TheNewsGuru

Tag: Politics

  • Fear, Politics and Virus – Chidi Amuta

    By Chid Amuta

    The global hysteria around the corona virus emergency has birthed many untidy offspring. As the menace of the virus abates, its footprints are everywhere in evidence. Four things seem to be happening simultaneously. First, governments have appropriated and monopolized the fear factor and are perpetuating a permanent mindset of emergency around the virus. Second, majority of the world population have overcome the fear of the virus and broken loose from lockdowns to dare the outdoors, literally daring the virus.

    As lockdowns have begun to ease, the fear in peoples minds is being replaced by the boldness to live life as it once was. Third, the Covid-19 emergency is fast and increasingly being cornered and put to other uses by crafty politicians and other tribes of ingenious entrepreneurs. Fourth, whichever way it ends, Covid-19 has opened new frontiers and challenges in humanity’s quest to control its destiny and remake the fate of nations and the plight of peoples.

    Let us make no mistake about it, the Covid-19 crisis will be confronted nationally but resolved internationally. Individual nation states will own and dispose of their versions of the virus but the solutions that will endure and save humanity will be global -universal testing, vaccination and drug therapy. For now, governments are having a field day in tinkering with measures and policies informed mostly by ignorance and political opportunism. Only researchers and scientists are questing for the enduring solutions.

    Rightfully, governments have a right to be afraid of anything that threatens their peoples and their own political security. The corona virus has threatened the things that give meaning to the idea of government. The obligation to protect their peoples is a primary threat. Health systems have been stretched and stressed to their limits. The executive coherence and responsiveness of governmental systems has also been called to question. Long standing healthcare templates, public transportation and education systems and the very social essence of group life have all been severely dented and altered. Death in droves and the possibility of infection in the normal order of the business of life and of business itself are sufficient grounds for governments to fret and stutter as we have seen in recent months.

    By their nature, governments feel like governments mostly only when they do dramatic things that affect many people for good or for ill. Governments sometimes feel more important when their leaders can make sudden pronouncements to shut down borders, close airports, curtail immigration, limit the movements of peoples within and across state boundaries and generally invade private living rooms to hector people or tell them how to live their lives on television. Although democratic governments are elected to safeguard the freedom of the majority, there is something of the autocrat in the psychology of people of power and government which enervates them when they have to act out of necessity to deny or limit the freedom of many people or even invade their privacy. Fear creates an atmosphere in which these things become imperative. Government is a machinery for loud noises and foolish spending. Governments spend big money, buy huge things that do not necessarily make sense to ordinary people and pose for photographs with plastic smiles.

    As it turns out, the most effective way to devise long term solutions to these threats and problems posed by the corona virus is for governments to sustain the mindset of fear. Conjuring up the perennial state of fear enables governments to reach for emergency funds to pay for medical supplies, to build and equip more hospitals, re-think their response strategies and take another look at their priorities. The US government initially thought death rates by corona virus will be automatically reduced by buying more ventilators. So they went shopping for ventilators wherever they could be found. They even got General Motors and Ford to shut down auto manufacturing lines to mass produce ventilators. No one knows what will happen to those millions of these machines as infection, hospitalization and death rates go south.

    The conversion of fear into an instrument of policy has led to a number of panic measures. In places like Singapore and parts of Asia, panic led to a reintroduction of lockdowns and quarantines after an initial relaxation following the re-emergence of infections. The re-imposition of lockdowns remains a permanent threat even in societies that have relaxed them. In the United States, open demonstrations against continuing lockdowns by large populations have pitted people against state governments.

    Chidi Amuta is a member of TheNewsGuru(TNG) editorial advisory board

  • Democracy, Politics and Virus, By Chidi Amuta

    By Chidi Amuta

    Faceless as it is, the Coronavirus may ultimately turn out a rather political virus. It has thrown up new challenges about the management of life (rate of infection) and death (reducing fatalities). Of all emergencies in recent human history, perhaps this virus has engaged the attention of politicians and world leaders more than anything else.

    Its summons is instant and ever urgent. It has even re-written a few national budgets and re-arranged the stock markets of the world at a rate and in ways never before anticipated. On the average, the developed economies of the West are committing anywhere between 8-25% of GDP in emergency intervention to protect their populace from the worst economic hazards of the corona pandemic. Neither the onset of national elections nor even a full fledged war has electrified political leaders into such desperate frenzy as this virus. Hopefully, when it is all over, the coronavirus will have fundamentally redefined politics as the management of resources to meet the expectations of the greatest majority.

    The virus may not have discriminated along racial, ethnic, ideological or even national boundaries, yet it is keeping politicians busy justifying their mandates and scoring instant results for their constituencies. Whether we like it or not, the Coronavirus is making a difference among the leaderships of the world. Gradually, it is beginning to emerge as a barometer of efficiency among leaders of nations.

    Quite unexpectedly, democracy as the dominant political idiom of our age has come under a testy stress in different places in terms of how different systems have dealt with the corona virus. The critical question in this regard is: can democracy justify its preponderance when leaders are challenged to protect their peoples from an unseen and unexpected situation?

    The virus took off in authoritarian China. It devastated a province with an estimated population of 60 million inhabitants, leaving an official casualty figure of 3,312 which is still open to controversy. Yet, that authoritarian state was able to summon its traditional dictatorial ethos to push back the virus with astounding results. It put up four mega hospitals in a few days, tested and treated a record number of cases while locking down and quarantining an area nearly the size of Nigeria. In a matter of weeks, the virus receded, literally chased away by the iron will of a people energised by a determined leadership.

    Today, China is healing rapidly and is on the path to reasonable recovery from the virus. China’s rate of recovery from the virus, though still incomplete, remains almost miraculous in a world where the ravages of the pandemic are still unfolding with mounting fatalities. China has returned from 95% business closures to nearly that percentage of resumption. The people of Wuhan, the most affected area, have been summoned out of quarantine and back to life and work. China has learnt the lessons of lockdowns, emergency healthcare research and delivery and returned to work as the largest single producer and exporter of medical goods against the virus. A fortnight ago, Spain ordered $500 million worth of medical resources from China. From all over the world, orders for medical supplies estimated at over $25 billion are being processed and supplied.

    No one has heard from North Korea. But the hermit kingdom would seem to have contained the spread of the coronavirus into its iron clad enclave or at least may have managed to contain information about the activities of the virus within its borders. Even the most exaggerated western speculations on the virus in North Korea put the fatality rate at less than 100 mostly among frontier soldiers and service personnel.

    Russia, itself an illiberal democracy, has not fared badly either. Despite sharing a common long border with China, Russia has recorded a total of 3,548 cases and only 30 deaths. Its lockdown and social distancing and isolation regime remains one of the most aggressive and draconian in the world.

    Meanwhile, the hallmarks of liberal democracy, the United States and Western Europe, have been devastated by Coronavirus. Italy has recorded 13,155 deaths; Spain has lost 9,387, USA has lost 5,112, France has 4,032; Great Britain 2,352 and Germany has lost 931 lives. As of the time of this writing, a plane load of medical equipment and supplies was on its way from Russia to the United States to support the government. The usually boisterous and ebullient Donald Trump has become a bit sobre and somber these days, humbled by an ordinary invisible virus!

    But it is not a simple division between democracies and non democracies. It is not even a simple East-West line of demarcation. The younger Asian democracies have fared better than others in managing the virus and its outcomes. South Korea with a population of 51.5 million has had only 144 deaths; Taiwan with a population of 24 million has had only 4 deaths. Singapore, a city- state with a paternalistic political system and a population of 8 million has had only 2 deaths.

    One explanation of the relative success of the East Asian young democracies over the older western democracies in managing the coronavirus emergency is the speed and relative efficiency of their bureaucracies. The less cumbersome a bureaucracy, the more speedy they tend to be in their responsiveness to the needs of the people.

    However, it would seem that the real distinction among nations in terms of the results they have scored in managing the pandemic may be that between liberal democracies and the illiberal democracies. The distinction is between democracies that observe the full gamut of freedoms and liberties on the one hand and the ones who observe the ritual of elections but constrain the classical freedoms of democracy.

    The illiberal democracies tend to reduce their primary obligation to the people to security defined in terms of physical security and security from disease, hunger, deprivation. They place basic freedoms beneath security so defined. In this regard, the illiberal democracies are better able to enforce social distancing, lockdowns and quarantines than the liberal citadels.

    So far, not much attention has been paid to the relative low infection and fatality rates in sub Saharan African countries. Our numbers may be dodgy and unscientific. Our testing regimes may be unreliable and clinically deficient. We may not know exactly the rate of infection in Africa yet. But one thing you cannot hide from Africans is mass death and any disease that afflicts people in droves. In rural and crowded poor urban Africa, the coronavirus is yet to make devastating land fall. In a slom, social distancing is alien and foolish. May be it is the heat in our climate. Maybe it is something about the myth of the virus being afraid of hardy black genes except those of black people living like white people in air conditioned large houses. No one knows exactly. But so far, Nigeria with an estimated population of 200 million has less than 200 reported cases and a fatality of less than 3.

    For us in Nigeria,however, the coronavirus has more important political meanings and messages. It has thrown up the question of leadership. It is in a time of national emergency that politicians are challenged to display the essential leadership for which they step forward to be elected. The jury is still out on the quality of leadership that the Nigerian federal government has so far provided since the coronavirus surfaced. In spite of the palpable early threats and increasing fatalities in China, Europe and the United states, the Nigerian government was slow in ordering a closure of the nation’s borders to flights and movements of persons from Europe, the United States and parts of Asia. Even when that decision was made, its implementation was haphazard and disorderly.

    The psychological aspect of leadership in a national crisis did not seem to interest Abuja. President Buhari was quite reluctant to address the nation on the desperate public health emergency that was already ravaging the world. A cross section of the populace was unanimous in calling on the president to address the nation, to minimally show concern and empathy in the face of an unusual public health emergency. Nigerians needed a reassurance that something was being done to protect them from a clear and present life and death danger. It took that level of orchestration and over three weeks for the president to finally make a recorded broadcast.

    Yet such reluctant leadership fell far short of global standards in such an emergency. Over and above a ceremonial national anthem broadcast event, leaders all over the world have mostly entered the trenches to reassure their peoples on a daily basis with facts and figures on what is being done to protect their lives and alleviate the economic hardships attendant on the pandemic. As we speak, Nigerians are still at a loss as to where and how to obtain basic testing for the virus and how to access medical care in the event of an infection. Ignorant state governors are ordering lockdowns without simole first aid kits in their public hospitals!

    Nonetheless, the coronavirus has a political dividend for Nigerians in general and Mr. Buhari’s lack luster presidency in particular. Prior to the coronavirus, Mr. Buhari had settled into the unenviable legacy of being the most disastrous elected leader in Nigerian history. He seemed content with leading a divisive administration in which Nigerians were divided along all conceivable lines. A worrisome North-South divide had emerged and was being furiously orchestrated by both Buhari devotees and their equally strident southern antagonists. A clamour for re-structuring of the country into a truly functional federation has gained currency. Even more sinister, a Christian-Moslem divide had been further weaponized by the unrelenting assaults of Boko Haram and the opportunistic criminality of fundamentalists and political zealots.

    The onset of the coronavirus has reunified the nation against a common unseen enemy. In a National Assembly that is largely averse to issues- driven debate, the virus has forged a bipartisanship hitherto unseen on any national issue. The legislature has been frightened into a solidarity with the executive on any measure that would protect the nation against this virus. There is no certainty that this solidarity will survive the end of the virus threat. The unseen enemy may vanish with these intangible political benefits.

    It is not just at the national federal level that the coronavirus has made a leadership proposition in Nigeria. At the sub-sovereign level of state administration, one state government out of the 36 and the Federal Capital Territory has emerged as an example of outstanding leadership in a time of crisis. Building upon the pioneer role of Lagos in the fight against the Ebola virus in 2013-2014, the current administration of Lagos state has stepped up to the plate. It has provided timely information on the virus, set up identifiable testing centers and isolation facilities. It has created isolation wards in designated public hospitals with real time updated information on infections, admissions, discharges and contact tracing efforts while admitting its limitations. At a time when the nation’s borders are closed and airports are shut, Lagos has emerged as a decisive destination in the nation’s fight against the coronavirus by sheer dint of the quality of its political leadership.

    Nigeria has joined the ranks of locked down republics. But the long term political and economic implications of the coronavirus emergency are brewing underneath the present silence of fear. Oil prices will rebound as the world economy recovers thereby assuaging the more dire economic predictions. But like most things in the Nigerian public place, the legacy of the coronavirus is likely to be political. The scramble for power in 2023 may just have found a single most memorable campaign subject.

  • How political campaigns impact on average Nigerian

    How political campaigns impact on average Nigerian

    Dr. Sam Loco Smith, a journalist, public relations expert, author and communication consultant, has said the essence of any political advertising campaigns is to give the voter or the electorate the right to choose a politician or political party to vote for or against.

    Dr. Smith stated this in an interview, where he spoke on what political advertising is all about, its relationship with voters’ electoral behaviour, and its impact on election outcome among other issues.

    “Another factor that will influence the voting judgment or where the pendulum will swing to is the mass media tools deployed in creating the exposure and visibility of the political party ideologies and political manifestoes.

    “In Nigeria, political advertising campaign has become not only part of the electoral act but also a cultural phenomena in which Nigeria, and particularly politicians, political parties and their support groups also look forward to, since the use of the popular “Daisy Girl,” a 60-second political advert for the 1964 United States of America presidential election, which gave president Lyndon Johnson a landslide victory over Berry Goldwater.

    “The use of political advertising campaign has witnessed various transformations from analogue political advertising approach to what could be regarded as a digital/social media political advertising campaign strategy.

    “In the 1959 parliamentary elections in Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo applied a more advanced and probably scientific political advertising campaign strategy. Although, he did not win that election, he certainly made a very loud and strong statement in the place of strategic and innovative political campaign strategies with the sky- writing concept even at that time. That was the Action Group’s (AG) political advertising campaign fulcrum which revolved around-immediate termination of British Rule in every phase of the political life of the people, education of all children of school age and general enlightenment of all; provision of health and general welfare for all the people and total abolition of want in the society through the variable economic policies.

    “Also, ahead of the 1979 General Election, Awolowo’s political advertising campaign philosophy under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), revolved around the popular four cardinal programmes which included free education at all levels; integrated rural development; the provision of free health services and full employment for all Nigerians.

    “Another political advertising campaign slogan that had a direct link with the people’s desire was that of Chief MKO Abiola “Hope 93” and Farewell to Poverty” particularly the radio and TV jingles.

    “The radio and TV jingles had melodious lyrics like ‘nawa for this life o, na so so palava, I tire for this problem, I tire for life oh” another was MKO, MKO, MKO!!!, Action!, Abiola, Abiola, Abiola!!!, Progress!. There was also the 8pm to 9pm MKO vs Tofa live presidential debate on NTA Channel 10, in which Nigerians were glued to their TV station from the beginning of the debate to the very end.

    “We also had the President Goodluck Jonathan’s political advertising campaign slogan, “We need a breath of fresh air” and “I had no shoes to wear?”

    “In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari came with, “Change” and “Change” became a greeting language as against “Good morning.” And in 2019, it was “Next Level.” For the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 political advertising campaign slogan was anchored on, “Let’s Get Nigeria Working Again,” this slogan was supported with a strong political advertising theme song, “Articulated”,” Dr. Smith stated.

    Speaking on the development of political advertising from pre-independence till now, and how it has impacted the country’s democratic growth, the ‘Political advertising-creativity, intrigue and electoral outcome’ author said “one of the major pre-electoral activities before any major elections is the lifting of ban on political advertising campaign. That automatically validates the potency of political advertising in our electoral system and globally.

    “Political advertising is very important and has contributed phenomenally and astronomically to the country’s democratic growth; that is one of the first things that must be done before the election itself.

    “Political advertising is about communication, information, education, visibility, exposure, understanding, acceptance, rejection, and choosing between several choices.

    “If you don’t embark on political advertising campaign, using the right mass media tools and strategies, it is simply a walkover for the other party and politician.

    “Ahead of 2015 general election, Nigeria saw a keenly contested type of political advertising campaign like no other in the annals of the nation’s history. 2019 was fair and not comparable to that of 2015. However, 2015 and 2019 saw the development of multiple intense political advertising campaign tools – outdoors, posters, branded badge, street lamp poles, A- frames, hat boxes, branded cars, buses and vehicles, branded bus shelter, t-shirts, face and hand bandies among others.

    “All these and other pre-election activities contribute immensely to Nigeria`s democratic growth because without political advertising, election will not be colorful, it will be boring and very dry. It is the icing on the cake of every election”.

    He further stated that the book ‘Political advertising-creativity, intrigue and electoral outcome’ was inspired by the very chronic scarcity of books on political adverts in Nigeria.

    “There are several books on advertising profession and journal articles on political advertising, but you will hardly find any book on political advertising in Nigeria. I can tell you that if you check the best and biggest of bookshops in Nigeria, you may not see any book on what transpired during Nigeria`s political advertising space which dates back to 1958/59.

    “So, basically, the book on political advertising in Nigeria is an attempt to chronicle and document what transpired within the Nigeria`s political advertising space from 1958 to 2019, which before the book, was lacking in Nigeria. It is an attempt to bridge the gap or a diagnostic prescription to the scarcity of books on political advertising in Nigeria,” he said.

  • I ventured into politics with a vow never to deceive those who elected me – Lawan

    I ventured into politics with a vow never to deceive those who elected me – Lawan

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Friday disclosed that his foray into partisan politics came with a vow never to deceive those who elected him.

    According to the Senate President, his decision to be transparent in his dealings as a lawmaker stems from his determination to deliver effective representation to his people, and by extension in service to the nation.

    Lawan stated this during the conferment of a traditional title of Mukaddam of Nguru in Yobe by the Nguru Emirate Council, according to a statement by his Special Assistant (Press), Ezrel Tabiowo, in Abuja.

    “The people of Zone C gave me the opportunity to serve them, and I’ll remain eternally grateful for that opportunity.

    “I made a promise when I entered into politics or partisan politics in 1998, when I served as Vice Chairman of the All People’s Party (APP) in Yobe.

    “But in 1999 when I was elected as a member of the House of Representatives, I promised that I will not deceive the people who elected me.

    “I will always tell them the truth, even if it is bitter, and I will do my best at all times to represent them very well.

    “I’m still on that, and thank God from my federal constituency, to the larger Yobe North zone C, I have understood my people and my people understand me,” the Senate President said.

    After the conferment of the traditional title of Mukaddam of Nguru on him by the Emir of Nguru, Lawan disclosed that plans were underway to establish a skill acquisition Centre in Yobe North senatorial district.

    He said the move to so do was in line with providing employment to the youths so as to address the surrounding problems of unemployment and insecurity in the state.

    “Your Royal Highness, this title will make me work harder during my tenure and after my tenure, because I have to leave at some point.

    “But while I serve as Senator representing this senatorial district, I will do everything possible to ensure that the people of Zone C, Yobe North, get their fair share of Federal presence and also opportunities in terms of employment.

    “Only two or three days ago, I had discussion with a government parastatal that we are going to establish a Skill Acquisition Centre in Nguru.

    “What we want to do with that acquisition Centre is to look for our youths, especially those who have nothing to do, train them in tiling, interlocking and so many other things that we have to borrow people from somewhere else.

    “When they are trained, we will give them something to work with, that way, the employment and even our security situation will be addressed,” Lawan said.

  • Poll verdict, Supreme Court in the eye of the storm – Carl Umegboro

    By Carl Umegboro

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria has since its decision on the Imo state governorship tussle on 14 January, 2020 found itself in the eyes of the storm. In the decision, the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha was sacked from office as Imo governor and replaced with candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hope Uzondinma who scored the fourth position in the polls. Uzodinma challenged the election result on account of some polling units that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cancelled which he claimed were his strongholds.

    These development triggered pandemonium with scores of protests, criticisms, and finally, a petition to the apex court to revisit the matter. Apart from the declaration of APC candidate that emerged the fourth position as winner, the total votes after adding the excluded polling units which the apex court relied on to declare Uzondinma the rightfully elected governor in the election exceeded the total accredited votes in the election. Cursorily, this is absurd and catastrophic.

    As the uproars are unending, and petitions fly sporadically from the PDP camp to any visible entities including the President of the United States of America, the Supreme Court on February 14 again shocked the nation by its decision on the Bayelsa pre-election petition in which it nullified the declaration of the APC candidate, David Lyon as governor-elect, and ordered his replacement with the next candidate with highest votes and geographical spread.

    By the verdict, the PDP candidate, Senator Douye Diri who polled 143,172 votes to emerge second position to APC’s Lyon with 352,552 votes was declared the rightful governor-elect, and sworn-in shortly. APC’s votes were consequently categorized as wasted votes. By implication, only a total of 149,999 people representing valid votes determined the destiny of Bayelsans. The greatest blow was that Lyon was rehearsing for his inauguration scheduled the next day when the news broke out.

    The second was that the mess resulted from Lyon’s running-mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo who presented controversial information to INEC among his requirement for the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state. In other words, the sacked governor-elect had no case as an individual but merely for sharing a joint ticket, hence, shared liability. His case was akin to that of Moses in the Bible who saw the Promised Land but didn’t eventually enter. Thus, by the sins of his deputy, Lyon’s joy was cut short. This will take a lion’s heart to endure.
    However, the two scenarios; Imo and Bayelsa verdicts require highest degree of sensitivity, otherwise, they may set a wrong precedent. Thus, as the apex court has accepted to revisit the Imo verdict, the same gesture should be extended to Bayelsa as what is good for the goose is also to the gander. Nonetheless, it is insentiently driving the apex court to be reviewing its decisions, meaning that end to litigation may henceforth become a myth. So, caution is germane in the quagmires.

    But looking at the respective verdicts, could the apex court eventually reverse its decision in any of the matters? Though, it is rarely done, nevertheless, it isn’t impossible. “Justice must not only be done but seen to be done” as held in R v Sussex, ex parte McCarthy (1924) 1 KB 256, (1923) All ER Rep 233 by Lord Hewart CJ is a guiding principle in legal jurisprudence. But, holistically, the Imo verdict will rarely be reversed unlike the Bayelsa rulings on account of merits.
    The first reason is jurisdiction which is key in legal system. As the votes of candidates weren’t among issues in the trial and appellate courts, the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain it. As far as accredited and scored votes from the poll are concerned, the apex court was ‘blind and deaf’. The contentions before it were anchored on geographical spread and then, the exclusion of 388 polling units which APC candidate argued were his strongholds. The votes obtained by candidates weren’t in contention. And apart from Uzodinma, other contenders merely challenged PDP on ground of geographical spread for a rerun.
    Importantly, by the geographical spread provided in Section 179(1)(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, Ihedioha shouldn’t have been declared the governor in the first place. This is a fundamental error or perceptively, a manipulation by INEC in favour of PDP candidate. Possibly, the target or plot was for Ihedioha to be positioned as incumbent ahead of a likely rerun for incumbency advantages.
    On the perceived blunder of declaring APC candidate; fourth position a winner, to start with, it is imperative to note that the candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu who emerged the second position was earlier disqualified from the election for dual membership of political parties. On the other hand, the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Ararume who emerged the third position, only challenged Ihedioha’s victory for not meeting the two-thirds of the 27 LGAs of the state, and sought for a rerun.
    Incidentally, by the inclusion of the votes in the hitherto excluded 388 polling units which Uzodinma successfully claimed, his votes automatically outnumbered PDP’s Ihedioha votes with geographical spread. Legal system allows technicalities, and differs from moral justice. Thus, what gave APC’s Uzodinma a win was the hitherto excluded votes, and not the contentions by Ararume who approached the court on geographical spread against Ihedioha’s declaration. And the court cannot metamorphose to electoral umpire if parties deemed it unnecessary to amply present their cases.
    From record, APC’s candidate, Uzodinma contended that he won the election had his strongholds not been unjustifiably excluded. Without objection from any quarters and, or justification for the exclusion from the respondent, INEC, his prayers were granted accordingly. That’s the legal system.
    It is also noteworthy that election petition is more or less a civil matter, hence determined by preponderance of evidence unlike criminal matters that are strictly by proofs beyond reasonable doubts as a standard. Suffice to say that the learned Justices convincingly did justice to Imo governorship case, and will be justified and affirmed anywhere rationally.
    On the Bayelsa verdict, the line the Justice Mary Peter-Odili-led panel toed may munch up the nation if not thoroughly reconsidered. The decision of the Court of Appeal was profoundly clearer and more logical. For instance, there’s no law that prohibits persons from change of names. Presently, the only requirements are affidavit and publication. That’s the law. The number of times is persuasive but not law. No doubt, it doesn’t reflect decency to have numerous affidavits for change of names, albeit no law has specified the number of times a person could change his name.
    In other words, the ideal action would have been to markedly highlight it as disgusting, uncivilized, reckless and a sarcastic innuendo by obiter dictum (statement by the way) in the course of the judgment. The requirements for a change of name was met by the affidavits and publications adduced. Had it been a substantial evidence indicated forgery, then, it would be a different ballgame. Unfortunately, none and the court cannot form an impression from the sky or mere assumptions. Thus, emotions substantially prevailed at the expense of law.
    Beyond that, the ugly implication is that by the apex court’s pathway, affidavits for change of names may henceforth be accepted by discretion. Sadly, it will affect too many persons including the innocent especially as the court didn’t categorically state the number permissible for change of names. This is because, Nigeria is a developing and religious nation where people had changed their names for one reason or the other.
    Without a doubt, some had changed or modified their middle names and later as a family did same on the surnames on account of religious beliefs and civilization. Will such people now become criminals and disqualified for public office over such developments without any lawful indictment? An unassertive quest respectfully from their Lordships.
    Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom) +234(0)8023184542 – SMS only.

  • Kano Rerun: I’ve retired Kwankwaso from politics, Ganduje boasts

    …Says ex-gov no longer relevant

    Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Friday took a swipe at the immediate-past governor of the state and his estranged political ally, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso saying the latest outing of the All Progressive Congress (APC) during the just concluded Kano re-run election has retired him (Kwankwaso) from politics.

    Ganduje stated this at the Kano Government House on Friday while receiving the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdul’aziz Garba Gafasa with other principal officers of the House, the state APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas and other party leaders and elders, who presented to him the four newly elected state legislators immediately after they collected their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said the APC’s victory at the election was a clear indication of how Senator Kwankwaso had been retired from politics.

    The re-elected members are from Madobi, Bunkure, Minjibir and Rogo constituencies.

    He especially commended Hon. Kabiru Cunkoso of Madobi Constituency (Kwankwaso’s country home) for roundly defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate there.

    According to Ganduje, “some years back when he (Kwankwaso) was warming up to contest for presidential seat, he boasted that he would retire President Muhammadu Buhari from politics, saying also that he would retire me from politics. But if you look at it now, who then is forced to retire?”

    Condemning Kwankwaso’s style of politics, Ganduje said: “Some political remarks and behaviours of Kwankwaso, particularly during election period are not in order.

    “Our style of politics is calculative and decent. I can therefore not follow his style, that is always castigating without any decorum. We respect people and we see respect and dignity in people. Ours is not like theirs.”

    He called on the elected members, to always respect party leadership and be loyal to the party, adding, “we believe that the supremacy of the party should always be observed with all intent and purposes. You should make sure that, you become loyal party members.”

    On why APC failed to secure the seat of the House of Representatives member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, he said, “we couldn’t get that seat as a result of the crisis that rocked the party at the constituency. The APC candidate was in conflict with the leadership of the party in the state, in the local government, with the local government administration and even with the electorate. That caused us to lose the seat as a party.

    “But even at that, the winner of the party, who came from the opposition PDP, was on the radio announcing his resolve to work hand in hand with the administration of President Buhari and the Kano State government. This is commendable.

    “Indeed, that was made possible because of the hands of friendship I extended to all people urging them to come and join hands with us and move the state forward in particular and the nation in general. We are happy to see that so many people including the just elected member House of Representatives, from Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, Ali Datti Yako, heeds to the call.”

    Ganduje also used the occasion to congratulate the father of Kwankwaso, Alhaji Musa Saleh Kwankwaso for being elevated from Majidadin Karaye to the position of Makaman Karaye Emirate, a kingmaker in the emirate, saying, “he deserved the position very well. Our respectful father and an elder statesman. I am congratulating him on behalf of the government and people of Kano State.

    “We pray that Allah gives him all assistance to allow him discharge all his assigned responsibilities very well. Our father is very hardworking and very close to his people. That, among others will help him perform wonderfully well.”

    In his remarks, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Gafasa assured the governor that the House has over two-third of the members as APC. “We are comfortable as we have enough members to back and support any government policies for the overall development of the state, he said, revealing that more members were coming to join the ruling APC in the House. “They too believe in how this administration is fast developing the state. With this, I can say, our governor His Excellency, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is doing very well for the overall development of the state.”

    The APC state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas commended the electorate for finding the party candidates worthy of being re-elected.

    “The APC will continue to be the best party in any future elections to come. We are determined, through our developmental projects and policies, to continue working towards sustainable development,” he assured.

  • Why I can’t succeed as a politician – Pete Edochie reveals

    Why I can’t succeed as a politician – Pete Edochie reveals

    Veteran actor and broadcaster, Pete Edochie has said that he cannot be a politician. Edochie known for his incisive perspectives on national issues noted that with the kind of temperament he has, he cannot succeed as a politician.

    “ I don’t like politics. Number one, the kind of temperament that I have, I can’t succeed as a politician. Why? I can’t lie to you. When we were in the elementary school, we were told that when 11 birds are perched on an electric pole, if you shoot one, the rest would fly away. In politics, they will tell that you ‘shoot one, the rest would remain’. I can’t be a politician, I just can’t be. You know, it will be difficult for me to lie to anybody. And my father told me never to lie, no matter the situation. And I have many sons, so, I have to raise them like that. I can’t lie”, he said in a chat with The Sun.

     

    Speaking further, Edochie revealed that Nollywood needs the support of the government to expand the dimensions of her operations.

     

    “Nollywood is doing very well. But, you see, we require the goodwill and support of the government to expand the dimensions of our operations. In overseas countries, the government helps the people to project them through films. We are victimized in the country by religious conflicts; if it is the same God that created all of us, we should be able to do introspection and harmonize our differences and get ourselves together. It is only when the government shows commitment in financial terms that we can do something like that.

    “If you go to a place like Dubai, the United Arab Emirate is a predominantly Muslim Emirate. But Dubai has become the economic capital of the world today, because they exposed themselves and the West moved in investments, but in our own case, we seem to be closing the country up. It doesn’t help for development; that is what I am saying. You see, at the risk of sounding immodest, I am very easily, the most celebrated name in the movie industry, internationally, nationally, name it, because by the time I did Things Fall Apart, there was nothing like Nollywood. The book written by Chinua Achebe has been translated into 53 languages. So, the film we shot has been undergoing translations in many languages, Chinese, Japanese, name them, and each time they see my face, they recognize me.

     

    “Most times, I have been invited to some of those places but I am afraid of flying; I would abandon them. Today, I have reached a position to advise the government on the nature of films we should be shooting. I did a film with Genevieve Nnaji called Obiagu; it has been taken out of the country. Netflix bought it; Netflix had never bought any film from Nigeria, but I must say that Genevieve invested a lot of money in that production. All the cameramen were from Europe. And if you look at the people who starred in the production, nobody could be described as small or a child. I am the Obiagu; I am the main man. Then you have K.O.K, Zebrudaya and others; the truth is that there is no beginner there. You can see it in the film. The interpretation was fantastic. Who was my wife? Onyeka Onwenu. So, it worked. If the government shows commitment you can expand the movie industry to accommodate every segment of the society”

     

  • 2019 polls: Effort to increase women participation did not yield desired result-INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its efforts at ensuring the participation of more women in the electoral process did not yield the desired result in 2019 general elections.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the assertion at the “INEC’S review meeting of 2019 general elections from a gender perspective”, held in Abuja on Friday.

    Represented by Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, INEC National Commissioner, Yakubu said that it was evident on the number of female candidates who emerged in the general elections.

    He described the situation as appalling, “in spite a general commitment to the principle of non-discrimination, Nigeria fell short of the deserved result of giving males and females equal opportunities.”

    Yakubu said that evidences abound of several negative aspects of gender relations such as: disparities between male and female access to power and resources, played out in the 2019 general elections.

    He said that the 2019 general election activities and engagements showed high level participation of women in the electoral process as aspirants, but due to barriers, they regressed in the number that won elections.

    Yakubu added that party primaries amongst others fell short of expectations as many women could not secure tickets to represent their parties.

    “During the elections, only five out of the 73 candidates who ran for the position of president were women.

    “Also, 1,668 men and 232 women contested for the 109 senatorial seats while 4,139 men and 533 women contended for 360 seats in the House of Representatives.

    “At the end of the election, only seven women won senatorial seats and 11 were elected into the House of Representatives, while four were elected as deputy Governors.

    “However, other countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa have laid examples to follow.

    “For instance, 12 Sub-Saharan countries elected more than 30 per cent women to legislative positions, while Rwanda reportedly have so many success stories and advancement in electing women to more than 60 per cent of its legislative positions.

    “The huge efforts made by the commission to support the participation of women in the electoral process did not succeed in addressing the decline of women’s representation in politics.

    “This is worrisome as women’s participation in governance and leadership is not only essential prerequisite for removing gender inequality, but also the attainment of basic human rights,” he said.

    The chairman said there was need to start thinking of how things could be done differently for more impact.

    “Such exercise will assist INEC to learn vital lessons that could enable the commission review its policies and programmes and serve as a roadmap in planning for future elections.

    “There is also need to review the operational framework put in place by the commission, identify success factors with a view to consolidating and sustaining them,” he said.

    Yakubu added that the reviews were not about the commission alone, but about mutual credibility for a successful electoral process and outcome in the future elections.

    “He said that INEC would continue to engage with critical stakeholders at various levels to support and interrogate gender issues in politics and political processes in Nigeria,” he said.

    Prof. Antonia Okoosi-Simbine, INEC National Commissioner, said that the overall level of representation of women in politics remained a cause for concern.

    Okoosi-Simbine said that the meeting would interrogate the actions and inactions of the commission and other stakeholders around gender issues during the elections and how to change the narrative going forward.

    “The overall objective of the review is to provide a platform to analyse the 2019 elections, especially from the commission’s perspective and to advance the rights of women in Nigeria towards setting an agenda for 2023,” she said.

    In her remarks, Dr Asmau Maikudi, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Zamfara, said that the marginalisation of women in Nigeria had been a huge detriment to its efforts to grow as a stable, democratic nation.

    Maikudi said that any democratisation process that fails to incorporate a gender perspective was a flaw.

    Maikudi recommended that every man and woman, starting from the ward to the presidency level should be made to compulsorily receive an awareness education/lecture on equal access of women in politics.

    The event, which was attended by INEC Desk Officers from the 36 states and the FCT, was organised in collaboration with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES).

  • Hadiza Balarabe: From stethoscope to politics, By Emmanuel Ado

    Hadiza Balarabe: From stethoscope to politics, By Emmanuel Ado

    By Emmanuel Ado

     

    “There’s no greater challenge and there is no greater honor than to be in public service.” – Condoleezza Rice

     

    If medicine like politics, is about service to humanity,realistically speaking Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, the Kaduna State Deputy Governor can’t by any stretch of imagination be accused of having “abandoned” medical practice. Rather, by throwing her hat into the murky world of politics considered by many as dirty, she has enriched politics with the very high ethical standards of medicine. For instance,while it’s compulsory that every medical practitioner must swear to either the Hippocratic or Osteopathic oath, which captures the obligations and expected professional behaviour of the doctor with any patient, of which failure to adhere to attracts stiff disciplinary actions,including but not limited to the loss of practicing license, politics lacks such a binding oath.

    All over the world politicians are increasingly being held in contempt by vast majority of their people largely due to betrayal and failure to keep their electoral promises. Unfortunately the poor perception of politicians, rather than improving has continued on a downward decline with grave consequences for the polity, because it has continued to adversely affect the capacity of elected representatives to resolve fundamental issues, to get the buy-in of its citizens, like the failure of the British political class to resolve the Brexit matter. The other evidence of the lack of trust is the abysmal low turn out of voters.

    Trust is a gift from the people,who expect it to be used for their general wellbeing and security. While a politician can “afford” to squander the trust of the people, a doctor will be committing suicide if that trust is not cultivated,is not polite, honest considerate and with proven integrity. These and many more qualities are what Nasir El – Rufai the governor saw in Dr. Hadiza Balarabe , the first elected female deputy governor of kaduna State that made her choice as his running mate in the 2019 Governorship Elections compelling. Nigerians are increasingly demanding for trust,greater accountability and transparency in governance,which she also brings to the table,including her freshness.

    El – Rufai from the very outset was determined to retire the entrenched “political merchants” , that had held Kaduna State hostage since the last 20 years,equivalent to the South Africa “State Capture”, in which resources of state were farmed out to so called “stakeholders” , to the detriment of the vast majority of the people. The implication was that kaduna State stagnated in virtually every sector,but most especially in education, health and infrastructural facilities. This explains why as a deliberate policy , El-Rufai consciously attracted a new generation of the very best and brightest to public service,including women who hitherto were subjected to second class treatment, to help him deliver on his vision of the new Kaduna State.

    El-Rufai has fundamentally affected governance, with his measured reforms that have freed resources and refocused the mandate of ministries for efficient service delivery, but the uncharted area where he has undoubtedly made the most profound statements, is his wholehearted commitment to the empowerment of women. And it must be stated, that it’s without prejudice to the 2005 National Gender Policy, which stipulates 35 per cent appointive positions for women, but which El-Rufai surpassed several times over – both in his first and second terms.For El-Rufai the appointments were not tokenism,so he didn’t patronize them with the “traditional” portfolios;Ministry of Women Affairs, rather he saddled them with the ministries of works, environment,justice- actions which demonstrates his trust in their capacity to contribute to national development.

    It must be stated that El-Rufai delivered on this article of faith and many more, without sloganeering on being “committed to building a nation devoid of gender discrimination, guaranteeing equal access to political, social and economic wealth creation opportunities for women”, he simply acted and showed direction to others that promoting full participation of women in governance is the way forward. He has boldly made the point by empowering women and removing whatever limitations and restrictions that held them down,and in the process opened wide open several opportunities for them and at the same time ensuring that the girl child has the likes of Hadiza as role models to look up to.And very encouraging is that empowerment for El-Rufai includes raising the status of women through education, raising awareness, literacy, and training which would enable them earn income.

    El-Rufai who was already a subject of criticism for empowering women, from those who in spite of the strides by women still hold on to the century old believe that women shouldn’t be saddled with any responsibility beyond housekeeping,was to further scandalize Nigerians,when he choose Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate for the 2019 governorship elections,following decision of the then incumbent Arc. Barnabas Bala to run for Senate. Samuel Aruwan,his then spokesman in announcing the choice of Dr. Hadiza Balarabe as running mate to El-Rufai said “the choice continues Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s deliberate policy of promoting women. There are(were) five female commissioners in his 14-person cabinet, a feat not attained even by governors that had much larger cabinets. This is the first time in the history of Kaduna State that a major political party will select a woman as running mate.”

    But beyond promoting inclusion is the fact that Hadiza in her tour of duty as the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, had overseen the Kaduna State Government’s Primary Health Care revitalization programme , which is at the core of the health delivery policy of the state. Under her focused watch, the ambitious renovation and equipping of 255 primary health centres located in each of the 23 Local Government Areas was delivered. Today the PHC’s are equipped with the tools to assist in better antenatal services and safer delivery,thus reducing infant and maternal death. What further endeared Hadiza to El-Rufai was the role the agency played in expanding vaccine coverage to children across the state,a project dear to El-Rufai. Her intelligence , wit, and good memory are other attributes that she brought to the table. Like her boss,she has sufficient mastery of issues to carry on conversations on any topic, and she hardly reads from prepared speeches,an indication of the depth of her knowledge

    Whatever doubt that was expressed about the capacity of Hadiza Balarabe, has been eclipsed by her more than sterling performance – from overseeing the ministry of health to presiding over the State Executive Council. It’s to her credit that very early in the day , she had further reestablished her reputation as a stickler for time , focused and serious minded person,especially because not being a politician she wasn’t known to people beyond those that had encountered her as a doctor. Hadiza has gratifyingly been discharging the huge responsibility on her shoulders knowing she is a touch bearer for millions of women,and very conscious that any failure on her part would be a tragedy of monumental proportions. She has also by her civility and comportment denied those opposed to the rise of women the ammunition to justify century old stereotyping that women lack the competency and intelligence to lead.

    By day, Hadiza Balarabe who came into government simply to help ensure that the PHC’s function as the first port of call for those in need of attention, answerable to many “ogas”, is today the effective Number Two,as powerful as El-Rufai himself who willingly shares his powers with his deputy and whose unflinching support for her to succeed is not in doubt. El-Rufai has equally been gracious to her like he was to Bantex,the only difference being that while he could dance old skol with Bantex,he can’t for obvious reasons dance with her. Elsewhere deputy governors might be treated as spare tires,appointed to fulfill constitutional provision, certainly not in kaduna State. She deputizes for her partner even when he is around,which is a mark of confidence. Last week she hosted the 19 Northern Governors and led the kaduna team to felicitate with the president on his victory at the election tribunal. There is no doubt that in Hadiza, El-Rufai has found a worthy partner in his putting people first agenda, anchored on making lives better.

    El -Rufai deserves commendation for giving life to the much talked empowerment of women,by “allowing people (women) who were outside of the decision-making process into it.” In his first term Hadiza Bala, the Managing Director of the Ports Authority was his Chief of Staff, of the 14 commissioners 5 were women, which the previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations that had much larger cabinets didn’t come anywhere near. State agencies like KADIPA, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency; the Drugs Supply Agency, KASUPDA and KADSTRA, were headed by women. He also made education free for girls through secondary school. It is also a known fact that El-Rufai had vigorously pushed for a woman Chairman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kaduna State Chapter until he was overruled, as part of the process of deepening the participation of women in political structures and formal decision-making.

    Postscript: The romance between El-Rufai and kaduna State women,doesn’t look like a fling,it’s a marriage. What next would he be doing for them?

  • Reduce your talks, join politics, Buhari’s wife tells Nigerian women

    First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Thursday said it was high time women stopped talking and moved into action to curb women disparity in politics.

    Buhari who was represented by Mrs Pauline Tallen, Former Deputy Governor, of Plateau, made the call at a two-day National Conference on Women’s political Participation in Nigeria: Post-2019 General Elections.

    She commended women who made an attempt to contest in the last elections although most of them were denied against the wishes of the electorate.

    “It is a sad situation, it is heart breaking, but we must learn to do thing differently; its high time we reduced the talking and moved into action.

    “It is time for action and we are calling with a big and loud voice to all our political parties and INEC chairman to do what their counterparts are doing in other countries by promoting women.

    “We have very capably women that can contest any position in Nigeria; we are in a man’s world we can only succeed if we have the support of the men.”

    Buhari said that on her part, she was persisting on the president to do something different by giving women a quota system just like in other climes.

    She said that was how other women were succeeding in other countries adding that an amendment of the electoral law would also give women an edge.

    She said that statistics on women participation in politics in Nigeria was heartbreaking adding that “we must rethink and do everything possible that will earn us the name of being the giant of Africa.”

    Earlier, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, President, Women in Politics said that a record of 2,970 women contested elections into different positions in the 2019 general elections but only 67 got elected across the nation.

    Ifendu said that a breakdown of the elected members show that no women was elected as president, vice president or governor while only seven were elected to the senate.

    She said that 12 were elected to the House of Representatives and 44 to the State Assemblies with about 11 states without a female member.

    She said that Nigerian women went to the elections with high expectations but the overall level of representation of women in politics remained a cause for concern as the number elected continued to dwindle.

    Ms Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS said the conference was aimed at examining the 2019 elections in terms of women’s participation.

    Lamptey said the conference would also look at the lessons learnt from the 2019 elections, approaches adopted by stakeholders to support women and outline an action plan for a robust engagement ahead of 2023.

    She said that UNwomen would continue to support Nigeria to expand the political space for women because it was necessary to ensure attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and build inclusive and lasting democracy.

    Dr Hadiza Balarabe, Deputy Governor Kaduna state, urged women not to give up but support each other by being their ‘sisters’ keeper to win elections.

    Balarabe also urged them to build their capacity in politics and all other walks of life because it would help them greatly as in other smaller countries women were doing well.

    Said she: “Nigeria must do it; other smaller countries should learn from us and us from them.”

    The conference was organised with support from UNwomen, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Nigeria Women’s Trust Fund and Women in Politics.