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Talking seriously, Democracy as a concept was alien to Africa, and by implication, Nigeria. Largely, right from inception, democratic norms and values were never assimilated and internalised by Africans. At best, its definition and perception were conveniently based on assumptions. So, it meant different things to different people who thought differently! Needless to repeat that […]
Continue ReadingIn a statement signed by its outgoing National President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday described the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai as a “right-winged extremist” who doesn’t believe in rules. The labour union also condemned what it described as “irresponsible and dangerous” the comments of the governor regarding the […]
Continue ReadingThe United States government has announced a Visa ban on Nigerians that may be accused of or found to be undermining democracy in Nigeria. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, January 25, said while the names of those affected by the ban won’t be revealed, it is […]
Continue ReadingThere are a number of cognitive biases (dissonances in psychology) at play amongst us as a people. I have taken time to compile a few which are most concerning: The belief that the grass is always greener on the other side The belief that yesterday is always better than today The belief that there is […]
Continue ReadingIn contemporary Nigeria, the term “restructuring” has become something of a “God term,” as rhetorical scholars call words and expressions that instinctively evoke warm fuzzy feelings in people, that galvanize people into action, that are unquestioningly sanctified by a cultural community, that people associate with affirmative attributes, and that people are prepared to make sacrifices […]
Continue ReadingAs part of the fundamental objectives of the neocolonial State, the participation of the people in their government is guaranteed in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act. The implication is that elected officials are mandatorily required to have their mandate renewed periodically through fair and free elections. Nigeria is said […]
Continue ReadingTo run for a governorship position in any state in the US in 2022, your political party’s primary filing and nomination fee can range from as low as $0 (yes, zero) to $3,750 (or N1.8m). The average fee is thus circa $2,000 (or N980,000). These charges cover what is labeled in Nigeria as nomination and expression […]
Continue ReadingThose paid to protect the guardrails of democracy hardly look in the direction of the courts for enemies. Nor do most people suspect that judges could become facilitators of authoritarianism and subtle promoters of anarchy. As custodians of the rule of law, judges and the courts over which they preside are the insurance for democracy’s […]
Continue ReadingDays have characters of their own. Some are lively, cheery and sunny; others are dull and desultory. Saturday, June 12, was Democracy Day in Nigeria. It had this rather mournful and dreary feel about it. Rumours were rife that sleeping cells of well-armed Janjaweed mercenaries would be unleashed on an unarmed and defenceless populace. Mercifully, […]
Continue ReadingLet us begin by quickly recalling two bits of Nigeria’s recent history. First, at the close of 1983, a military junta overthrew and supplanted the elected civilian government of Shehu Shagari, the first and only president of Nigeria’s Second Republic (1979-1983). Then, early in 1985, in the second year of the new military regime, which […]
Continue ReadingAs Nigerian politicians jostle for winning pedestals, an outlandish reality has sneaked into town. The country is sliding from an opportunity to build liberal democracy towards an Illiberal democracy and, I am afraid, even an outright populist autocracy. The signs are now abundant: the personalization of security institutions, an assault on the legislative branch, a […]
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