Politics
Concerns About Democracy Collapsing in Nigeria. What’s Next?
They started in 199, and laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to the decking while others were trying to raise it to the first floor. And then, some people came and knocked everything down. That is the situation we are now. Everything has been knocked down.

” Democracy will work if the actors play by the rules. It’s work in progress. Under OBJ (Obasanjo), state of emergency was declared. The NASS worked together to ensure that 2/3 majority passed the emergency. Each member had to vote. “In this same NASS we have the same constitution. What happened in the last one? We need to chase out the bad operators in democracy.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, including the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have strongly voiced out that Democracy is collapsing in Nigeria.
Nigeria became a demoratic country in 199, with Obasanjo as its first democratically elected president.
But 26 years down the journey, several eminent Nigerians, former governors and past public office holders are now expressing fears over the falling standards of democracy in Nigeria.
They voiced their fears during a colloquium held at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel to mark the 60th birthday celebration of former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, which was chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Also in attendance were former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and the immediate past Governor of Katsina, Aminu Masari.
In his keynote address titled ‘Is Democracy Failing in Africa?’ Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, lamented that it seemed like Nigeria’s democracy only worked for a few selected persons.
Kukah said: “We as Africans inherited a system that is not ours, but we can’t say it is not relevant to us. There are differences between democracy in Asia and that of Africa. I feel sorry for the judges. At the last election, even small me, I had people calling me, complaining, talk to this, talk to that.
“There was pressure on judges to deliver justice. I agree that there’s an urgent need to clean up the mess. Democracy is about everything, and it’s about justice. Democracy and its principles are endless contestations.
There are certain things God has given us which people can’t control.”Kukah urged politicians to borrow a leaf from the cat-and-mouse relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku, which he said also helped to deepen democracy. “The relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku is like a Catholic marriage. You will quarrel without breaking up… “Democracy is a work in progress.”
On his part, Obasanjo said that what Africa was practising today’s a mere reflection of ‘representative democracy.’ .
Abraham Lincoln describes it as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But what do we have today? The Greek democracy affects everyone. Democracy has now become representative democracy and it hasn’t taken care of everyone.
“Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it didn’t have our culture and way of lives. You will say, ‘go to court’ when you know that you can’t get justice.Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa,” Obasanjo said.
Peter Obi asserted that many progressive-minded leaders from 1999 have been striving to raise the bar of the country’s democracy to an enviable height
Peter Obi, submitted: “They started democracy in 199, and laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to the decking while others were trying to raise it to the first floor. And then, some people came and knocked everything down. That is the situation we are now. Everything has been knocked down.
Nothing works. I am somebody who can say this exemplarily. I became a governor through the court when President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar were in government.I did not pay the court one naira.
I was sitting in my office and the court declared me the winner when the governor was hosting them.
It can’t happen in Nigeria today… So, democracy has failed. Let’s talk about how to rebuild it because it is collapsing.”
at the event, Atiku reflected on the price many leaders paid for the realisation of democratic rule. “In my case, I ran into exile because Abacha was very hostile,” he said.
The former Vice President, however, praised Ihedioha for remaining loyal despite belonging to different political platforms. “
Emeka and I have kept this relationship and till today I have found him extremely loyal, dedicated and focused even though sometimes we found ourselves on different political divides but we kept our relationship and I think that testifies with the kind of person Emeka is,” he said.
The former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal believes Nigerians can make democracy thrive as long as everybody is willing to play their roles.
Tambuwal, who condemned the recent state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, criticised the National Assembly for the unconstitutional manner it approved it.
He said, “Democracy will work if the actors play by the rules. It’s work in progress. Under OBJ (Obasanjo), state of emergency was declared. The NASS worked together to ensure that 2/3 majority passed the emergency. Each member had to vote. “In this same NASS we have same constitution. What happened in the last one? We need to chase out the bad operators in democracy.”
The former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, however, said it was high time Nigeria reviewed the 1999 Constitution to address the plethora of problems plaguing its structure. According to him, the country cannot afford to lose its enviable status in the international community.
“As Commonwealth Secretary-General, I helped members to transit to multi-party democracy. We need a new constitution to address many challenges.
True federalism is the answer to the management of national issues. The recent coups in Mali and Niger tend to take us back. “The nature of our politics and the conduct of our politicians is another problem of our democracy. They have become instruments of capturing political power.
It’s only true, stable democratic governance that can rid our country of the crises which impede development. “I believe that Nigeria can change this Eurocentric narrative. We in Africa and Nigeria have a responsibility to get a stable democracy and change the Eurocentric narrative,” he stated.
News
JUST IN: Appeal Court Affirms Okphebholo as Edo Governor

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Monday Okphebholo as duly elected in the September 21, 2024 Edo Governorship polls, as it affirms the decision of the Tribunal which on April 2 dismissed the petition of Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for lacking merit.
A three-man panel of the Appeal court, presided over by Justice Mohamed Danjuma, restated the position of the Tribunal which held that the PDP failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The panel held that the PDP failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The Appellate Court agrees with the Tribunal that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) Machines which the appellants tendered were merely ‘dumped’ as they weren’t demonstrated to prove overvoting.
This the Court held after it earlier expunged the 133 BVAS machines admitted in evidence at the Tribunal stage of the Governorship tussle.
Ighodalo and the PDP were further faulted by the Appellate Court for failing to tender the voter register to prove overvoting.
The Court further adds that BVAS extract doesn’t constitute items with which to prove overvoting. It says the documents tendered by the PDP at the Tribunal did not, on their own, prove overvoting, non-holding or cancellation of elections at the polling units.
To further puncture the case of the PDP, the panel says the 19 witnesses called by the appellants during the Tribunal hearing didn’t help their case.
It says the majority of them did not witness what they spoke about. Moreso, it adds they were insufficient to prove irregularities in polling stations at over 4,000 locations.
Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, against Asue Ighodalo of the PDP who garnered 247,274 votes.
News
Betta Edu Congratulates President Tinubu On His Two Years In Office

The former Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. former, Dr Betta Edu, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his Two Years in Office.
Edu, who joined millions of Nigerians and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC to heartily congratulate the president on his second year in office as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria said the president has been a true father to all.
Her statement reads: Mr. President, Father of the nation.
I join millions of Nigerians and members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC to heartily congratulate you on your second year in office as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Despite the obvious challenges, your dedication to transforming Nigeria and changing the economic landscape by improving the lives of the citizens in the long run is visible, even to the greatest critics.
It’s has not been an easy ride navigating terrains that even lions won’t dare! Your commitment to hard work and a result oriented leadership is unprecedented.
The focus of your administration on economic rejuvenation is evidently changing the narrative and Nigerians are witnessing the positive impacts, including infrastructural development, education for all, affordable housing, huge improvement in the security situation among others, in just two years.
These positive developments underscore the renewed hope agenda of your administration.
Your Excellency, this was the toughest two years of your four + four years journey leading our nation.
The right foundation has been laid; it’s time for the fruits to blossom.
Forward forever, Nigeria will experience a rebirth, under your dynamic and visionary leader, A Lion is never distracted by the bleats of goats.
Mr. President keeps raising the bar….her statement reads.
Politics
Hon. Comrade Asefon Praises Tinubu for approving Monthly Stipend for Technical College Students Nationwide

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Hon. Comrade Asefon Sunday, has expressed profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the historic approval of a N45,000 monthly stipend for students enrolled in technical colleges across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Wednesday by his office, Hon. Asefon described the approval as a landmark moment in the history of student welfare in Nigeria.
He noted that the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Tinubu administration to empower youth through technical and vocational education, with a total grant of N120 billion allocated under the new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scheme.
“This remarkable gesture once again reaffirms President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to education as a cornerstone of national growth and development,” Hon. Asefon stated.
“His Excellency has demonstrated, through this initiative, his belief in skills-based education and his identity as a truly student-friendly President.”
He further emphasized that the N45,000 monthly stipend is a grant, not a loan, and thus does not require repayment, making it a life-changing opportunity for countless students and their families.
“Today marks a memorable milestone in the hearts of Nigerian students. This grant stands as a testament to President Tinubu’s unmatched generosity and vision for an inclusive educational future.
It is yet another reason why Nigerian students continue to stand solidly with Mr. President,” Asefon added.
He also extended appreciation to the Federal Ministries of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Education, along with all stakeholders who played critical roles in facilitating this initiative.
“I must commend the collaborative efforts of all those who helped bridge the gap between the student community and the Presidency. Your contributions are deeply appreciated.”
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