Last week, the entire political structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in what has been tagged political tsunami dissolved into the All Progressives Congress (APC) because, in the words of Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta State governor, “the drinking pattern needed to change as a result of changes in the taste of the palm wine”.

To observers of Nigerian politics that have watched the descent of ‘PDP family feud over the sharing of our resources” into war of attrition, the development sounded the death knell of the PDP.

To PDP enablers and self-proclaiming crusaders of democracy however, the development constitutes a threat to survival of democracy which is believed to thrive better within multi-party system. But from their chat with Chief Bode George, anchored by Reuben Abati of Arise TV and his crew and with Dele Momodu by Channel TV’s Seun Okinbaloye however, death of PDP spells doom for our democracy and should that happen, the president and his APC should be held responsible.

The truth is that PDP is not a political party in spite of its media enablers’ efforts to cloak it in borrowed robes of political party. John Campbell, a former American ambassador to Nigeria had during proceedings at a hearing on the topic: Nigeria In Turmoil on March 19, 2010 described PDP as “an elite cartel at the centre of power in Nigeria… a political party that came together with no ideological or programmatic basis, but simply as essentially a club of elites for sharing of oil rents and political spoils”.

That thesis has been validated several times over.

The first act of betrayal of Nigeria by PDP National Assembly members who publicly expressed the eagerness to recoup their election expenses having sold houses to prosecute the election was the passage of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Bill within three months. With that, the number of fuel importers went from four major oil companies to over a hundred. The new outfit which merely duplicated the functions Ministry of Petroleum Resources became an instrument by which PDP stalwarts and their children defrauded the nation to the tune of about NI.7 trillion “without importing a pint of fuel” according to Audu Ogbe, the then PDP chairman.

Then President Obasanjo and his PDP in the name of privatization between 1999-2014 sold off most of Nigerian public enterprises estimated at over $100b for a paltry $1.5b to their members or their fronts. It was on account of this the 7th Senate report of November 30, 2011 directed the National Council on Privatization to:

 “Rescind the sale of Abuja International Hotels Limited (Nicon Luxury Hotel) as well as Sheraton Hotel and Towers;  that the sales of assets of Daily Times Nigeria PLC  by Folio Communications Limited and its directors  be investigated by anti-graft agencies and the sold assets recovered; that the Share Purchase Agreement of Volkswagen Nigeria Limited now (VON)  be rescinded and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the economic crimes being perpetrated against the nation at VON Automobile Nigeria Limited premises in Lagos by Barbedos Ventures Limited; that NICON Insurance PLC  should immediately refund with interest, the sum of N900 million to the Federal Government being money paid by BPE in February 2007 as contribution for recapitalization with accrued interest; that Nigeria Re-insurance PLC  should immediately refund the sum of N1 billion paid by BPE in February 2007 as contribution of the Federal Government for recapitalization with accrued interest and that  the former Directors-General, Nasir el-Rufai,  Julius Bala and  Irene Nkechi Chigbue should be reprimanded by the National Council on Privatization”.

The privatization of the power sector was not different. After an injection of between $8.2-$15b of taxpayers’ money by the federal government, 15 companies made up of 10 Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and five Generation Companies (GENCOs)  paid $2.238b to take over 60% of unbundled PHCN in August 2013. President Jonathan on the occasion assured Nigerians that his administration will ensure that “Nigerians enjoy a minimum of 18 hours of electricity supply a day”.

Speaking on this betrayal of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, during   the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium had said, “The PDP administration shared our generation, distribution and transmission to their friends and cronies without very deep and thoughtful research and evaluation. It has now become pork chops. He therefore  suggested  that “for a more constructive reform to improve generation, transmission and distribution, this privatization must be reviewed by putting experts together at all costs”, without prejudice to the legal implications.

PDP members that always regard themselves as family members are tarred with the same brush. Obasanjo who chased Diepreye Alamieyeseigha from Germany to London from where he escaped to Nigeria, dressed as a woman for defrauding his Bayelsa State; Obasanjo who ensured 17 of PDP and ANPP 24 governors between 1999 and 2007 were dragged by EFCC to court for financial malfeasance; Obasanjo who described National Assembly members  as “pen robbers”  for budget padding, arm-twisted governors and government contractors to collect N7 billion to build a personal presidential library while the national library he initiated in 2006 is still under construction 20 years after.

His godson, President Goodluck Jonathan, taking after his footsteps also secured N7 billion from serving governors and government contractors to build a church and recreation centre in his native Otueke village. Atiku Abubakar, Obasanjo’s vice president was indicted for his role in the privatization programme forcing Obasanjo to declare: “If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me. If I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support.”

Dimeji Bankole, a former speaker of the House of Representatives was accused of immorally purchasing his official house while David Mark, the former senate president in “2011 purchased the official residence of the senate president, built on 1.6 hectares of land, a national monument that was not meant to be acquired by an individual and was never reflected in the federal government’s gazette as required”.

Bukola Saraki, another PDP leading light, was the whistle blower in the PDP N1.6trillion fuel subsidy scandal. In anger, he joined other disgruntled PDP members to pull down PDP for alleging the company in which he had interest was involved in the fuel subsidy scandal. In APC, Saraki confessed to literarily stealing the senate presidency by ceding the control of the senate with 60 APC majorities to PDP with 49 senators. He also traded off the deputy senate president’s position which by convention belongs to the ruling party with a majority, to Ekwerenmadu of PDP.

Prof Itse Sagay, a renowned constitutional lawyer had back then described Saraki’s victory as “a victory for impunity, a victory for fraud and a victory for political desperation and indiscipline. Similarly his victory was dismissed by Anwalu Yadudu, former Dean Faculty of Law, Bayero University as ‘lies in the face of democratic ideals, having stemmed from ‘a flawed election by a fraction of yet to be constituted senate”.

Nearly all the leading lights of PDP allegedly partook in the sharing of $2.4 billion loan for military wares and welfares. While Dazuki’s account’s officer reportedly claimed his boss asked him to get $11M from the CBN, Dasuki’ was widely quoted as saying the president asked to change N10b dollars to be shared to delegates.

Other PDP partakers according to EFCC include Iyorchia Ayu, Bode George, Attahiru Bafarawa, Raymond Dokpesi, Peter Odili, Jim Nwobodo and N950m shared in Shekarau’s house. Aziboala, GEJ’s cousin allegedly received N6 billion, Nenadi Usman N3.5 billion; Ayodele Fayose N3 billion and Musiliu Obanikoro, N4 billion. Tony Anenih – N400 million; Olisa Metuh took N400 million, Jolly Nyame- N2.4 billion and Joshua Dariye -N700 million etc.

Prof Chukwuma Soludo told Nigerians that “Over N30 trillion is mismanaged, unaccounted for or missing under Jonathan” while Obi Ekwesili, Obasanjo’s education minister lamented that “Our reserve is depleted and our savings are squandered. Our nation is in trouble.”

The greatest tragedy that can befall a nation, according to Wole Soyinka, the conscience of the nation, “is for her citizens to suffer collective amnesia”.  PDP and its media enablers believe Nigerians have short memories,

They also think we are incapable of drawing a parallel between massive defrauding of the nation in the years of the locust and the ‘japa’ syndrome which has taken thousands of our jobless youths into second slavery in Europe and America.

I am not sure Nigerians, earnestly awaiting PDP rites of passage will shed tears for PDP who, while in power, fought over sharing of our resources and properties kept in their care for our children and out of power, are today engaged in war of attrition over who, out of established fraudsters, should lead the next assault on Nigeria.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has ordered all banks in Nigeria to immediately identify and close any tax and levy collection accounts not authorised under the agency’s TaxPro Max system.

This directive, announced through a public notice issued by the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, and circulated to journalists on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, forms part of ongoing reforms by the agency to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s tax collection framework.

According to the notice, all tax and levy collections must now be processed exclusively through the TaxPro Max platform, the digital solution introduced by the FIRS to centralise and automate tax administration processes.

What the FIRS is saying 

The notice, titled “Directive to close unauthorised FIRS tax collection accounts”, emphasised that any accounts outside the TaxPro Max system are considered unauthorised. Consequently, banks are expected to discontinue the use of such accounts without delay and ensure strict adherence to the new collection procedure.

“Effective immediately, all tax and levy collections on behalf of FIRS must be processed exclusively pursuant to an assessment raised on the TaxPro Max platform.

“All banks participating in the FIRS Collection, Remittance and Reconciliation Scheme are hereby advised to comply with this directive within the stipulated period.

“We count on your cooperation to ensure a smooth transition to this centralised system, thereby contributing to a more transparent and efficient tax collection process,” the notice stated.

FIRS further reiterated that banks participating in its Collection, Remittance, and Reconciliation Scheme must only process transactions originating from TaxPro Max-generated assessments.

The agency noted that the move would also enhance real-time reconciliation of collections, minimise revenue leakages, and support its broader digitalisation agenda.

TaxPro Max system 

The TaxPro Max platform, developed locally, is a comprehensive digital tax administration solution designed to facilitate end-to-end tax activities. These activities include taxpayer registration, filing of returns, payment processing, automatic issuance of receipts, and the generation of tax clearance certificates.

Since its deployment, TaxPro Max has become central to the FIRS’s strategy to modernise Nigeria’s tax administration infrastructure, reduce human contact in tax processes, and improve ease of compliance for taxpayers.

By mandating exclusive use of the platform, FIRS aims to eliminate the proliferation of multiple collection accounts and bring uniformity to how taxes are assessed, collected, and reconciled.

Implications for banks and taxpayers 

With this directive, banks are expected to align their internal tax collection mechanisms with the TaxPro Max system to avoid regulatory breaches. Financial institutions that fail to comply with the directive risk sanctions or exclusion from participating in future FIRS tax collection activities.

For taxpayers, the transition means that all payments to FIRS must now be based strictly on assessments raised via the TaxPro Max portal. Payment through any unauthorised channel or to any unauthorised account will be invalid and could expose taxpayers to penalties.

To support the transition, the FIRS encouraged taxpayers and banks seeking clarification or assistance to reach out to its Revenue Accounting and Refund Department (RAAD).

The directive by the FIRS marks a significant step towards tightening Nigeria’s tax collection processes and minimising leakages through unauthorised accounts. It also highlights the agency’s commitment to leveraging technology to drive transparency and accountability across the tax ecosystem.

[Nairametrics]

The eight branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State have firmly rejected a query issued to the Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch, Cordelia Eke, by the Sole Administrator of the state via the Ministry of Justice.

The query, dated April 25 and signed by Director of Administration at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Ebiriemg Deresima, accused Eke of engaging in “serious misconduct.”

It alleged that she co-signed a communique which criticised the state administration for acts described as “severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity,” including the alleged dismantling of democratic structures and suppression of peaceful demonstrations.

The query further claimed that such actions violated the Public Service Rules and were considered inappropriate for a civil servant.

Reacting in a joint press release on Monday, the chairmen of the Rivers NBA branches described the move as a clear attempt to intimidate Eke and other legal professionals in the state.

They emphasised that the communique in question was not authored by Eke in her capacity as a public servant but as the elected Chairperson of the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA — a role that empowers her to express the collective stance of the branch.

According to the statement, the communique dated April 9 was a product of formal NBA deliberations and conveyed the consensus of all NBA branches in Rivers State.

The chairmen also stated that their position was consistent with that of the NBA at the national level, as outlined by the Association’s President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.

They went on to describe the query as part of a broader campaign by the Sole Administrator to silence opposing voices and dismantle democratic principles under the pretext of fostering peace.

“The query to our brother Chairman is nothing but a ploy by which the Sole Administrator seeks to intimidate her into discontinuing her functions and duties as Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch, and an attempt to intimidate lawyers in Rivers State and by extension other good people of Rivers State from standing up and speaking against executive rascality and impunity,” they said.

“It must be noted that the main objective of the Nigerian Bar Association is the promotion of the rule of law thus, as watchdog of the society, it is our duty to speak truth to authority on behalf of lawyers and the general public and cannot be intimidated to shy away from this sacred responsibility.

“Consequently, we, the Chairmen of NBA Branches in Rivers State, condemn in its entirety the query issued to our Brother Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch and demand an immediate withdrawal of the same.

“We consider the issuance of this query to our brother Chairman as an unfortunate act the Sole Administrator has decided to use to suppress freedom of speech and constitutional rights of the good people of Rivers State against his various incidences of dismantling of peaceful democratic institutions already in existence in Rivers State and other acts and actions capable of causing breach of peace instead of maintaining the peace which was the primary claim for his appointment as Sole Administrator in Rivers State. We condemn in its entirety the query issued to our colleague and demand its immediate withdrawal,” the chairmen stated.

The statement was signed by the chairpersons of various NBA branches in the state: Dr. Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire (Ahoada), Simple Dioha, Esq. (Isiokpo), Abiye Abo, Esq. (Degema), Dr. N. A. Duson (Bori), and Dr. Celestine Nwankwo (Okehi), among others.

Reaffirming their stance, they pledged to continue resisting any acts of intimidation or victimisation against NBA leadership, members of the legal profession, or the people of Rivers State.

[NaijaNews]

Former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has faulted Senator Bukola Saraki’s comment about his defection, saying the former Senate President has no moral right to criticise his decision.

On Monday, key political stakeholders in Delta State, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor, Okowa and political appointees in the state, officially defected to the All Progressives Congress.

Following the gale of defection which emptied the Peoples Democratic Party’s structure into the APC, Saraki, in a strongly worded statement, said Okowa’s defection to the APC is an indication of how low politics has become in Nigeria.

Given the fact that Okowa was the PDP’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Saraki said the ex-governor’s move was “unprecedented” and symptomatic of a deeper leadership crisis.

“It is shocking and unbecoming. It’s simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity,” Saraki said.

Reacting, Okowa, while speaking on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” on Tuesday, said he does not expect someone like Saraki to comment about his decision to move to another political party.

Okowa maintained that Saraki should not have the moral right to comment about defection because he, too, had once abandoned the PDP for the APC.

“I did not expect that someone like Senator Bukola Saraki should be able to speak concerning me, because he knows that he had also moved to APC before and eventually return. So he has had movement to and fro. So, I don’t think that he has the moral right to even speak about my defection at all,” Okowa said.

Okowa stressed that the gale of defection in Delta State was a collective decision of all political stakeholders in the oil-rich state, adding that their decision to defect was motivated by the lingering crisis in the PDP.

According to him, recent communication from the party’s leadership showed that the party is not the proper political vehicle for Delta State ahead of the 2027 election.

“Several things have been going on in the party. While I do not want to join issues with people, as stakeholders, our leaders in this state have sat down to look at the events in the last several months, and because of the events that we see and the communications coming out from the leadership of the PDP at the moment, it did not appear to us that that was a proper political vehicle for us to continue in, Okowa stated.

Okowa asserted that the PDP governors’ rejection of a coalition coupled with the leadership crisis in the party suggested that the opposition party is not ready for competition.

[Punch]

Nowadays not a single day passes without a statement coming mainly from northern political figures and commentators complaining about how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is short changing the Northern region on project allocation, appointments, political marginalisation and policy direction of his administration.

Senator Ali Ndume representing Borno South has been the most strident and eloquent on this subject with his presentation of unimpeachable comparative facts and figures on projects the Tinubu administration had embarked in the southern part of the country, particularly the South Western region where the president comes from vis-à-vis the North. He had also forwarded a list of appointments showing how the South Western part of the country had been unfairly favoured against other parts of the country which goes against the principle of federal character in appointments and representation.

Senator Ndume is not alone in this northern crusade. Recently Senators and Representatives from the North Eastern geopolitical region of the country addressed the media on the subject of allocation of agricultural projects in the country, which left out the entire six states of the region. For a region which is the largest in landmass and which is renowned for massive agricultural and livestock production, this oversight can only be deliberate and underscores the Tinubu administration’s policy of not only the North East but the North as a whole, said the North East legislators.

The feeling of unfairness by the Tinubu administration is the trending topic across the entire north in informal conversations among classes of people and in formal occasions involving the northern intelligentsia. There is an unmistakeable feeling that President Tinubu’s unfair treatment of the North amounts to a betrayal of trust and non-recognition of the massive votes (about 60 per cent of the total tally) that the region gave him to enable his victory at the 2023 elections.

But while the north is griping about what it regards as undeserving unfairness at the hands of the president, there are salient factors we should not gloss over on the subject.

How much of the unfairness against the north can be attributed to President Tinubu policies? Is the president the only source of the North’s misfortunes or are there other contributory sources? Why is the North moaning about unfairness just two years into the Tinubu administration when northerners have been at the helm of affairs in the country for over 40 of the 65 years of the country’s independence? Why didn’t northerners who have ruled the country institute policies that would have provided the necessary props for a northern economic transformation all this while to compliments the region’s political dominance in the country?

A partial answer to these posers has been provided by political cartoonist, Bulama Bukarti in his caricature of northern political elite which appeared on the Weekend Trust Newspaper edition of the penultimate weekend. In it Bukarti showed several doors depicting the existential challenges of the region which needed to be addressed by the northern elites. These challenges included prevalent insecurity, poverty, education, the parlous state of northern economy and the issue of political power. In the caricature, northern elites were seen rushing towards the door marked ‘’Northern Coalition to take over power’’. None of the elite were seen paying as much attention to the other doors.

In many ways this has been the purpose and focus of northern political power control; seeking and exercising political power for its sake and not necessarily for the larger and more meaningful northern human development. In the over 40 years that northerners have held power in this country, trillions of funds have accrued to the 19 northern states enough to more than transform its land and peoples and Nigeria by extension into an industrial power. Many individual northerners have made money beyond their dreams and belief, but this had hardly trickled down to the northern masses to change their lives and the land for the better. Indeed ironically the more northern elites get into the political power loop the more the more the north lost its modest economic and social foundation.

The underlying reason for the paradox of northern political power and regression in economic and social foundations are embedded in historical factors. At the dawn of the colonial era, the northern political and social structure was largely feudal; made up of the ruling aristocracy and a vast subservient peasant class who toiled as economic chattels and were socially beholden to the ruling class.

At the beginning of the colonial enterprise in Nigeria, the British subsumed the northern ruling aristocracy allowing them the powers to clamp the peasant class so as to ensure stability and continuity of the colonial administration.

Thus while other parts of the country there were little or no hindrance to the transforming economic and social changes that the colonial advent brought through education, in the north this was largely restricted. While in the southern part of the country, the middle class was growing and expanding with people getting more educated and being absorbed into the growing Nigerian economy as Engineers, Technicians, Doctors, Administrators, Traders, the northern ruling aristocracy contrived to severely restrict the similar expansion of northern peasantry into the northern middle class.

The template for the restricted human capital development in the north worked so successfully during the colonial times that at independence in 1960 while there were hundreds of schools and institutions in the south, there were less than fifty such schools in the north. While in the south there were hundreds of lawyers, engineers, technicians etc the north was grossly deficit in these areas. This pattern of deliberate human underdevelopment put the north at a disadvantage in critical sectors of Nigerian economic and social life which exist till today.

At independence when northerners led the government of Nigeria, they realise this factor and tried to introduce policies and measures to remedy the situation in the north. But it was too late because although northerners held political power in the country, there were not enough northern middle class to complement northern political power control in the country.

The coming to power of President Tinubu was not just power shift to the south, more significantly it represented the coming of the south west into the centre of Nigerian politics. Before then the south west had been content to play the opposition role in the country. Now that that the south west had morphed fully into the centre of Nigerian politics, it should be expected that they will bring in the full complement of the south western middle class into the available spaces they can find or create in the Nigerian political centre they now occupy through President Tinubu.

The North should also know that the south west will not leave the Nigerian political centre anytime soon and will ruthlessly restructure the Nigerian political space to ensure total dominance and control in the coming years. And what the north should also consider is that much of the political restructuring will come at the expense of the north.

The reality that the north should face is not just about the political power that has now being ceded to President Tinubu who is ruthlessly determined to restructure the Nigerian political economy to the advantage of where he hails from. What the north should do more importantly is to own up to the fact that the fault does not necessarily lie with President Tinubu, but more within. Organizing to retake power without collectively facing up to and resolving the massive visible weaknesses and cracks prevalent in the north would yield little even if the north succeeds in its bid.

President Tinubu has demonstrated by his policies how to use political power to advance group political and economic interests. This may look discomforting to others but in the context of Nigerian politics and its exclusivist trajectory this is the reality. Northern elites who have exercised political power in the country but did little to advance the progress of their region should learn applicable lessons from that.

Gadu can be reached via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 08035355706 (Texts only)

Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna state, says the opposition coalition can defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 without support from governors.

Speaking to journalists on Monday in Kano, el-Rufai said the coalition’s strategy should be focused on grassroots mobilisation rather than courting political bigwigs.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors’ forum recently rejected any alliance or merger talks.

“We are trying to offer Nigerians a real alternative — something different from what they have seen before,” Daily Trust quoted el-Rufai as saying.

“A governor has only one vote. Nigerians have many more votes than one governor or even 36 governors combined.

“It doesn’t matter if you gather all the governors together; if the people of Nigeria say they are not with you, it is over.

“The president had a sitting governor in Lagos — and still lost Lagos. So, what is the real value of a governor?

“I was the governor of Kaduna state. I fought hard to deliver President Tinubu in my state, but I lost. That taught me a hard lesson — that elections are ultimately decided by the people, not by political figures.”

He asked the Social Democratic Party (SDP) — his new political platform — to reinforce the message to Nigerians.

El-Rufai also said the coalition’s original plan did not include uniting with the main opposition party.

“From the beginning, our intention was never to merge with the PDP. We have been very clear about that. The PDP is a spent force. It is a party targeted for destruction, and, frankly, it has almost succeeded,” he said.

“We are not looking at political parties that are already ravaged by internal conflicts. We are building something fresh, something that will inspire hope.

“When Nigerians look at the faces involved, they will hopefully say: ‘Yes, maybe this time it will be different’. That is the goal, and it is ongoing.

“Our objective is not to merge political parties. We have been through that before, and we know how long and complicated that process is.

“What we are trying to do is bring like-minded people — who believe Nigeria needs real change — under one umbrella.”

The ex-federal capital territory (FCT) minister said the SDP was chosen following a thorough review of parties expected to remain registered after INEC’s post-election de-registration exercise.

“As you know, INEC now has the power to deregister parties without any elected member at the state assembly level,” he said.

“We assessed the ones that cannot be deregistered, and concluded that the SDP ranked highest. It has pedigree, it has history — but it still needs building.

“Forming a party is easy. Building a party — registering members, holding congresses, building leadership from the polling unit to the national level — is the real work.”

He added that previous parties failed due to weak internal democracy and dominance by powerful figures, harping on the need for an inclusive platform free from individual control.

[TheCable]

27 April in South Africa, reminds us of the immeasurable sacrifices made by individuals and nations to break them away from the chains of unjust segregation by a selected few. It reminds Africans of the efforts of their national heroes, particularly Nelson Mandela. He is regarded as a champion of freedom, not only in South Africa but the entire world. It is a day that not only marks the emancipation of South Africans from apartheid but also returned their essential human rights in 1994.

The celebration is a reminder of the unity and diversity for all that was established on this day in 1994. Many families might have a special meal or a barbecue to commemorate the day. There might also be local parades and street parties to mark the day. There are a few quotes to drive home my points on issues of freedom and threat to democracy in Africa. Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be.” – Daniel J. Boorstin. “Life without liberty is like a body without spirit.” – Kahlil Gibran. “When we lost the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free.” – Charles Evans Hughes.

Furthermore, freedom of speech protects freedom from tyranny. The free flow of information allows for intelligent voting / democracy. Democracy cannot survive the masses being ignorant and or just stupid. As such, Democracy is ‘of’ the people, ‘for’ the people, ‘by’ the people- in short the system revolves around the people, they are the ones who have the power to choose their representatives and change the government in the next election, if they’re unhappy with the present government.

In the golden words of Martin Luther King Jr, an American Baptist minister, activist, and political philosopher who was one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. MLK posited: “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” In my view, the postulations of MLK, is ‘time to wake up’ which generally means it’s the appropriate time to stop sleeping and begin the day.

Following From the above, there are two other quotes I would like to use to explain myself, the first one being: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” and the second one being: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. In Africa today, many countries in the continent are still fighting for their freedom, whether it be economic, social, political, environmental, or psychological.

Globally, democracy is under pressure: electoral systems have come under attack, authoritarianism is resurgent, and civic freedoms are shrinking. Against this backdrop, democracy without opposition is not a democracy and should outrightly be considered authoritarianism. Therefore, the “opposition” should in no way be confused with “hostility” to the government.

Additionally, the existence of two or more parties is not enough, the government must assume that it requires and must have a political counterweight. Otherwise, authoritarian temptations will arise with the consequent deterioration of democratic principles. The government-opposition dialectic not only measures the forces that support the government but also those that exercise an active power of criticism, control, and alternative direction of the government.

Arguably, the whole concept of democracy is to keep questioning its existence and why it is there in a country. If there is no opposition, media in a democracy, it can’t be questioned directly and will never be accountable to its citizens. In democracy, the decisions are taken by mutual agreements and governments have to be very careful about their decisions and the impacts of their decisions. The rate of development in any democratic country is faster than any other country.

All this is because, the government is under regular questioning and observation and if government does anything wrong, they are criticized for it. If the government does not fulfill its goals and promises to people, not only it’s put under questioning and criticism by opposition and media but also changed in the upcoming elections.

Conclusively, in these times of growing uncertainties, we are witnessing, a clear departure from democracy to totalitarian system in our beloved country Nigeria in particular. Nigeria’s democracy which was the result of sacrifice by our heroes and hard-won through decades of struggle, painful sacrifice and continuous resistance against authoritarian rules in the past years. This is definitely not the democracy that Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO) and many others envisioned.

Finally, permit me to use the examples of Lee Kuan Yew who took charge, ran a merit-based administration and waged war against corruption, economic saboteurs, and insecurity without favouritism. He built modern Singapore, whose economy is ranked the most open and the joint least-corrupt country in the world on the Corruption Perception Index. Rwanda’s Paul Kagame is demonstrating how purposeful, visionary leadership can help a poor traumatized country rise from civil war, genocide, and privation to deliver robust growth, stability, and inclusion. The million dollars question on the minds of millions of our compatriots: is the Tinubu’s government going to continue with the failure of the Buhari’s regime or chose the part of honor as exemplified by Lee Kuan Yew and Paul Kagama.?

The current state of affairs in the country with the gale of defection from the opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is a cause for concern for all well-meaning Nigeria. With the coming of the APC regime, the Nigeria hard-worn Democracy wrestled from the jaws of the military juntas seems imperiled. In the name of politics, the current regime has destroyed what looked democracy in Nigeria. The judiciary which is said to be hope of the common man is destroyed, the National Assembly is the presidential rubber stamp. There is no checks and balances as we have executive recklessness with masses bearing the brunt. And its quest to operate like the Lord of the Manor, the current regime has turned its mischief to the opposition with the sole aim of destroying it. It is no longer news that the speculated defection of Senator Arthur Okowa to the APC has been done together with the state Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The entire Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Delta State has collapsed into the APC. And there are indications that the other states especially in the south would follow. It is also insinuated that one of the conditions stipulated to reinstate governor Fubara of Rivers State who was illegally suspended by the Tinubu, is his defection to the ruling party, APC.

There is no gainsaying that these defections result from intimidation from the ruling party that has infiltrated the opposition. The ruling party has used the state institutions like the judiciary and the anti-crime agencies to intimidate people and induce unwarranted cross-carpeting. The ruling party has not done anything good to warrant mass defection into its fold. The country is in a sorry state, economically, socially and politically. The country is having the worst form of leadership ever. So, it is an irony to see politicians decamping into the group that has brought the country to its knees.

I am particularly saddened by this ugly development that portend grave danger to our nascent democracy as the country is sliding dangerously into a one-party state. First, by leaving governance and concentrating on destroying opposition, the ruling party is denying the citizenry good and credible leadership. Without credible opposition, democracy is as good as dead. This because the ruling party can do whatever it wills and go scot-free since the electorates have no choice of changing them.

Another implication of this is that it will usher in an era of authoritarianism. Nigeria is creating a dictator and a maximum ruler that can do whatever pleases him. Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu removed an elected governor and got retroactive approval from its rubber stamp legislators and Nigerians kept quiet. He used that to intimidate the other governors especially those from the opposition. As the 2027 election beckons, Tinubu is tightening his vise grip on the nation creating fear and anguish in the land. The culture of impunity is institutionalized. State agents are becoming lawless; human rights are violated flagrantly. Hooliganism and thuggery have been elevated to instrument of governance.

Another effect of this unfortunate development will be that corruption will increase in leaps and bounds in the country. We know that those who have corrupt cases will have their cases discontinued once they join the ruling party. We are aware of the case of Femi Fani-Kayode and others that have gone to the APC. With this, it means that the governors and those in government offices can do whatever pleases them as long as they are in the ruling party, while the anti-graft agencies look the other way and concentrate on the struggling street boys.

Moreover, with dictatorship and culture of impunity will come crime and social vices and insecurity. Insecurity in the country now is the direct consequence of government negligence and corruption. Most of the kidnappers and bandits operating on our highways were armed directly and indirectly by the government. Some of them are abandoned armed thugs used by the politicians to rig election, some are frustrated jobless youth while some are armed by selfish politicians to create instability in the land in order to advance their political interest.

For democracy in Nigeria and by extension the country to survive, this ugly trend must be reversed immediately. The force behind this gale of defection is obviously masterminded by Tinubu so as to make it possible for him to manipulate the 2007 election with ease. Without mincing word, Tinubu administration has been a disaster of a sort to the nation. And from the look of things, he is not willing to work to change the dwindling fortunes of the nation but fixated on the upcoming 2007 election. And from all indications, he turned all the instrument of government towards his ambition to perpetuate himself to power.

Nigerians must wake up to this looming threat to our democracy and existence as a nation. All well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy should speak up. The citizens should be sensitized to know the true state of affairs and resist the attempt to mortgage their future into the hands of reactionary elements holding the nation at ransom. Members of the opposition should step up their game. We expect the opposition to form a democratic coalition and mobilize Nigerians to resist the APC’s invidious plot against the nation. It is time to bring to life the rumored mega party to combat the monster, the APC.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Enugu State Chapter, has said there would be no justification if Governor Peter Mbah joins the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

PDP has, in recent times, lost some of its elected candidates to the ruling APC. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, along with their structures, joined the APC recently.

Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, in an event last two weeks, drummed support for President Bola Tinubu’s second term. Reports have claimed that Governor Eno and Governor Mbah may also join the APC.

In an interview with Naija News on Sunday, Enugu PDP spokesman, Chief Uchenna Ubute, said defection would be of no benefit to Mbah.

While noting that personal reasons could influence defection, he said APC would not be of any benefit to the Governor.

“You said it is a rumour. As far as I know, political party is a platform. Maybe on personal reasons, somebody might decide to defect.

“The Governor is not defecting to any other political party. The Governor is the leader of PDP in the South East. Enugu is the only state standing for PDP in South East and Governor is the leader.

“What would Governor benefit from detecting to APC? The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, campaigned to the people of Enugu State.

“Peter Mbah is not only the leader of PDP in Enugu state he is leader of PDP in South East zone. What’s defection going to do for him? Is it defection that’s going to make people of Enugu vote for him? Or is it his good work that will make people of Enugu vote for him? Ubute said.

According to him, Enugu State has no opposition because the Governor has been performing.

“The government of Enugu state, led by Peter Mbah, is doing very well not only for the PDP but to other political parties. In Enugu State, we don’t have opposition now,” he stated.

PDP Is A Big Party, Has No Need For Coalition

Chief Ubute also faulted the call for a merger between PDP and other parties. He stressed that PDP has structures across the 36 states. He questioned how the merger would help the main opposition.

Enugu PDP spokesman further stated that Oborevwori, Okowa’s defection, and Eno’s statement did not void the stand of the PDP Governors Forum in Ibadan, Oyo State, on coalition.

“PDP has categorically made it clear that the party is not going to merge with any other political party.

“Governors are leaders of the party in their states. Governors that defected or made one or two comments, all those things are their personal issues and part of their fundamental rights. 

“But Governors Forum that brought together PDP governors , in that forum, we made a decision that we are not ready to merge with any political party. 

“If you recall, former Governor of Delta, Okowa, PDP vice presidential candidate, has been on EFCC, and as that supported somebody to be governor, the Governor (Oborevwori) may have defected to reduce attacks.

“PDP is big party. They have formidable structures in the 36 states of the federation. All those parties they’re merging with, what structure do they have, what benefit will they bring to the party. PDP is the biggest opposition in this country,” he stated.

Nigerians Should Decide Tinubu’s Fate In 2027

Ubute said Nigerians would have to decide if President Bola Tinubu should be re-elected for a second tenure.

He stressed that the role of the PDP as the main opposition party did not matter much. According to him, the Constitution empowered Nigerians to make a choice and not any institution.

“We are in democracy and we’re Nigerians. The Constitution has empowered Nigerians to make a choice on who governs them. People holding positions they have one voter’s card on the election day. 

“So Nigerians have to think before voting. If the federal government is doing well and what they’re doing is okay for them, then they should go and re-elect the president. They have the constitutional mandate to make that choice. The choice is on the people. Who to elect come 2027 is on the people, not on any institution. The people should make a choice, right choice,” he advised.

Senator Okey Ezea Lied

Naija News reported that Enugu North Senator, Okey Ezea, in a town hall meeting with the people of Uzo-Uwani, said Enugu PDP government, including Mbah, has no intention to protect the people of the area from insecurity caused by herdsmen.

According to Ezea, former Governor Ifeanyi Uguwanyi of the PDP also failed to address herdsmen attacks in his administration.

Reacting, Ubute said Ezea preferred to lie because of politics.

“It was the same Okey Ezea that said politics is do or die game. Okey Ezea is just an opposition Senator. Whether the government is doing well or not doing well he will continue to attack the government. Those things are unfounded. They’re lies. It’s his right to say these things,” he added.

[NaijaNews]