any leadership position. Ignoring these traits in a leader will only spell doom for the country.

The US is not only embarrassed by the events of the past few months, but they have lost the moral authority as the beacon of hope for democracy. How will the US have the audacity to question undemocratic actions and inactions in other countries? How will it, in all honesty, preach democracy to the world? Little wonder some described the events of the past few days as the death of democracy as we know it. We hope that Biden will restore brand USA as we have always known it and that The US will continue to lead western civilisation to greater heights.

Events of the past few days have shown that no democracy is perfect. It is a work in progress. Local actors and local circumstances define and reify the potency of the democratic system. However, the tenets and principles of a democratic system should be upheld at all cost no matter the political players or atmosphere. This saved American democracy at the end of the day. Men and women of goodwill in various institutions and non-governmental structures stuck to defending democratic values no matter Trump’s pressures. Nigeria must force democratic tenets and principles into the fabrics of our political culture, and all stakeholders must dedicate to adhering to them and protecting them when under attack.

January 10, 2021
Democracy’s dark festivity in Washington – Chidi Amuta

Chidi Amuta

The world has been aflame this week with expressions of consternation over last Wednesday’s political drama in Washington. The images of Donald Trump’s mob of irate supporters breaching the perimeters to storm the Capitol in Washington amounted to a wild desecration of the prime holy place of democracy.

By motivating and inspiring this hubristic act, Donald Trump was scoring a number of damning firsts: He staged and failed in a coup against a sitting government, the one he heads. He sponsored and inspired the invasion of Congress, the first time since after the invading British forces in 1814. He sought to overturn the result of a free and fair election that took place over two months earlier with clear results.

Understandably, the insurrection in Washington has shocked a world long used to seeing the United States as the citadel nation of liberal democracy. Understandably, the emphasis in responses to the chaotic drama has been on the plight of democracy itself as both a concept and a system. From Moscow to Beijing and from Tehran to Caracas, America’s adversaries have seized the occasion to gloat over the apparent devaluation of western democracy in its best place. Others have even used Trump’s questioning of Biden’s clear victory to doubt the integrity of the American electoral system. On the contrary, the best democratic nations in the world like France and Germany have condemned Trump’s actions while reaffirming their faith in democracy as a system, culture and tradition. The classic irony of this moment, however, is that on his way out of the front door of the White House, Donald Trump has vastly devalued and demystified the nation he vowed to “make great again.”

Perhaps the cumulative outcome of Donald Trump’s misrule and serial shenanigans can be seen as a consequence of a glitch in democracy. But strictly speaking, this can only be in the sense that Trump emerged from a presumably democratic process. On the contrary, the tragic failures of the Trump presidency are squarely the results of the foibles of one man, Donald Trump. He literally defrauded the system and rode on the back of democracy to foist his ill digested personal autocracy on the democratic edifice of America.

At this transitional moment, the damage that Trump has done to America’s democratic credentials require three paths to restitution. First, the actions that Mr. Trump has taken against his country are consequential. In order to discourage future instances of such bad behavior, the system ought to exact clear personal sanctions on Mr. Trump.

Of course democracy as a concept and a system cannot go completely scot free from the Donald Trump debacle. American democracy is built on the integrity and credibility of certain institutions on which the system depends first to select “fit and proper” leaders and, secondly, to run an efficient rule -based government that delivers good governance. In the emergence of Donald Trump as the candidate of the Republican party in 2016, American democracy failed. A system that allows a deranged demagogue to pass the test of personal scrutiny in its leadership selection process must hold itself responsible when things go awfully awry. That system or significant aspects of it must be overdue for internal revision.

The political party remains a cardinal pillar of democratic leadership selection. Every now and again in history, however, democracy delivers an illegitimate child. Adolf Hitler was one. Closer to this copy is Silvio Berlusconi, another licentious and noisy moneybag. Here was another, Donald Trump, a loud mouthed and unstable Manhattan real estate mogul with scant knowledge of world affairs or government except as a target for unrelenting vitriol and abuse.

The emergence of Donald Trump as US president remains a historical accident . Garrison Keillor wrote back in The Washington Post of 9th November, 2016 : “Raw ego and proud illiteracy have won out, and a severely learning-disabled man with a real character problem will be president.” Easily one of his signature verbal indiscretions was at the final presidential debate when he interrupted Hillary Clinton: “Nasty Woman!”
In the run up to the 2016 US presidential elections, the Republican primaries weeded out other more credible, ‘fit and proper’ persons to settle for Donald Trump. While the primaries lasted, all the negatives of a Trump candidature were on full display. He had not paid his taxes (business and personal) as and when due. He had frolicked with any number of women of easy virtue. He had made a series of recorded uncomplimentary and disrespectful comments on women and persons with physical disability. His associates read like a directory of the infamous and the crooked. His business practices had been proven to be less than transparent all around the world. His racism was copiously evident in both his previous pronouncements and treatment of employees in his real estate business. Similarly, his extremist views indicated clearly that he would lead a divided America. His lying streak was conspicuously evident in the statements he had made on the Obama identity issue, on Hillary Clinton’s controversial emails, on the multiple exaggerations and false claims about his net worth which proved to be vastly wrong.

In spite of this catalogue of personality and character deficits, the Republican Party went ahead to choose Donald Trump as its presidential candidate. That was the effective backdrop to the serial disaster and perennial danger that Trump became as president of the United States. From the outset, therefore, the political party as the bedrock institution for leadership selection in a democracy failed. Once elected, Donald Trump overran the party and replaced its leadership and bureaucracy with his cronies and personal faithful.

The party itself is now a victim of its oversights and systemic pitfalls. Never since the 1892 humiliation of Benjamin Harrison has the Republican party been so roundly defeated in the Presidency, Congress and Senate elections in one term. There is a cruel logic by which we can even say that the Democratic party never had a better campaign manager than Donald Trump!

Usually, when a political party suffers such overwhelming and humiliating defeat, it tends to reorganize and bounce back stronger as the Republicans did after Barry Goldwater was defeated in 1964 and the Democrats after Walter Mondale’s defeat in 1984. This time, there are doubts as Trump has weakened the party both organizationally and as a popular movement. It has shrunk into a bigoted army of white supremacists, dangerous extremists of all hues and gangsters with an unclear agenda.

For anyone who has followed Donald Trump’s disruptive presidency, the insurrection and desecration of the Capitol is thus the culmination of the failures of the Republican party and should come as no surprise. A presidency that patented itself as a blatant deviation of accepted norms of presidential conduct and serial violation of all civilized codes of political behavior was destined to unravel. It was destined to destroy both itself and the nation that gave it oxygen for four whole years.

The rule of Donald Trump damaged global democracy in more serious ways than just the ugly images of this week’s Capitol invasion or the sustained onslaught on the 2020 presidential election.In the process, America’s long established reputation as a bastion of democracy has been badly shredded. Its long held reputation as a place of law and order has also taken a bad drubbing with the images of rough goons swarming all over the hallowed corridors of the Capitol trending globally. The comparisons that came readily to mind were with backward Third World countries and banana republics where the whims of elected autocrats ride rough shod over the will of the people. It is from the depths of such dismal comparisons that America now has to salvage itself. Thus, President Biden now has the additional burden of rehabilitating the image and reputation of America as a credible place of democracy and respectable domestic and international leadership. Not to talk of the lingering social and economic depredations of an era haunted by a dangerous pandemic.

The rule of Donald Trump damaged global democracy in more serious ways than just the ugly images of this week’s Capitol invasion or the sustained onslaught on the 2020 presidential election.

The most enduring test of the credibility of American democracy and indeed any viable democracy is the sanctity of its electoral process. That sanctity is a function of the guarantee of fairness, accuracy and reliability of results of elections. That process has used the combined force of tradition and technology over the years to establish a reputation with global acclaim. Therefore, when Donald Trump targeted the credibility of the 2020 presidential elections for unrelenting vilification, he was striking at the very heart of America’s reputation as a citadel of democracy. The assault on the Capitol was only an added step in a programme of self destructive private onslaught that eroded US national credibility and reputation both at home and around the world..

The rule of Donald Trump damaged global democracy in more serious ways than just the ugly images of this week’s Capitol invasion or the sustained onslaught on the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump signaled the rise of populism and renascent nationalism as a counter force to the long established liberal order. This alternative was propelled by a new rhetoric of extremism and the unleashing of the forces of populism, neo nationalism (‘America First’), aggressive protectionism, isolationism and the promotion of ugly identity politics. Suddenly, nativism, racism and exclusionism resurfaced in the language of nations. Populist autocrats came to power in places as diverse as Hungary, the Philippines, Mexico, Egypt and Brazil.

One outcome of this return of populism that has infected global democratic culture is the rise of mobs as a force of public opinion and mass protest. The mob as an irrational force of public protest is often fuelled by an equally irrational sense of entitlement which then dredges up racism, ethnicity, old style nationalism and all manner of ancient sentiments. Mobs patrol the streets, mouthing a new rhetoric of hate and separatism. Mobs speak mostly the language of violence and hate. In the national space, in the compelling defense of counter truths and contrary sentiments, opposing mobs emerge to defend their equally legitimate civil rights. The normal exchange of views and perspectives in a democratic society is replaced by violent clashes of rival mobs in the streets. At best, they hide under the general convenience of freedom of expression and right of protest. Security of public and private property is jeopardized while the official forces of security and public order are stretched to the limits. The public places of even well established democracies become battlegrounds for the rival forces of populist insurgency.

In the case of the United States, the rise of Trumpian populism has divided American society into factions and vicious tribes. White supremacists and extremist rough necks have emerged with confidence to challenge the will of a diverse polity. Emboldened by a presidency that champions and even sponsors their values, they have in the past four years waged a relentless combat in the streets of major American cities to reclaim the American heritage as their factional entitlement and racial heritage. This is the force that inaugurated the false narrative of stolen ballots and rigged elections. Trump and his acolytes sold this false narrative for partisan and personal gains.

At this transitional moment, the damage that Trump has done to America’s democratic credentials require three paths to restitution. First, the actions that Mr. Trump has taken against his country are consequential. In order to discourage future instances of such bad behavior, the system ought to exact clear personal sanctions on Mr. Trump. These should be both political and legal. The invocation of the 25th amendment that throws Trump out of the White House even if for the last one week of his presidency would put an end to his nuisance presence in America’s political landscape. The possibility of an impeachment process is ruined by a limitation of time. Even after he leaves office, Mr. Trump ought to be kept busy in the law courts especially for crimes like attempted treason, insurrection and sedition from which he cannot possibly pardon himself in advance.

Secondly, for the American democratic system, the major challenge is the reinforcement of political meritocracy in the leadership selection process of the political parties. For a political meritocracy that produced the likes of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George Bush Snr. or even Ronald Reagan to end up producing an abysmal Donald Trump is perhaps the greatest degeneration of contemporary American democracy.

Thirdly, for the incoming Joe Biden administration, the burden of remedying the destruction wrought by Trump must begin with bridging the social divides created by Trump. Thereafter, Congress must re-examine the weaknesses in the system that make it possible for the world’s most acclaimed democracy to allow for the emergence of a demented fascist authoritarian as president of the United States and leader of the free world.

January 10, 2021
No politician can seize power in America – Biden

US President-elect, Joe Biden has said no politician can seize power in America, as the will of the people will always prevail.

Biden won the presidential election in November, defeating incumbent President Donald Trump.

But Trump has refused to accept defeat and has been trying to discredit the poll overwhelmingly given to Biden by over 75 million Americans.

Trump has lost several court bids to discredit the poll and claim victory through the back door and he is not giving up yet.

The president-elect, in a tweet, said the American people would never allow politicians to seize power as their will must always prevail.

“In America, politicians can’t assert, take, or seize power. It has to be given by the American people.

“We can’t ever give that up. The will of the people must always prevail,” he tweeted.

January 5, 2021
El-Rufai, Fayemi, others speak as new book provokes thoughts on fixing Nigeria’s democracy without development

A new book “Nigeria Democracy without Development: How to fix it”, brings to light some practical solutions to fixing some of the fundamental problems hindering the functionality of democracy in advancing Nigeria’s development.

The new book which was launched in Abuja on Tuesday is authored by Dr Omano Edigheji, who is a Special Adviser to Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

Speaking during the launch of the book, Kaduna State governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, said it was paradoxical to have democracy without significant progress.

El-Rufai said: “I think it is a book that tries to explain a paradox on how you could have democracy but without significant progress.

“Most of the countries that we have seen register significant progress moving from low income to middle income in the last 59 years are states that have practised this.

“What Dr Omano Edigheji has done is to articulate this argument for development to drive democracy and everything else in a compact written in this book.”
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Contributing to the discourse, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State noted that sustenance of democracy will only be a mirage except the nation addresses issues of poverty, illiteracy and insurgency.

According to Fayemi, who spoke during a book launch in Abuja, democracy can only be sustained when the people are happy and can foresee a future for themselves and their children.

He, therefore, said it was expedient for the Federal Government to invest more on solving the nation’s developmental deficits for democracy to flourish.

Represented by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi at the launch of the book titled, “Nigeria Democracy without Development: How to fix it”, Fayemi said only development can drive democracy.

Fayemi faulted the nation’s thinking that democracy will drive development as misplaced, noting that rather development should be the focus to drive democracy.

“I hold the view that to have a democratic state, we first and foremost must succeed as a developmental state because it is when we get rid of poverty, illiteracy and insurgency that you can talk of democracy.

“It is only when these human calamities are taken away from a polity of a geographical location, that is the only time you can say that democracy can work.

“That is why I believe that any government, including the current government, needs to invest more time, more thinking and will bring all hands on deck so that we can solve the problem of developmental deficits.

“Unfortunately, we believe that democracy in our country will lead to development, and that has been the state of Nigeria since independence.

“I think in my view, the development will deliver democracy and not the other way round because in an environment where you have poverty, lack of consensus, vision for the people and nation, it is difficult to rarely talk about democracy.

“Without development, it is difficult to sustain democracy because democracy presupposes that people are interested in enforcing freedom and participation in governance through the contribution of representation. But how do you do this while the majority of the people are not even able to put food on their table?

“Democracy can only be sustained by people who are happy, who can foresee a future for themselves and their children’s future, and because of the current stability they enjoy, they want to use the instrument of democracy to sustain that.

However, Senator Uba Sani argued that despite the challenges of transparency and accountability, the country had made some progress.

Sani faulted the premise that the nation had made little progress under a democracy.

Sani said: “This is too sweeping. It is also incorrect. In all indices of development, we have made progress but huge challenges remain. There have been missed opportunities. Transparency and accountability is a major challenge.

“I agree with the author that the inability of leaders to meet the expectations of the governed has created a wide gulf between the citizens and governments at all levels. A large segment of the population has disengaged from the electoral process. The situation is worrisome but it can be fixed.”

Edigheji who is a pro-democracy activist and humanist recommended the adoption of the developmental state model which has been applied by East Asian countries to transform their economies from largely agrarian subsistence to achieve high levels of industrial development.

He said: “A developmental state is an interventionist state. The state actively intervenes in the economy by regulating, guiding and controlling it.

“For Nigeria to overcome these development and institutional deficits, it is proposed that democratic governments embrace developmentalism as an overarching national development agenda.

“In effect, development needs to be carried out democratically, in the context of an overarching endogenous national development plan and anchored on a long term national development vision. Its key elements should consist of the promotion of human capital development, infrastructural development and industrialization.

“Industrialization, as a central element of the ideology of development nationalism, will contribute to the structural transformation of the economy, create jobs and ultimately improve livelihoods. In this regard, agriculture-focused industrialization should be given due attention.

“Also, the service sector needs to be anchored on a strong industrial sector for the former to make meaningful contributions to an inclusive economy. At the same time, pursuing high value-added services should be undertaken if the country is to reap the benefits of the digital age.

“Surely, attention needs to be given to the manufacturing sector if Nigeria is to transit from a country of consumers to that of producers of finished goods.”

Dr Innocent Chukwuma of Ford Foundation decried the role of godfatherism in Nigerian politics which he said may not be unconnected with some of the criteria given by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of political parties in 1998.

December 8, 2020
Era Of Democracy And Its Tenets, By Abdu Rafiu

By Abdu Rafiu

Mercifully, the war drums fell silent in Edo State on Saturday. In place of war drums, it was undisturbed victory songs; it was rejoicing and dancing galore. On the streets and in the village squares. The fear of an Armageddon dissolved, thanks to the police high command’s disinterestedness, but purely professionalism this time. The voters displayed enthusiasm and determination to elect their helmsman to oversee their affairs and watch over their interests for the next four years in Edo State. It was a keen contest and it is note-worthy that Mr. Godwin Obaseki carried himself with effulgent dignity all through the campaigns and during the television debate, limiting himself, during question time, to only what needed to be said even in the face of provocation. He sought to raise the debate to a high pedestal. His challenger, Osagie Ize-Iyamu showed promise, also, and displayed traits of dynamism and aggressiveness which he was going to bring to governance were he to win the election. Both demonstrated their grasp of issue of governance. Of course, eloquence on the hustling is one thing, performance while in the saddle is quite another. Obaseki has been tried and in the judgment of the Edo electorate he acquitted himself; he has done remarkably well; he took governance seriously.

The election, however, was in the final analysis between one party, that is within the same party. It was not a contest between APC and PDP. As many commentators have remarked, it was a contest by APC slugging it out with APC, and PDP with PDP. There were fringe parties participating all right. The focus was on the dominant parties, purportedly to be APC and PDP. The two principal candidates were no strangers to themselves in the pugilism ring. It will be recalled that in 2016, Obaseki was the APC candidate while Ize-Iyamu flew the PDP flag. This time around, they switched parties after Obaseki was stabbed in the back, a feature of our primitive politics and society. In the Western world we copy, an incumbent is given a free ride to recontest for a second term to consolidate his gains and correct shortcomings. And come to think of it, those who benefitted from this enlightened practice in their time were the most vociferous in the clamour to see the back of their governors out of government house. The erstwhile beneficiaries are determined to build an invincible political machine to keep them as perpetual kingmakers who decide the political fate of their associates and protégé in their parties. For George W. Bush, second term contestation was automatic. No one contested the waving of the Democratic Party flag with Barack Obama for his second term. Mr. Trump is forging ahead as Republican presidential candidate in the coming election in November. Back home: In the Second Republic, Bola Ige of the then UPN was given the party ticket automatically to contest for second term in Oyo State; so was Lateef Jakande for Lagos; and so were Professor Ambrose Alli in the then Bendel State; Bisi Onabanjo for Ogun and Chief Adekunle Ajasin for Ondo State. Omoboriowo who tried to wrest the ticket from Ajasin bruised his knees and burnt his fingers, ending his political career disgracefully. In this Fourth Republic, Lam Adesina had an automatic ticket to contest for the second term in Oyo State: So had Segun Osoba in Ogun State; Bisi Akande for Osun; Bola Tinubu for Lagos; and Adefarati for Ondo State — all on the platform of Alliance for Democracy party (AD). Adams Oshiomhole was similarly given a free ride in Edo State on the ticket of ACN.

Oshiomhole, desirous of being the father of Edo politics did not approve of Mr. Godwin Obaseki returning for a second term. But in doing so, he did not take account of the enlightenment in Edo State. Here was a man who knocked the idea of godfatherism in the state, boasting godfatherism was gone in the state forever, alluding to overarching influence of Chief Anenih, former national chairman of PDP, in Edo State and putting the influence in the shade. His determined effort to put down Obaseki, however, blew up in his face. The mistake Ize-Iyamu made was to advertise Oshiomhole as his godfather and mentor and put him in the front row for his campaign and fight against Obaseki. Oshiomhole’s local chapter back in his constituency was the first to disrobe him. There he was suspended as a member of APC. That is where any leader would boast he has an impregnable base. Then, to compound matters, he was removed as the national leader of the party. His team was disbanded and a caretaker committee was raised in its place. By featuring Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu only succeeded in getting him to campaign vigorously for his opponent. A smart guy, Obaseki simply went for the jugular, digging up all tapes and video recording of Oshiomhole’s pronouncements demonizing Ize-Iyamu in 2016 and extolling Obaseki to high heavens, his education, his resourcefulness as a stockbroker, and bank executive as well as his unremitted application to assignments. These were played on the streets, at campaign rallies, in social media, videos and on television. It was a grave miscalculation by Iyamu. Even if the electorate in Edo had forgotten the unflattering credentials his later-day mentor brandished about him four years back, the recordings refreshed their memories. Oshiomhole himself only succeeded in lowering his own esteem in the eyes of right thinking people as an unprincipled and unreliable person whose word is not his bond. It also proved the hollowness of Nigerian politics. What Oshiomhole ought to have done was to have sat quietly at a corner in his home, glued to his television, have himself entertained, shake his head and smile mischievously at developments and the gyrating gladiators. In the end, although, believing that he was campaigning for Ize-Iyamu, he succeeded only in campaigning for Obaseki. Both he and Ize-Iyamu took the people of Edo for granted.

Talking about taking Nigerians for granted, I read with dismay the accustomed sophistry of Lai Mohammed, the Information Minister at a Press conference during which he spoke of the determination of the Federal Government to ride rough shod on the sensibilities of critical sections of our country on the National Water Resources Bill 2020. He said the government was not going to back down on the controversial bill. The bill which has been passed by the House of Representatives is to go to the Senate for concurrent endorsement if they consider it the right bill. As of now, the bill has raised the political temperature in parts of the country and opposed by eminent persons conscious of its potential to cause tension and widen suspicion and the worrisome divide across the land.

The beauty of democracy is that it engenders participatory governance. It does not lend the polity to dictatorship. The contributions and wisdom of all citizens across the land are tapped and put into consideration. In dictatorship, it is the decision of the junta that is rammed down the throats of the governed, however unwise it may be. It is denial of the exercise of free will of the citizens to make a choice. Free will is an inalienable gift of the Creator for the people. Choice then becomes a natural right not subject to the whims and caprices of any other person or authority. Human right is thus different from civil right. Denial of free decision is the reason why a dictatorship carries the seed of instability within itself, and all peoples so caught in such an arrangement long at the earliest time possible to get out of the enchainment. The present democratic order was not given to Nigerians on a platter of gold. It was fought for. Lives were lost and people were incarcerated. Some broke limbs. It is true parliament consists of representatives of different peoples and they are to forge a consensus in decision- making, motions and in law enactment. But there are issues that go beyond parliament because of their peculiarity and the peculiarity of a plural, complex society. You may also have an emergent assembly where parliamentarians are yet to master the ropes. The National Assembly in recognizing the sensitiveness of a subject throws it open beyond its hallowed portals and takes it to what they call public hearing.

Water resources bill is one of the matters that go beyond parliament or the remit of the executive arm of the government. It is one to take the sting out of the tale of centrifugal forces associated with a unitary form to affirm that Nigeria is a Federation so that each people can safeguard their identity and their interests. As this column made plain in its earlier comment on this subject, Nigeria is not a country of immigrants, or of settlers, but of nationalities, indigenous peoples with different languages, cultures, religious beliefs and world views. These are not what any government can legislate as they are manifestations of development and inner maturity of peoples. Each group is brought about and sanctioned by Law. Each race or ethnic group is ordained in the Law. Each is to stand side by side, not one on top of the other. The perception of the latter or its manifestation that one stands on top of the other leads to a feeling of slavery, and every act of slavery is lacking in Love which is the sustaining power of All Existence. Where there is no Love, there is bitterness, envy, hate and conflict, and collapse is the inevitable, indeed the inexorable end.

The Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, defending the National water Resources Bill 2020, on Tuesday, said the Bill is not a backdoor law to foist RUGA policy on Nigerians nor is it designed to toe partisan or regional lines. He said it is meant to engender professional and efficient management of all surface and ground water for the use of the people (i.e. for domestic and non-domestic use, irrigation, agricultural purposes, generation of hydro-electric energy, navigation, fisheries and recreaction). He went on “The Bill will ensure that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all persons.”

In response to criticisms of Section 75 of the Bill which says “no borehole driller, whether corporate or individual, shall commence borehole drilling business in Nigeria unless such driller has been issued a Water Well Driller’s licence,” Lai Mohammed said no technically competent driller would be afraid of obtaining a licence. Most collapsed boreholes in the country were drilled by charlatans, he said. I am surprised that Mr. Lai Mohammed cannot see how ridiculous it is for everyone who wants to dig a borehole in his yard to ask his driller to head for Abuja to obtain a licence, what a local government can take care of should a licence be needed. Would anyone or company need to dig a borehole if the government has provided pipe-borne water? The borehole drillers are mostly plumbers some of whom may have attended a trade or technical school and obtained their certificates therefrom. It is also shocking that he cannot sense Nigerians are too smart not to be able to read between the lines.

The 8^th National Assembly threw the bill out of the window, seeing the implications of adding centralization of the use of water to the over-filled bowl of the Federal authorities. The over centralization of powers in the Federal Government has led to unabating agitation of all sorts in the land because it detracts from the foundation on which the country was built by the founding fathers to enhance trust and bring about harmony in the country. One begins to wonder if this administration is not conscious of the weight of the baggage of trust deficit it is carrying.

The Governor of Benue State, Mr. Sam Ortom, describes the Bill as anti-federalism and that it negates the right of Nigerians to their God-given resources. The Governor is convinced that those pushing that the bill be passed at all costs have a hidden motive, more so that the 8^th Assembly rejected it in 2018. He said it is curious it is being resuscitated. He said the Bill, in addition to its provisions which are at variance with the Land Use Act is disguised land grapping, designed to give pastoralists unhindered access to river basins, adjacent marine and coastal environments across the country. In his words: “The Bill is another version of RUGA which objective is to create grazing areas in the 36 states of the Federation for herders and their livestock.”

This Bill must raise questions about our sense of priority. Of all critical issues besetting the land such as population explosion in parts of the country, particularly the North, and burgeoning out-of –school children, one feels ill at ease that it is water bill that captures government attention more at this time. The two issues are related and they constitute a time-bomb for the country. A population policy is already in place enunciated by Ibrahim Babangida Administration to stem exponential rise in the population of children brought to this world. It is things like this that are in need of dusting up. President Goodluck Jonathan built about 17 Almaijiri schools distributed to different places in the North to absorb out-of-school children said to number 13 million with 11 million of them in the North. The schools ought to be made functional to prosecute its laudable objectives. Rather than these, the government has concentrated on divisive issues.

Regional blocs and associations, such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze, PANDEF and the Middle Belt Forum as well as youth organizations, have denounced the Bill. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka knocked it. The government cannot afford to ignore the feelings of such regional blocs; they are the owners of the rivers and waterways. Lagos State had this confirmed in court nearly two years ago in an action led by former Works Minister Femi Okunnu. The Federal Government cannot say it is wiser and more patriotic than all the regions and prominent figures put together who have expressed serious reservations about the Bill. The Bill rankles; it negates the tenets of democratic practice of wide consultation with stake holders and respect for their views. It is a cigarette end that has the potential to set off a conflagration. It is highly combustible and must therefore be thrown into the dustbin.

September 26, 2020
Nigeria committed to sustaining democracy in West Africa – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigeria’s commitment to help West African countries in consolidating democracy within the sub-region.

The President spoke Thursday at State House, Abuja, while playing host to President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso, who was on a one-day official visit to Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, President Buhari said Nigeria will always support countries preparing for elections.

“We are keeping tabs on situations in countries that have elections ahead. We know the countries that are calm and the ones where there have been unfortunate casualties. We will always support those who have elections ahead so that things can go smoothly,” President Buhari said.

Burkina Faso holds legislative elections in November, this year.

President Kabore, who chairs the Economic, Trade, and Liberalization Scheme of ECOWAS, said he was in Nigeria to discuss crucial sub-regional issues with President Buhari.

These include the convening of a joint commission meeting between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, reported trade difficulties among Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, and the Niger Republic, and the way forward.

President Kabore commended President Buhari for what he called “strong leadership and support” displayed by the Nigerian leader in his capacity as Chairman of COVID-19 response in West Africa.

“I must also applaud your strong leadership against terrorism in the sub-region,” the Burkinabe Leader said.

On the situation in Mali, he expressed hope that the summit held in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday, would yield positive results, stressing: “We need cohesion all over West Africa.”

September 17, 2020
Hegemonies, transactional politics and future of democracy in Nigeria

By Samuel Akpobome Orovwuje

Nigeria’s political system is an interesting subject for exploring the impact of transactional politics, not only because it emerges from almost 60 years of poor leadership the people have had to endure, but also as a result of a system that reflects the wider political divisions in the society.
The relentless shenanigans of the treacherous political class will continue to erode democratic values and ethos in Nigeria if left unchecked.

Indeed, the democratic space needs a kind of reformation whereby competency-based principles and self-governing norms replace today’s ruthless politics of divide and rule. Is it possible to achieve political re-engineering and leadership success without the fraud, cupidity and deception that currently plague Edo and Ondo states (in particular) and other major political parties in Nigeria?

This article explores how the application of talent and leadership principles to the political environment can re-establish democratic standards for integrity and restore the image of political parties in the marketplace of ideology. It offers practical advocacy for rebuilding the core values of party organisation that will lead to leadership reformation and renewal for attaining the highest level of discipline, ethics and integrity devoid of manipulations, which will go a long way in improving the outcomes of the 2023 general elections and beyond.

Nigeria’s politics and party organisation is in deep leadership crisis. Hegemonic insurrectionary leaders, often called godfathers in Nigerian politics, always seek to steer their loyalists and associates toward a master-servant relationship, where the winner takes it all, whilst proclaiming non-existent internal democratic norms. Alliances are forged with sympathetic party members and at the end they turn around to obstruct the organic growth and development of the party hierarchy. This overarching political master-servant relationship creates the illusion of an unquestionable order resting on transactional politics.

This existential illusion is now in a fix as the democratic space evolves and the viability of patronage oligarchy is increasingly becoming doubtful from the emerging trends in Edo and Ondo politics. The uncoordinated party organisation and management is resulting in political dislocations with the resurgence of political rascality in Edo and Ondo states.

Transactional politics portends a pronounced threat for the 2023 elections and the entire political process. Genuine critical stakeholders and analysts are worried about these negative and unwholesome developments. This underscores the need for a robust political party architecture engineered by a host of reforms ranging from membership recruitment to ownership of party organisations and the entrenchment of critical values such as party ideology and identity – all with a view to fostering intra-party relations, sustainable democracy and leadership ethos in Nigeria.

Regrettably, most hegemonic select few across the political divide seek alternative clienteles rather than remain dependent on the party structures and the largesse and support of their erstwhile political sons and daughters. These transactional leaders and their opaque networks within the party system press against the norms and pieties of our nascent liberal democracy.
Additionally, the power monopolies thrive on rents and patronages from state resources which are firmly embedded in recruitments and negotiations for governors seeking elective offices as well as political appointees. The self-styled leaders have painted themselves as guardian angels of liberal democracy. Some of the challenges in the leadership of the political parties stem from shifting political circumstances and the poor dispositions of individual leaders. Furthermore, they are constantly engaged in democratic backsliding in their parties for self-interest and ego, thereby subverting the will of the majority.

The political radicalism of the two sides of the power chess game has given rise to pervasive, crude and malevolent groups violating the peace in the states. The future could be more tumultuous and bloodier if the intemperance of the masters in the APC and PDP is not mediated by men of goodwill who are not blinded or blurred by the lenses of political correctness. The rise of engaging and authentic leaders in the parties’ structures will rival the evils of the autocratic, hegemonic chieftains and godfather entrepreneurs marauding as progressives and party men.

Expectedly, autocratic and hegemonic administrations have hijacked the management and organisation of political parties to limit or even eliminate the influence of popular candidates. Some of the so-called leaders played a key role in the pre-1999 democratic process. They imposed undemocratic tight frontiers on popular and authentic candidates that will not do their bidding and now sponsor their own candidates to unleash terror, blackmail and mudslinging to suppress party supremacy, aided by a carefully orchestrated public communication and reputational damage campaigns that sustain evil politics and unexceptional leaders.

These hegemonic regimes also use social media platforms to disrupt candidates and meddle in the parties’ internal democratic processes. Transactional power contestation, party monopoly of patronage and the emergence of factional movements have altered organic leadership development for governance and performance reward system that will leapfrog stable democracy. Scapegoating performance-driven party men is inimical to the overall development of human capital and strategic management.

Indeed, the virulent campaign nationalism and hateful rhetoric in Edo politics may win votes across the divide, but it may also leave in its wake citizens who are more divided than ever before. While radical personalities are being absorbed into mainstream politics and “yes” men become commonplace in our nascent democracy, the vanishing tide of true democrats is increasingly becoming worrisome.

Despite visible progress, the democratic process in Nigeria in general and Edo state in particular continues to face significant challenges. Idolatrous political parties, partisan bureaucracies, the lack of an independent INEC, misunderstandings between the APC and PDP grandstanding orchestra and their manipulative partners are challenges that continue to hinder the advancement of democracy. Let peace reign in Edo State!

Orovwuje is Founder, Humanitarian Care for Displaced Persons, based in Lagos, Nigeria. He can be reached on 08034745325, or via email: orovwuje@yahoo.com

August 29, 2020
Edo poll: Buhari’s CoS; Gambari, Oshiomhole undermining democracy – Secondus

The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of undermining democracy through their actions.

Secondus spoke against the backdrop of the viral video where Gambari and Oshiomhole were discussing the rising incidence of violence in the run up to the September 19 Edo state governorship election.

At a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the PDP chair said with the action of the duo, the threat to the nation’s democracy was becoming more and more real by the day.

Secondus said, “The PDP has watched with utmost concern the developing situation in Edo state. We have watched the growing desperation of the APC, and the Presidency to capture Edo state in the September 19 gubernatorial election at all cost.

“We are deeply saddened that under the watch of an elected President, Muhammadu Buhari, who is a huge beneficiary of democracy, the nation’s highest seat of power is being used for the hatching of plans to undermine democracy.

“The Chief of staff to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari is such a strategic staff that when he is involved in any underhand thing, the President cannot free himself from it.”

The party chairman called on the National Assembly to call for the tape of the video and examine thoroughly its content with a view to acting appropriately.

“The constitution and the Electoral Act are clear on this type of blatant undermining of democracy by clamping down on the opposition.

“It’s very unfortunate that the numerous problems overwhelming the nation is not disturbing the President and his party but they are engaged in planning how to blackmail and arrest the opposition.

“It’s also in our findings that the several efforts of APC leaders to arm-twist the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) into falling for their devious moves to shift the election.

“All these anti -democratic moves are all aimed at one thing; creating a constitutional logjam to disruption the election because they know they cannot win.

“As all these underhand moves are crumpling before their eyes, the discredited former Chairman of APC was smuggled into Aso Rock Villa to fine tune the rigging strategy for Edo.

“The leaked video which has been confirmed by the Presidency, says it all, the plan to arrest and keep away all opposition leaders and clear the way for the rigging machinery of APC to roll through,” the PDP chairman added.

The development, he said, was not only shameful but also very unfortunate that the nation’s seat of power housing a democratically elected President has to be used to plan how to inflict harm on democracy.

Secondus also called on the INEC and the Judiciary to stand firm in defence of democracy and not yield to the “manipulative tendencies” of APC and its governments.

Continuing, the party chair said, “We wish to also draw the attention of the international community to this gross abuse of planning to undermine democratic process by critical staff who should defend it.

“We demand appropriate sanction of the individuals involved in this anti-democratic act, they should be given visa restrictions to any democratic countries.

“The interest and will of the people of Edo state should be paramount in all decisions and that should guide any action either by the INEC or the government.”

He declared that the PDP remains would vehemently oppose any attempt to postpone the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections billed to hold September 19 and October 10 respectively.

“Nigerians should declare anybody or group working to truncate the ongoing electoral processes for Edo and Ondo states as enemies of democracy who want to inject crisis in the two states by undermining the will of the people,” he said.

August 20, 2020
Edo Assembly crisis: Obaseki is a dictator, threat to Nigeria’s democracy – Tinubu

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday 7 August , issued a strong statement on the Edo House of Assembly crisis, calling Governor Godwin Obaseki, a dictator and a reminder of Nigeria’s years of military rule for blocking majority members of the house from performing their duties.

The statement was entitled: In Defence of Constitutional Democracy:

The recent actions of the Governor of Edo State represent the gravest possible assault on constitutional democracy and the rule of law and escalation of violence and tension in the state he purports to govern. Not satisfied with making a mockery of our constitution by blocking the timely inauguration of two-thirds of the elected members of the Edo State House of Assembly, Governor Obaseki has now resorted to the strong-arm tactics of dictators.

First, he sponsors hoodlums to deface, indeed destroy, parts of the House of Assembly Building in Benin, feigning the building is undergoing renovation. Then, he imports sand and gravels to prevent access to the assembly complex. In effect, the man has spent state funds to thwart the very apparatus of the state government he was sworn to uphold. He has squandered public money to defeat the very will of the public. This is tragic beyond words.

As a pretext for his refusal to allow the Edo House of Assembly to function, Governor Obaseki’s actions are perverse. This is a cowardly act and a move to thwart representative democracy in Edo. No renovation has been planned for the state house building. No appropriation was made in the state’s budget. The only reason any renovation could be deemed necessary is the destruction wrought by his own goons.

Governor Obaseki’s governance of Edo State recalls the worst excesses of our military past and represents a direct threat to the democratic order. By his refusal to permit duly elected members of the Edo State House of Assembly to perform their constitutional duties, Governor Obaseki betrayed contempt for the people of his state and, unfortunately, his ignorance of Nigeria’s constitutional order. As a Governor he ought to know better than to obstruct the functioning of his own legislature, but perhaps he is in need of a quick lesson.

The legislative function is, perhaps, the most foundational obligation of any government. In the UK, the Parliament was famously said to be “that supreme and absolute power, which gives life and motion to the English government”. In most democratic systems, the legislature is the arm of government containing within itself the people’s representatives in government. As such, the legislative arm is critical. It is an important symbol of democratic governance. The voice, will and desires of the people are reposed in their elected representatives sent to the legislature to express and distil their amorphous will into the laws and codes by which the society has agreed to live.

In the context of a constitutional democracy such as ours, the legislature’s authority stems, in effect, from the recognition that it is the authentic mouthpiece of the people, entrusted with the responsibility of representing their collective will and the power to interpret and mould it into the laws of the land. It is, in short, not to be toyed with as a plaything of an errant and ill-disciplined governor. Undermine the legislature and you imperil democracy and allow governance to descend into anarchy.

Indeed, it is no coincidence that of the three arms of government, the powers of the legislature are enumerated first, in our Constitution. The legislature is the authority imbued with the power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the federation and states. Indeed, the Constitution makes clear that a Governor’s role primarily extends to the maintenance and implementation of the laws set down for him by his state’s legislature.

In placing himself above the legislature, deciding who gets in and who is shut out, Governor Obaseki not only places himself above the our nation’s constitutional order, he places himself above the people of Edo State whose representatives he so brazenly tramples upon. One can only wonder, given the desperation with which he has acted and his belligerent refusal to honour the free choice of the people of his own state, what mortal offence the majority members he has shut out have committed to warrant such treatment.

Although Governor Obaseki’s conduct in the past year is undoubtedly impeachable, these legislators have made no threat to impeach the Governor. Their only desire is to peacefully perform the duties asked of them by the constituents who elected them. What, then, is their offence? By all appearances, the Governor is punishing these legislators for their loyalty to a party that is no longer his own. If every governor behaves as he, obstructing the performance of any legislator who does not pledge to him their undying fealty, the entire edifice of democratic governance in Nigeria would grind to a complete halt.

In his campaign for re-election, Governor Obaseki promises to represent and defend the interests of all the people of his state. Yet, so blinded is he by his personal ambition, he sees no irony in the fact that his actions have denied two-thirds of the people of his state their right to representation in the state’s only legislative chamber.

Governor Obaseki must think the people of his state to be as foolhardy and ignorant as he, for even as he courts their votes, he continues to make a mockery of the institution of democracy in his own House of Assembly. If Governor Obaseki believes the people are not aware of this inherent irony, he will undoubtedly learn the cost of this grave miscalculation in the fullness of time.

The rule of law and preservation of democracy is too important to sacrifice at the altar of any one man’s ambition. Governor Obaseki’s woeful leadership of Edo State will hopefully be brought to an end soon by the very people whose rights he has so carelessly trampled upon. One can only hope that the damage he is doing to the most important of the state’s democratic institutions can just as easily be repaired.

SIGNED
ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU

August 8, 2020