TheNewsGuru

Tag: Democracy

  • Presidential poll: Buhari’s victory is rape on Nigeria’s democracy – Fayose

    Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has hailed Nigerians for their courage to withstand what he called a rape on democracy.

    He described the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in last Saturday’s election as allegedly secured through “the barrel of the gun” and not worth celebrating by the winner.

    But the former governor did not state how.

    In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, the former governor said: “Rather than a word of congratulation (sic) to President Buhari, who will be leading our country against our wish as a nation, Nigerians are the ones who deserve to be praised for their courage.”

    He described the roles played by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies in the election as shameful.

    Reiterating his avowed commitment to the defence of the oppressed in the country, Fayose said: “As already known, I am not afraid of arrest and detention. I have been persecuted and still being persecuted because of my stand on national issues and I will remain undaunted.

    “Let me, therefore, commend Nigerians and tell them that they should not lose hope because help will come someday.”

  • Ballot snatchers’ threat: Buhari, APC plotting to sabotage Nigeria’s democracy – PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged plots by President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to trigger widespread political crisis, aimed at derailing the democratic process and plunge the nation into anarchy.

    The opposition party particularly faulted the President’s directive to the security agencies to deal ruthlessly with any ballot box snatchers and others that may act in ways that could threaten the electoral process.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP viewed President Buhari’s directive as “threat to the lives of Nigerians”.

    The President had, during the APC caucus meeting held in Abuja Monday, said anyone caught snatching ballot boxes should consider the offence the very last they would ever commit.

    But the PDP said President Buhari’s statement was a direct call for jungle justice and attempt to divert public attention from details of APC’s caucus meeting where the President issued the warning.

    The statement said, “We do hope that this call by President Buhari is not a camouflage for the fake soldiers mobilized by the APC to shoot at innocent Nigerians, snatch ballot boxes and execute their rigging plans on the election day. It is indeed a license to kill, which should not come from any leader of any civilized nation.

    “The underlining fact to the above is that President Buhari and APC leaders, upon getting to their voting constituencies last Saturday, realized that there is a nationwide rejection of Buhari’s re-election bid, and this has thrown them into a panic mode.

    “President Buhari must however bear in mind that his resort to threats and scaremongering will not deter Nigerians from coming out en-masse to vote him out of office on February 23.

    “We are aware that President Buhari, who had earlier boasted that nobody can ‘unseat’ him, is bent on using every dictatorial and tyrannical act to truncate the process of a free, fair and credible election”.

    The party also said intelligence available to it showed that the Buhari Presidency has directed the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reshuffle the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    According to the PDP, the alleged deployment was to eagle INEC deploy “compromised” officials to manipulate the electoral process in President favour, adding, as they did with the police shortly before February 16.

    The said it’s also aware of the pressure allegedly being mounted by the Buhari Presidency on INEC to cancel elections in some states and make others inconclusive so as to achieve the President’s objectives of a staggered election not minding the crisis such will trigger across the federation.

    “We want Nigerians and the international community to hold President Buhari personally responsible for any electoral crisis, otherwise he will as usual, claim that he was not aware of the plots and transfer the blame to Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi.

    “It is already known that President Buhari has been unrelenting in his attempts to subdue our democracy by trying to subjugate the legislature, emasculate the judiciary and seize control of the electoral umpire.

    “Nevertheless, the PDP wants to assure President Buhari that our nation is bigger than him and that Nigerians will never allow him and the APC to rig this election.

    “Nigerians have reach an irreversible democratic consensus to vote Buhari out and elect the Peoples Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is ready to rescue our nation from the hardship, anguish, agony and bloodletting which the Buhari administration has plunged us,” the statement added

  • 2019 elections: Gov. el-Rufai calls for festival of democracy

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai has urged the people of Kaduna state to make the 2019 elections a festival of democracy.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Governor stated this in a State Broadcast on the 2019 Elections on Friday.

    The full speech of the broadcast reads: “The 2019 general elections present a chance for our people to play their role as masters and choosers. With your vote, you choose the parties and candidates in whom you wish to entrust our commonwealth, your livelihoods and future prospects for the next four years.

    “Voting is a serious responsibility, a solemn obligation and a right that was earned by sacrifice and struggle in many polities. Choice is at the heart of democracy, and I urge you all to go out on election day and freely cast your vote the way you want.

    “In the last few months, you have listened to the various parties and candidates make their case. The campaigns for the presidential election, with all the spectacle and substance, are now over, as the law prescribes. It is time for serious decisions by every eligible voter. I wish to assure all residents of our state that the Kaduna State Government will protect the right of everyone to express their decision at the ballot box in free and peaceful conditions.

    “The government is determined to ensure that the elections are conducted as a festival of democracy. That means that there is no room for violence, intimidation, voter suppression or any unlawful activity. Nothing and nobody will be allowed to impair the ability of any citizen to freely cast their vote.

    “The security agencies, led by the police, will be properly deployed across the state to protect the right of every citizen to vote. The police will be assisted by personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Customs Service, the Federal Road Safety Commission and the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency.

    “The government wishes to stress that all personnel of the police, and other agencies that are deployed for official election duty will wear proper identification tags. Orderlies of officials are not on election duty, and should therefore not be seen in uniform on election day.

    “During the elections, the Nigerian Armed Forces will be in the background, but on standby to assist in any circumstances that threaten to overwhelm the police. Similarly, the military has been deployed in areas that have recently been menaced by bandits to secure these places and protect the rights of their residents to vote, all these in line with their rule of engagement.

    “It is important to declare that there is no security-related role in the election for civilian volunteers. All volunteers, including those of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service, should be content with voting and returning home, like every citizen of Kaduna State.

    “All residents of Kaduna State are hereby reminded that the laws of this country forbid the wearing of any party insignia, poster or banner of any sort on election day. It is an offence to wear in public the vest of any political party after campaigns have ended.

    “To assist citizens to properly report any electoral disruptions, as well as suspicious or illegal activity, the following helplines have been opened at the State Security Operations Room: 09034000060 and 08170189999. Do not hesitate to call any of these numbers to lodge reports on voting day.

    “Fellow citizens, it is your democratic right to vote, and freely cast your ballot for the party of your choice. There is no reason to be afraid to exercise your right. Nobody will be allowed to use their status or power to intimidate, frighten or threaten you for doing your duty as a citizen. All residents of Kaduna State, wherever they reside, are free to vote according to their convictions.

    “Fellow citizens, let us shun any form of violence. Let us promptly report any threat or suspicions of unlawful activity.

    “Elections are a moment to celebrate choice. Let us all come out to vote and do our duty to make the election a peaceful exercise”.

     

  • Onnoghen: Atiku writes U.S., UK, EU, says Buhari threatening Nigeria’s democracy

    Onnoghen: Atiku writes U.S., UK, EU, says Buhari threatening Nigeria’s democracy

    Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has written three foreign governments accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of serially violating the Nigerian constitution.

    Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria, is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He wrote his letter to the ambassadors of France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union.

    In the letter, Mr Abubakar raised key areas were he alleged Mr Buhari has ignored court orders or violated Nigeria’s constitution.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is threatening our democracy by serially breaching the provisions of our constitution and undermining organs and institutions of State in order to advance his personal interest,” he wrote.

    Read Mr Abubakar’s letter below.
    CONSTITUTIONAL BREACHES UNDER THE WATCH OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

    I have chosen to write this letter to Your Excellency for the enviable role that your country plays as champion of Democracy and the Rule of Law. I am also writing you as Nigeria’s international development partner working together to deepen and strengthen our democracy as well as to help in the transformation of our economies and societies for the better.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is threatening our democracy by serially breaching the provisions of our constitution and undermining organs and institutions of State in order to advance his personal interest. While the President has ironically taken oath to safeguard and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the reality of his selective and wanton violations of its provisions means that his oath is observed only in the breach.

    And as Your Excellency very much knows, respect for the rule of law is integral to promoting and preserving the values and principles of democracy. Sadly, however, by the actions of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, one is forced to think otherwise.

    As a Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming General Elections that will be conducted and supervised by the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari, I feel the urgent need to share with you some of these key violations of the provisions of our constitution and to demand that you pile pressure on the Federal Government to desist from these violations and ensure a level playing field for the General Elections that are only a couple of weeks away. We acknowledge with profound appreciation the positions taken by some members of the International Community in Nigeria and urge Your Excellency to add your country’s very strong voice against these breaches of Nigeria’s constitution. Your Voice is very important to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.

    Some of these constitutional infractions are highlighted below for your information and action as you may deem appropriate.

    1. The Purported Suspension of CJN Onnoghen

    On Friday, January 25, 2019, our nation woke up to the shocking news of the unilateral and extra-constitutional suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the immediate appointment and swearing in of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, as the new acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). This action of President Muhammadu Buhari, not only breaches the Nigerian Constitution, but has also managed to undermine Presidential democracy by assaulting one of its hallowed doctrines of separation of Powers. For the records, Justice Walter Onnoghen is the head of one of the Tripartite but mutually independent organs that form the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To attempt to muscle out the Chief Justice of Nigeria using phony charges at a time when His Lordship was primed to play a central role in the fast approaching nationwide electoral process represents the boldest steps in the march to undermine our democracy. This is undoubtedly an anti-democratic act which my political Party and I reject without reservation and for which I urge Your Excellency to condemn unequivocally.

    Need I say, this brazen authoritarian and imperious stride of President Buhari is the latest action in a series of carefully planned onslaught on our nation’s hard earned democracy by an extremely power hungry and anxious President and the cabal that feeds fat around him as February 16, 2019 draws nearer.

    The fact that the unlawful suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen was announced just as it became public knowledge that the CJN was constituting the election petition tribunals is not lost on discerning Nigerians and the international community. This act of desperation is geared towards affecting the outcome of the 2019 Presidential elections. Indeed, it is not just the CJN that has been “suspended”, it is the Nigerian Constitution that has been infracted and, in effect, suspended, under the guise of the suspension of the CJN.

    The case involving the legality or otherwise of the charges against Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen is in court, as it should be. So far, the judiciary has ruled in Justice Onnoghen’s favour. So, why not allow the court to adjudicate on the matter? What is the pressing urgency about this matter?

    Let me therefore take the opportunity of this letter to urge your country and all well-meaning members of the International community to mount pressure on this government and all its anti-democracy functionaries know that their actions will have consequences. Strong consequences.

    2. The illegal purchase of the Tucano Aircrafts:

    President Buhari sometime in April 2018 approved the purchase of Tucano Aircrafts for the Nigerian Military at the sum of $496 million (Four Hundred and Ninety-Six Million United States Dollars). This, he did, without seeking prior approval of the National Assembly contrary to Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which states very clearly, how the President can spend monies belonging to the Federation. It provides:

    “(3) No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly.”

    “(4) No monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly”

    3. Disregard for Orders of Courts:

    The Muhammadu Buhari administration has serially violated court orders, going against the rule of law especially in three known cases.

    a. Col. Sambo Dasuki (Former National Security Adviser): Various courts have granted Col. Dasuki bail on at least six different occasions; the Buhari led government has persistently refused to comply with the court orders.

    · Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Adeniyi Ademola in 2015 ordered the release of Col. Dasuki’s passport and granted him permission to travel abroad for three weeks on medical grounds. Despite the order made on November 3, the Department of State Security Services, SSS refused to release Col. Dasuki.

    · Again, the former NSA and four others were granted bail on December 18, 2015 on a similar condition with a N250 million bond by Justice Hussein-Baba Yusuf.

    · Similarly, the former NSA; a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; ‎and three others were granted bail by Justice Peter Affen on December 21, 2015 by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in the sum of N250 million each and two sureties in like sum. The Federal Government cherry-picked the order whilst disobeying the part that concerned the former NSA.

    · The ECOWAS Court presided by Honorable Justice F.C. Nwoke on October 4 2016 granted the former NSA bail and ordered the Nigerian Government to pay N15 Million to the defendant as damages for his “illegal and arbitrary detention”.

    · On 17 January 2018, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja reaffirmed previous court orders granting Col. Dasuki bail.

    · Also on April 6, 2018 the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court affirmed, for the umpteenth time, its decision for the release of Col. Dasuki.

    b. Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, Leader of a Shiite Group, IMN:

    · Sheikh El-Zakzaky has been in detention without trial for over 3years after his followers were massacred in broad daylight; his wife and family killed and his home burnt, in a gory and shameful show of brute force by the Nigerian Army. This particular state violence is nothing short of genocide.

    · On December 2, 2016 the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court Presided by Justice Kolawole ordered the release of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and berated the Nigerian government for violating his rights.

    4. The approval of $1 billion for military expenditure before approaching the National Assembly:

    The Nigerian government through the National Economic Council NEC, again in contravention of Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), granted approval for the release of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, for the procurement of military hardware and other equipment to fight insecurity in the country, ahead of the 2019 General Elections without recourse to the National Assembly. Mansur Dan-Ali, Nigeria’s Defense Minister disclosed this at the end of security chiefs meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. By this act, the Federal Government acted contrary to the provisions of the Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution, which states:

    “(3) No monies shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, unless the issue of those moneys has been authorized by an Act of the National Assembly.

    5. Executive Order No. 006 (On Preservation of Suspicious Assets and Related Schedules):

    The enactment of the controversial Executive Order No. 006 as an Executive legislation which permits security agencies to freeze the assets of persons standing trial or undergoing investigation without recourse to court orders. This is a usurpation of legislative and judicial powers of the National Assembly and the judiciary as enshrined respectively under sections 4 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and reminiscent of the military era of decrees.

    The above, and many more that did not make it into this very short letter, are the unfortunate actions of the Government of a man who merely pays lip service to being a reformed democrat.

    General Elections are upon us yet again. I urge you to partner with Nigerians to defend our constitution and play an active role in building our country. The choices facing all of us is either to stand aside and watch Nigerians reelect a President who has been in constant violation of the laws of the land without remorse; or to support them show him the way out and elect a true democrat. We must send a clear message that the Nigerian Nation is bigger than any individual.

    Even if Nigerians opted not to elect me as President, the incumbent must go into the polls on his own record of lack of respect for the Rule of Law and not on the spurious perception of his “Integrity”. We need to set precedence for successive leaders not to take democratic mandate for granted.

    Sincerely,

    Atiku Abubakar, GCON

    (Waziri Adamawa)

    Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

    and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • 2019: Vote buying a threat to Nigeria’s democracy – Saraki, Dogara

    2019: Vote buying a threat to Nigeria’s democracy – Saraki, Dogara

    President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Monday said vote buying is a threat to the nation’s democracy.

    Speaking at a public hearing in Abuja, they called for urgent action by stakeholders, especially security agencies to check the menace before the 2019 general election.

    The hearing was conducted by the National Assembly Joint Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

    In a keynote address, Saraki said the country was in a delicate situation as the entire world was looking forward to what would happen in the coming general election.

    This, he said, is understandable considering that President Muhammadu Buhari is the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).

    “Moreover, the Chairman of INEC is the head of Electoral Commissions in West Africa.

    “With these positions, it is clear that we cannot afford to conduct an election that will not be credible, peaceful, free and fair.

    “It is noteworthy that in 2015, we set an enviable standard that encouraged more countries in Africa to democratize.

    “In 2019, we cannot lower the standard. We must up the ante, because whatever we do will have impact on the continent and serve as a representation of Africa on the global stage,” he said.

    Saraki noted that the country could not afford to send wrong signals with its actions or inactions in the build-up to the election.

    He said that Nigeria must tell the world in action that it was ready to improve its electoral process by making it more transparent and commendable.

    “At this point, it does seem to me that the onus is on INEC to demonstrate its independence. It should be pro-active and take bold decisions.

    “And this is necessary because the responsibility to conduct a credible poll is solely that of the Commission. This is elemental to retaining the confidence of the electorate,” he said.

    He expressed worry over alleged collusion by security agents with political actors to disenfranchise voters, citing reports of voter intimidation in the recent governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun.

    “We cannot under any circumstances militarize election, because that defeats the purpose of free, fair and credible poll.

    “In an election, access to the polling units for the purpose of casting one’s vote is the bare minimum.

    “INEC must set the rules for their engagement during elections, which they are to follow.

    “The Commission should further seek the co-operation of respective security agencies to ensure strict compliance,” he said.

    On his part, Dogara described vote buying as the highest form of corruption.

    He said although “undue influence of voters” was a global phenomenon, the recent “direct pricing and buying of votes as if in a market square is very disturbing”.

    Dogara said, “It is disheartening that this absurd phenomenon has assumed alarming proportions in recent times.

    “As citizens, we must not surrender to this criminality as we cannot do so and still expect honour.

    “When political office holders defy the law and corruptly assume office, they will always operate as if they are above the law.

    “Vote buying and other sundry criminal manipulation of the electoral process in Nigeria has left our citizens in a state of unmitigated disaster,’’ he said.

    He added that the nation’s democracy had stagnated and would sadly remain so until Nigerians eliminate all sham election that produces their worst as leaders over their best.

    Chairman of the committee, Sen. Suleiman Nazif, blamed vote buying on poverty, unemployment, lack of stringent punitive measures, lawlessness, laxity of law enforcement agencies, insufficient voter education, and ignorance, among others.

    Nazif said the public hearing was, therefore, held to seek suggestions from stakeholders on how to find lasting solutions to the problem.

  • 2019: Navy affirm commitment to Nigeria’s democracy

    2019: Navy affirm commitment to Nigeria’s democracy

    The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas on Saturday reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s dedication to duty and its unflinching support to democracy.

    Ibas, who was represented by Rear Adm. Begroy Ibe-Enwo, Chief of Transformation, stated this in Abuja at the end of the Fourth Quarter and last Route March in 2018.

    He also restated the Navy’s operational preparedness towards supporting a formidable internal security architecture in conjunction with other stakeholders for a free, fair and credible election in 2019.

    “I wish to restate the Nigerian Navy’s operational preparedness towards supporting a formidable internal security architecture in conjunction with other stakeholders for a free, fair and credible election in 2019.

    “At this juncture, I, therefore categorically state that the Nigerian Navy will continue to remain apolitical, loyal and committed to the unity of our dear nation under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ibas said.

    The Naval chief noted that the Navy’s operational efficiency and combat readiness were premised on mental and physical fitness of its personnel.

    He said the successful conduct of the route march in Abuja and other Naval formations exhibited the Service’s willingness to continue to partner with other sister Services to defend the territorial integrity of the Country.

    “The successful conduct of the Fourth Quarter Route March in Abuja Area and other Nigerian Navy formations attest to our readiness and resolve to unfailingly continue to partner with other sister services in order to defend the territorial integrity of our dear nation.

    “Apart from the territorial defence of our nation, the Nigerian Navy has demonstrated the desired will and courage in formidable partnership with other security agencies to enhance Nigeria’s internal security through dedicated internal security operations,” he said.

    He noted that the Navy has always been available in emergency and disaster relief across the length and breath of the Country.

  • You are a ‘monumental disgrace’ to Nigeria’s democracy – Oshiomhole tells Saraki

    …threatens legal action against Senate President

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Thursday described Senate President Bukola Saraki as a ‘monumental disgrace to the nation’s democracy.’

    The embattled former Edo governor also threatened legal action against the Senate President.

    Oshiomhole who was reacting to statement issued by Senate President asked him to name any member of the APC who offered him bribe either in foreign or local currency to influence him and members of the National Working Committee to take decision in their favour before, during and after the party primaries or face legal action.

    Oshiomhole also said that it is pathetic and irresponsible for the resort to what he described as petty politics by the Senate Preaident whom he described as a usurper of and pretender to the position of senate president.

    In a statement signed by this Chief Press Secretary, Simon Egbebulem, the APC Chairman said Saraki who has been in the eyes of investigation by the EFCC AND ICPC has no moral ground to call for the resignation of the national chairman.

    The statement said further: “it is sad that Saraki, who just woke up from slumber occasioned by his crushing defeat at the Port Harcourt presidential primary election of his party, could degenerate to such a low level.

    “It is equally sad, but not unexpected, that Saraki, who is politically drowning, would make such libelous comments against the national chairman of the APC. And I challenge Saraki to mention one name of an aspirant that gave money to the National Chairman or we file a legal action against him.

    “Whereas, the basis on which he made those comments was tenuous and unjustifiable, it is on record that Saraki has been in the eye of investigations by the EFCC and the ICPC for sundry cases of corruption. That is the same man that has taken it upon himself to question Comrade Oshiomhole’s credibility.

    “We challenge him to mention one person who has claimed that he gave money to Oshiomhole to influence him and the decision of the party’s national working committee (NWC) in the just-concluded primary elections.

    ‘We insist that Saraki with his kind of prebendal politics is nothing but a monumental disgrace to the nation’s democracy.”


  • Buhari hosts Governor-General of Canada, says Nigeria’s democracy improving steadily

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja said Nigeria’s democracy is steadily improving with deeper understanding of the culture and tenets among the people, and strengthening of the institutions that guarantee free and fair elections.

    Receiving Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency Rt. Hon. Julie Payette, at the Presidential Villa, President Buhari said he saw the evolving strength of democracy in the country by contesting for elections three times before winning at the fourth trial in 2015.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, told the Governor General that Nigeria had been learning from the mistakes of those who practiced democracy for a longer period, and by looking inward at its own peculiarities.

    “I emphasize free and fair elections at all times,’’ he said.

    The President said the bilateral relations with Canada will continue to be improved considering the huge interest of the country in Nigeria and growing economic ties, with many Nigerians schooling and working in the country.

    He said Canada played a brotherly role in helping displaced persons in the North East, following Boko Haram insurgency.

    In her remarks, the Governor General said Nigeria and Canada enjoy a warm and strong partnership that has translated into ease of migration, large trade relations and cultural exchanges.

    Rt. Hon. Payette, who is an astronaut, said it was important for nations to pool resources together to start exploring the benefits of space in providing solutions to some problems on earth.

    The Governor General noted that the world would achieve more by de-emphasizing geographical differences and refocusing its energy on the commonality of humanity, pointing out that from space one can only see an earth without borders.

    Rt. Hon. Payette said her visit was about showcasing “youth, innovation and technology’’, adding that Canada would like to partner with Nigeria in the ongoing diversification of the economy.

    “We wish you free and credible elections in 2019,’’ she said.

    Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, she disclosed that the two countries have resolved to deepen bilateral relation in the areas of Trade and Commerce, education, security, Science and space technology advancement.

    Payette, who is accompanied on the visit by eminent Canadians including government officials, members of parliament and members of the business sector, noted that Nigeria and Canada had been friends and partners for decades

    Describing Nigeria as the largest trading partner in Africa and largest investor in Canada, she said Canada had a strong base in Nigeria as the number of companies doing business in the country had grown significantly in recent years.

    She said “Many opportunities exist for deepen cooperation as you mentioned to me during our conversation there is a lot of room for growth for the bilateral relation between Nigeria and Canada.

    “Fortunately, we already have a strong base and we will continue to build on this.

    “Nigeria is Canada’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa and as well Nigeria is the largest investor from Africa in Canada.

    “The number of Canadian companies doing business here, have grown significantly in recent years and we really hope that this delegation would foster even more trading and commerce between our two countries,’’ she said.

    Payette said that, at the height of the Nigeria – Canada relationship, more than 10,000 Nigerian students were studying in Canada.

    She further revealed that another set of over 5,000 Nigerians residing in Canada had been contributing positively to the growth of the Canadian textile industry.

    She said that one of the priorities of her visit to Nigeria was to meet and celebrate the vibrant youths of the country.

    Payette said the visit would also focus attention on the National Space Research and Development Agency in Abuja.

  • Our democracy must be anchored on Strong Legislature – Saraki

    Our democracy must be anchored on Strong Legislature – Saraki

    President of the Nigerian Senate Dr.Bukola Saraki has said that the strength of Nigerian democracy is to be built on a very strong legislative institution so as to be able to address societal challenges.
     
    Saraki made the remarks as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies NILDS at the second convocation ceremony of the NILDS/UNIBEN convocation ceremony.
     
    Saraki stated that the partnership between the National Assembly and NILDS/UNIBEN has led to the strengthening of the legislative institution particularly the versatility of lawmakers and their legislative support staff in law making.
     
    He pointed out that the National Assembly would continue to support efforts aimed at making the legislature independent and strong arm of government in the discharge of its lawmaking, representation and oversight functions.
     
     
    He commended the NILDS/UNIBEN partnership for turning out 79 graduands under its Masters and Post Graduate Diploma programme in its second convocation ceremony noting that it would help to strength the work of the legislature.
     
    At the event, 18 persons bagged Masters in Legislative Studies, in 2015/2016 academic session, 33 in 2016/17 session while 9 bagged same in Legislative Drafting in 2016/2017 and 13 bagged same in 2016/2017.
     
    Two of the serving lawmakers in the House of Representatives Hon. Osai N. Osai (Delta, PDP and Hon Kolade Victor Akinjo (Ondo, PDP) bagged the Masters Degree in Legislative Studies.

  • The shadow of illiberal democracy – Chidi Amuta

    As Nigerian politicians jostle for winning pedestals, an outlandish reality has sneaked into town. The country is sliding from an opportunity to build liberal democracy towards an Illiberal democracy and, I am afraid, even an outright populist autocracy.

    The signs are now abundant: the personalization of security institutions, an assault on the legislative branch, a division of the nation into regime devotees and dissenting partisans, a preference for the military over the police in matters of security , law and order, serial blackmailing of honest judges and constriction of media freedom and avenues for civil disobedience. There is above all the increasing use of intimidation strategies to frighten regime opponents.

    The recent invasion of the Nigerian Parliament by state sponsored masked gunmen was only the more open and brazen prelude to the onset of illiberal democracy. Whether or not he ordered that disgraceful assault , the incident may go down as Mr. Buhari’s poster political imprint. His subsequent political career will either be an affirmation of his familiar Illiberal identity or its repudiation in favour of an open democratic agenda.

    The scene was somewhat reminiscent of the 5th October, 1993 invasion of the Russian parliament by military tanks in support of Boris Yeltsin who was intent on protecting his narrow electoral victory against pro-Gorbachev legislators. With that incident, Russia entered a long night of Illiberal democracy that has endured till the present Putin virtual autocracy.

    Illiberal democracy defines a systematic assault on the foundations of freedom which make liberal democracy strong. The assault on individual rights , the rule of law and freedom of expression are only followed by invasion of representative structures. Intimidation through the systematic abuse of security institutions completes the picture.

    What makes Illiberal democracy more dangerous is that it is often the handiwork of an otherwise freely elected header. A fledgling autocrat hides under the banner of democracy and popular mandate to advance an anti democratic one man agenda.

    The use of the strategies of illiberal democracy to foist an autocracy can resonate in developing societies if the aspiring autocrat is armed with a vision and a thoughtful direction for his nation. To deploy the tools of autocracy in the absence of a vision is the highway to mindless absolutism. Nigerians under the current Buharir rule should , in popular parlance, ‘shine their eyes’.

    There are fundamental cautions and road signs for present day Nigeria.First, It is not just enough to invoke vacuous notions of nationalism or to dredge up a peasant nostalgia of a glorious past that wasn’t there to begin with. Second, it does not make much political sense to erect a moral divide between ‘saints’ and ‘sinners’ on matters of public corruption while frightening honest judges and blackmailing tactful journalists. Third, an open liberal democratic culture requires greater rigor and respect for the independence of the institutions of freedom. Fourth, a pretension to democracy that ascribes to an elected leader the status of an infallible pontifax Maximus can only lead to autocracy, fake moral absolutism and ultimately an Illiberal democracy.

    In many parts of the world, democracy and its liberal foundation is under serious threat from leaders with divergent absolutely agenda. Xi in China, Trump in America, Erdogan in Turkey, Maduro in Venezuela, Putin in Russia, Viktor Orban in Hungary, and the butcher, Duterte, in the Philippines all represent the different faces of a new breed of ‘strong men’ . They all signal the threatened state of democracy. They all have come to power under the guise of one form of democracy or the other but are all intent on subverting the liberal foundation of democracy.

    These leaders are different faces of one man rule flying the flag of a new nationalism. They insist that the people desperately want economic power over and above the fine values of liberal democracy- free speech, political correctness and old institutions run by worn bureaucrats.

    Uniformly, the strategy of rising one man autocracies is to find an enemy to blame the nation’s ills on in order to cloak and market their rise to the popular masses. Putin blames pro West elites; Viktor Orban blames George Soros and Nicholas Maduro blames the US and his neighbours.

    In Nigeria, Mr. Buhari blames his political opponents especially the PDP whose splinter brought him to power for nearly everything from rampant corruption to Herdsmen killings and his incoherent economic policies… He carefully and craftily directs this message at his more illiterate mass audiences while alienating the elite who are likely to ask questions about his basic competence.

    .Every fledging autocrat still clings to the title of democracy as an instrument for winning the next election and hanging a banner of popular mandate on what is clearly an anti democratic scheme.

    In the older democracies like the US, a certain resilience of institutions can be trusted to protect and preserve the democratic order. Even then, populist autocrats try and test the resilience of old institutions as we are seeing with Donald Trump in the United States.

    The plight of young newish and fragile democracies under strong man autocracy is more worrisome. The institutions tend to be fragile, tenuous and often compromised . Those who head them see their allegiance to the strongman as higher than their sworn obligation to the constitution and the nation.

    It is a typical African political disease. This is the rule of the president as ‘African Chief’ to whom all institutions and privileges of state are extensions of a semi feudal domain. In Nigeria, the tradition of the president as ‘Oga’, a respected elder has been institutionalized. With the succession of ageing civil war generals as elected presidents, we are in an ‘Ogacracy’..

    Mr. Buhari’s flirtation with Illiberal stunts is not entirely his making. Because of his draconian military antecedents, he and his devotees may have come to cast him as the quintessential strong man who can bend institutions to discipline an errant society.

    Far from it. His leadership of the executive branch in the last three years indicates differently. We may in fact be dealing with a rather weak leader. Urgent decisions are delayed. The most strategic institutions are manned by incompetent people with private agenda. An entire national security structure is uncoordinated while the machinery of government presents as rustic and rudderless. Key presidential functions appear outsourced to ambitious deputies and clannish warlords. An entire nation is now engulfed by a huge question: Who is in charge here?

    A weak and incompetent leader straining to foist a populist autocracy is a recipe for tragedy. To do so on the eve of a general election is to bring Armageddon even closer and mortally endanger the possibility of democratic becoming. A diverse and fractious polity such as ours is best left as a very liberal, pluralistic and even noisy democracy. The challenge of leadership in a place like this is to navigate the political complexity of diversity by making political deals when necessary; To seek to ‘conquer’ partisan opponents.is wrong headed.To insist on a forceful autocratic path is a highway to Yugoslavia. Nigerians, I am sure, don’t want to go there.

    • Dr. Chidi Amuta, a member of Thisdsy Editorial Board, is Chairman of Wilson & Weizmann Associates Ltd.., Lagos.