10/21/17
Things that must Change in Nigeria
Unbridled migration/emigration of desperate Nigerians to hell
When you go to any embassy in Nigeria you will see Nigerians in long queues, some waking up at 4am to be on the line. What is driving them out of Nigeria? I was shocked to hear that Nigerians constitute a significant portion of the illegal immigrants that drown daily in the Mediterranean Sea. Recently I watched loads and loads of Nigerian evicted from Libya. Libya?
I am told of the numbers of countless Nigerians languishing in foreign jails and many are on the death roll in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa and China for drug- trafficking. I am thoroughly ashamed to be said to belong to a country where some young people prefer to migrate to hell than live in their country.
Is there nothing really that we can do to stop this national disgrace?
Street trading, begging, hawking and refuse dumping on highways
Though my heart goes out each time I see young men and women crisscross the highways to sell their wares to passengers in moving vehicles, I have always wondered if there is nothing we can do to give these young and often not-too young folks who risk their lives and demean their personalities a decent chance to eck out a living, to do more decent jobs or ply their trades in a proper market? Then I am bewildered that in many cities, everywhere is turning into markets especially in such places as Aba, Portharcourt, Kano and Ibadan. Then the whole environment is littered with refuse. On the highways these days you find new trading settlements in places like Ogere in Ogun State, Lokpanta in Abia State and Obehie in Rivers State and the whole road median is covered with refuse and the people continue to buy and sell on the refuse, day in and day out. Have we lost our sense of decency or what?
Barbaric ways of tax/levy collection and enforcement
In many states of this country, it is very embarrassing to see so-called revenue collectors jump on to the road from hide outs or put dangerous spikes to force vehicles to stop. Many accidents have occurred from this type of ambush. Sometimes, revenue collectors or regulatory agents scale fences to shut down factories for alleged tax evasion. Can’t we stop these barbaric acts of impunity? The governments at all levels should ensure that they use due process of law to enforce any mandate, including ejecting illegal squatters. Many foreign businessmen and visitors are alarmed at this lack of due process in regulatory enforcement. Nigeria must stop these rofo-rofo practices as they bring shame to our country.
Politics without ideology and political harlotry
I am ashamed of the level of primordial politics played in Nigeria – politics of stomach infrastructure. Elected and non elected political office holders switch parties at the drop of a hat. No ideology, no principles. What matters is temporary relevance and access to the national wealth. If you cannot beat them, you join them. When can we stop this political harlotry in Nigeria? It demeans the political class and rubs off negatively on the image of our nation. Let us get elected officers to resign their positions and return to the electorate, if they must cross carpets. Some deterrence is badly needed to help stop this political harlotry.
Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa OFR
4/26/11
POST ELECTION CRISIS IDIOTIC - Abdulsalami Abubakar
Post election crisis idiotic- Abdulsalam Abubakar
On April 26, 2011 · · In News
BY WOLE MOSADOMI
Former Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar has said that though the election in the country is over, there is still the need for a national dialogue to be conveyed to discuss what led to the crisis that engulfed part of the country after the presidential election last week and find a lasting solution to the problem.
General Abubakar who was answering questions from journalists shortly after casting his vote in Tuesday’s gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in Minna condemned the crisis in its totality describing it as, “idiotic, barbaric and uncalled for.”
He said instead of embarking on crisis, the aggrieved would have gone to court to seek redress.
“I call on my fellow Nigerians to please sit down and talk if they have grievances or follow the right course by going to the courts to find out how their grievances can be addressed”, General Abubakar remarked.
The former Head of State noted that with the sad events, there is the need for Nigerians to be more security conscious instead of relying solely on government to provide security for them.
On the staggering of elections in the country, the former Head of State said it is the best option for the country adding that it will go a long way to establish true democracy.
Meanwhile, the election witnessed a low turnout in Minna, the state capital and in Suleja and other parts of the state.
Our correspondent reports that staff of INEC waited anxiously at their duty posts across the state but with low turnout from the electorates.
The apathy our correspondent reports is not unconnected with the crisis that engulfed the state last week that led to the burning down of no fewer than 17 churches with 5 people confirmed dead especially with the two bomb explosions experienced in Suleja town.
On April 26, 2011 · · In News
BY WOLE MOSADOMI
Former Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar has said that though the election in the country is over, there is still the need for a national dialogue to be conveyed to discuss what led to the crisis that engulfed part of the country after the presidential election last week and find a lasting solution to the problem.
General Abubakar who was answering questions from journalists shortly after casting his vote in Tuesday’s gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in Minna condemned the crisis in its totality describing it as, “idiotic, barbaric and uncalled for.”
He said instead of embarking on crisis, the aggrieved would have gone to court to seek redress.
“I call on my fellow Nigerians to please sit down and talk if they have grievances or follow the right course by going to the courts to find out how their grievances can be addressed”, General Abubakar remarked.
The former Head of State noted that with the sad events, there is the need for Nigerians to be more security conscious instead of relying solely on government to provide security for them.
On the staggering of elections in the country, the former Head of State said it is the best option for the country adding that it will go a long way to establish true democracy.
Meanwhile, the election witnessed a low turnout in Minna, the state capital and in Suleja and other parts of the state.
Our correspondent reports that staff of INEC waited anxiously at their duty posts across the state but with low turnout from the electorates.
The apathy our correspondent reports is not unconnected with the crisis that engulfed the state last week that led to the burning down of no fewer than 17 churches with 5 people confirmed dead especially with the two bomb explosions experienced in Suleja town.
6/13/10
COMMEMORATION OF JUNE 12
Reports on commemoration of June 12, 1993 election anniversary
Sunday, 13 June 2010 00:00 Nigerian Compass
17 years after: Family wants Abiola immortalised
Patrick Okohue
Seventeen years after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and eventual death of the winner, Chief MKO Abiola and his wife, Kudirat, the family has demanded justice from the federal government.
The family wants Abiola immortalised.
Making the demand yesterday on behalf of the family, his son, Jamiu Abiola, declared that the progress that Nigeria is searching for will continue to elude it unless his father and mother who gave their lives for the democracy that the nation now enjoys are given due recognition and their pride of place.
The younger Abiola, who spoke at a breakfast interactive session organised by the Action Group of Nigeria (AGN) in conjunction with Eminent Political Stakeholders and Social Democrats at the Abiola residence, noted that if someone made the kind of sacrifice that his parents made and people benefitting from the sacrifice did not care to recognise it, it could be painful.
“What is the big deal in honouring those to whom honour is due. When people call us monkeys, this is what they mean, there is too much injustice in this land.
Also at the event, a chieftain of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Prof. Pat Utomi, noted that most nations across the world are built on myth around their past leaders, urging Nigerians to declare June 12 a Memorial Day in honour of past national heroes.
Also at the National Theatre where the Ijaw Monitoring Group brought members of the Ijaw nation to celebrate the anniversary of June 12, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Dokubo Asari declared Nigeria as a nation of injustice.
Asari who claimed a personal relationship with Abiola called for the posthumous naming of Abiola as Nigeria’s president, so that his name could be listed as one of the former presidents of Nigeria.
Civil society groups, labour unions, students demand true federalism
•Daniel declares Monday work-free in Ogun
Kunle Olayeni, Abeokuta
Civil society groups, labour unions, student bodies and other stakeholders yesterday staged a rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola.
This came as Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State declared Monday a work-free day to commemorate the annulment and honour the late Abiola, whom he described as one of the major pillars of democracy in Nigeria.
The governor also urged the generality of Nigerians to use the anniversary to renew their commitment to the ideals of good governance, democracy, free and credible elections and the unity of the country.
At the rally held in Abeokuta, hometown of the late Abiola, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Campaign for Democracy (CD), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Young Democrats (YD) and National Association of
Nigerian Students (NANS) among others, moved round some major roads in the state capital chanting solidarity slogans.
Participants at the rally carried placards with inscriptions bearing, among others, “MKO Abiola, symbol of democracy;” “No retreat, no surrender;” “Ogun shine your eyes; IBB must not rule Nigeria again;” “Ogun NANS warns IBB to stay off Ogun;” “Attahiru must deliver, else…”
They demanded the enthronement of true federalism in the polity, implementation of electoral reforms and also enjoined the National Assembly to urgently pass the Freedom of Information Bill to enhance transparent governance.
Meanwhile, Governor Daniel has asked all residents of the state to use Monday’s public holiday to reflect on the immense contributions of Abiola to the country and humanity in general and work towards a better society which the deceased stood, lived and died for.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, the governor described Abiola as “a successful businessman, selfless and patriotic leader, pan Africanist, consummate politician, statesman and philanthropist of the first order.”
“Citizens of our State and Nigerians should use the day to reflect on the lessons of the historic event and pray for the full realisation of the dreams of that great day. Our democracy is on course and we should use the coming elections to further deepen it,” Daniel said in the statement.
Be vigilant, Adams, Odumakin warn Nigerians
Victor Oriola
National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, and the President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, have warned Nigerians to be vigilant in the forthcoming general election to ensure that people’s votes count.
Speaking yesterday in Lagos at the 17th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola, organized by the OPC, the pro-democracy activists warned that the price of eternal liberty was to be vigilant.
Adams, while reflecting on the lesson of the 1993 election maintained that Abiola should be immortalised posthumously.
“He should be conferred with the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR). The Abuja stadium and some other notable monuments in Lagos and Abuja should be named after him. June 12 of every year should be recognized and declared as national work free day,” Adams declared.
Emulate Abiola, make your votes count, says Fashola
Muyiwa Oyinlola
Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday urged Nigerians to emulate the ideals of the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, by making their votes count in future polls.
He noted that Nigeria was liberated from military rule in 1999 because the late business guru and politician paid the supreme price, by insisting on the peoples’ mandate when his electoral victory was annulled by the regime of the former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, in 1993.
Fashola, who made this appeal during the 17th anniversary of the annulment, held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, regretted that the nation got so close on June 12, 1993 and literally threw it away. He noted that the unresolved issues of the ill-fated poll now reverberate today in the form of electoral reforms.
Speaking further at the event organised by a group known as June 12 Coalition, he recalled the shocking events that followed the annulment, noting that the streets of Lagos were the battleground grounds, adding that “blood was shed, lives were lost, martyrs were slain and, from there, emerged the victory of the peoples mandate over totalitarian authority in the 1999 elections.
While speaking on the benefits of making one’s vote count and insisting on credible elections, Fashola noted that “whereas Abiola was a philanthropist and highly influential, his most defining legacy had nothing to do with how rich he was; it has everything to do with his morality and courage to sacrifice everything for June 12.”
Group wants National Assembly complex named after Abiola
An NGO, Conscience Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola by naming the National Assembly complex, Abuja, after him.
The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, on Friday in Lagos described Abiola as a “political institution” whose political struggle gave birth to the current democratic dispensation.
Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential poll, died in custody in July 1998.
“M.K.O. Abiola deserves to be immortalised by naming the National Assembly complex after him.
“He was a symbol of democracy; his struggles as symbolised by June 12 led to the birth of the current democratic dispensation in 1999.
“If we consider June 12 (1993) presidential election as the fairest in the history of Nigeria and how Abiola died in the struggle, Nigeria should honour him,” the statement said.
Conscience Nigeria said that Abiola should be seen as a political institution and not as an individual whose contributions would remain indelible in the annals of the country.
On the 2011 general polls, the organisation urged Nigerians, the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the elections were free, fair and credible.
It said, “We owe it a duty to conduct free, fair and credible elections to show the whole world that we can repeat what happened on June 12, 1993.
“History beckons on us again to do it right.”
Civil society groups shun anniversary
Cajetan Mmuta, Benin
Civil society groups and political parties in Edo State on Saturday shunned the 17th year anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Nigeria.
Attendance at the low-key ceremony held at the National Museum, Ring Road in Benin, the state capital, was witnessed by a few members of the Nigeria United for Democracy (NUD), Nigeria Labour Congress, Labour Party and about two serving commissioners, with a great number of policemen manning security in the area.
However, the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, whose speech was read by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Cordelia Aiwize Aiyowieren, said the acclaimed winner of the election, Chief Moshood Abiola, and other Nigerians paid the price in the struggle for the sustenance of democracy in the country.
Oshiomhole urged the electorate of the country to ensure they elected credible leaders in the forthcoming general election through wise and effective use of the ballot papers.
He also challenged the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to make positive impact in the nation’s electoral process by making sure that the labour of the heroes past was not in vain.
The governor reiterated the resolve of his administration not to betray the confidence reposed in it by millions of residents of the state but to strive towards credible elections through the application of the principles of one man, one vote in the state.
According to him, the electorate should use the power of the ballot box to choose those they want and vote out those they do not want.
He added that Nigerians should learn serious lessons from the June 12 elections and the country’s political history.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kaduna Egboigbodin, challenged elected and appointed leaders as well as the various organs of government to use the opportunity provided by the June 12 struggle to reach out to millions of citizens of the nation who have been abandoned by inculcating the ideals of positive and exemplary leadership lifestyles.
He also appealed to members of the national and state houses of assembly to use their privileged positions to ensure that the recommendations of the Justice Mohammadu Uwais report on electoral reforms were implemented while positive steps should be taken to accord traditional rulers and local government councils the much desired recognition in view of their roles and importance in grassroots development .
In addition, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana, said that the mission of June 12 anniversary was initially a tribal issue despite the fact that Edo State has played a frontal role in the struggle for democratic justice and freedom before, during and after the annulled election.
He charged Nigerians to rise to the challenge in the forthcoming polls as there are still a lot of challenges to be surmounted.
‘Quit blames, move ahead’
Geoffrey Ekenna
For Nigerians still mulling over the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election won by late Business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, time has come for the country to move ahead and stop laying blames on individuals.
That was the position of, Seyi, a daugther of the founder of the O’odua Peoples Congress, OPC, and a politician, Alhaji Hammed Adekunle Makama, at the 17 year anniversary in Lagos yesterday.
They held that rather than continuing to point fingers on the unfortunate annulment, Nigerians need to move ahead in nation building and ensure that next elections, particularly in 2011, achieved the milstones for which June 12 was known.
Makama, who was the guest speaker at the event organised by the Nigerian Rennaissance Group, said that time had come for Nigerians to forgive former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who annuled the election.
Makama said it was improper for Nigerians to continue to blame Babangida over an election that he supervised, was considered the best in Nigeria’s history, without actually giving him credit for the election itself.
He wondered why Nigerians could forgive Chief Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, who led the Igbo to a war against the country; why former President Olusegun Obasanjo ruled Nigerians for eight years without acknowledging Abiola and not forgive IBB 17 years after the annulment.
He said,”The annulment was an institutional decision with lots of external pressures from the present day beneficiaries of the June 12 saga. It is saddening that it is these group of over night democrats and freedom fighters that are now making the worst noise about June 12. It is a remarkable act of courage that IBB assumed the responsibility and despite serious pressure, he failed to indict any other person or group of people to the present time. The annulment was a product of military climate. That era has gone”
He pointed out that it was actually June 12 that paved the way for the present day democracy the country is enjoying.
Also speaking, Seyi said time had come for Nigerians to start building their country and advance the country to the next level.
Group supports June 12 as Democracy Day
Olusola Sanni
A political group, Democracy Forever Movement, has called on Nigerians to reconsider the choice of date for the nation’s Democracy Day.
This according to the group is in view of the significance of June 12 as compared to May 29 which is recognised by the government as Democracy Day.
The group said there was nothing symbolic about May 29, but that it was rather, the product of the arbitrariness and characteristic lawlessness of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Ibadan based group said May 29 could only be remembered for despotism, extreme executive recklessness and other vices which were characterised by Obasanjo’s eight year rule.
In the opinion of the political body in a statement by its General Secretary, Comrade Abdul Rasheed Yinusa, June 12 is a more ideal and suitable for Democracy Day.
The group however failed to fault General Ibrahim Babangida on account of the annulment of the memorable election.
According to Comrade Yinusa, it is hypocritical to blame IBB for the annulment without first commending him for organising a free and fair election in the first instance.
“It is unimaginable to expect a human being to organise a free and fair election with the plan for the annulment of the same election. If such happens as was the case on June 12, it could only have been for forces outside the control of the organiser of such election,” he said. .
He argued that the annulment was not a personal decision of IBB.
He said even after even after IBB stepped aside, the military did not restore the mandate to MKO. Rather, Yinusa said, the acclaimed winner was arrested, incarcerated and humiliated to death by successors of IBB in government.
He said even after even after IBB stepped aside, the military did not restore the mandate to MKO. Rather, Yinusa said, the acclaimed winner was arrested, incarcerated and humiliated to death by successors of IBB in government.
Sunday, 13 June 2010 00:00 Nigerian Compass
17 years after: Family wants Abiola immortalised
Patrick Okohue
Seventeen years after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and eventual death of the winner, Chief MKO Abiola and his wife, Kudirat, the family has demanded justice from the federal government.
The family wants Abiola immortalised.
Making the demand yesterday on behalf of the family, his son, Jamiu Abiola, declared that the progress that Nigeria is searching for will continue to elude it unless his father and mother who gave their lives for the democracy that the nation now enjoys are given due recognition and their pride of place.
The younger Abiola, who spoke at a breakfast interactive session organised by the Action Group of Nigeria (AGN) in conjunction with Eminent Political Stakeholders and Social Democrats at the Abiola residence, noted that if someone made the kind of sacrifice that his parents made and people benefitting from the sacrifice did not care to recognise it, it could be painful.
“What is the big deal in honouring those to whom honour is due. When people call us monkeys, this is what they mean, there is too much injustice in this land.
Also at the event, a chieftain of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Prof. Pat Utomi, noted that most nations across the world are built on myth around their past leaders, urging Nigerians to declare June 12 a Memorial Day in honour of past national heroes.
Also at the National Theatre where the Ijaw Monitoring Group brought members of the Ijaw nation to celebrate the anniversary of June 12, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Dokubo Asari declared Nigeria as a nation of injustice.
Asari who claimed a personal relationship with Abiola called for the posthumous naming of Abiola as Nigeria’s president, so that his name could be listed as one of the former presidents of Nigeria.
Civil society groups, labour unions, students demand true federalism
•Daniel declares Monday work-free in Ogun
Kunle Olayeni, Abeokuta
Civil society groups, labour unions, student bodies and other stakeholders yesterday staged a rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola.
This came as Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State declared Monday a work-free day to commemorate the annulment and honour the late Abiola, whom he described as one of the major pillars of democracy in Nigeria.
The governor also urged the generality of Nigerians to use the anniversary to renew their commitment to the ideals of good governance, democracy, free and credible elections and the unity of the country.
At the rally held in Abeokuta, hometown of the late Abiola, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Campaign for Democracy (CD), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Young Democrats (YD) and National Association of
Nigerian Students (NANS) among others, moved round some major roads in the state capital chanting solidarity slogans.
Participants at the rally carried placards with inscriptions bearing, among others, “MKO Abiola, symbol of democracy;” “No retreat, no surrender;” “Ogun shine your eyes; IBB must not rule Nigeria again;” “Ogun NANS warns IBB to stay off Ogun;” “Attahiru must deliver, else…”
They demanded the enthronement of true federalism in the polity, implementation of electoral reforms and also enjoined the National Assembly to urgently pass the Freedom of Information Bill to enhance transparent governance.
Meanwhile, Governor Daniel has asked all residents of the state to use Monday’s public holiday to reflect on the immense contributions of Abiola to the country and humanity in general and work towards a better society which the deceased stood, lived and died for.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, the governor described Abiola as “a successful businessman, selfless and patriotic leader, pan Africanist, consummate politician, statesman and philanthropist of the first order.”
“Citizens of our State and Nigerians should use the day to reflect on the lessons of the historic event and pray for the full realisation of the dreams of that great day. Our democracy is on course and we should use the coming elections to further deepen it,” Daniel said in the statement.
Be vigilant, Adams, Odumakin warn Nigerians
Victor Oriola
National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, and the President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, have warned Nigerians to be vigilant in the forthcoming general election to ensure that people’s votes count.
Speaking yesterday in Lagos at the 17th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola, organized by the OPC, the pro-democracy activists warned that the price of eternal liberty was to be vigilant.
Adams, while reflecting on the lesson of the 1993 election maintained that Abiola should be immortalised posthumously.
“He should be conferred with the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR). The Abuja stadium and some other notable monuments in Lagos and Abuja should be named after him. June 12 of every year should be recognized and declared as national work free day,” Adams declared.
Emulate Abiola, make your votes count, says Fashola
Muyiwa Oyinlola
Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday urged Nigerians to emulate the ideals of the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, by making their votes count in future polls.
He noted that Nigeria was liberated from military rule in 1999 because the late business guru and politician paid the supreme price, by insisting on the peoples’ mandate when his electoral victory was annulled by the regime of the former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, in 1993.
Fashola, who made this appeal during the 17th anniversary of the annulment, held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, regretted that the nation got so close on June 12, 1993 and literally threw it away. He noted that the unresolved issues of the ill-fated poll now reverberate today in the form of electoral reforms.
Speaking further at the event organised by a group known as June 12 Coalition, he recalled the shocking events that followed the annulment, noting that the streets of Lagos were the battleground grounds, adding that “blood was shed, lives were lost, martyrs were slain and, from there, emerged the victory of the peoples mandate over totalitarian authority in the 1999 elections.
While speaking on the benefits of making one’s vote count and insisting on credible elections, Fashola noted that “whereas Abiola was a philanthropist and highly influential, his most defining legacy had nothing to do with how rich he was; it has everything to do with his morality and courage to sacrifice everything for June 12.”
Group wants National Assembly complex named after Abiola
An NGO, Conscience Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola by naming the National Assembly complex, Abuja, after him.
The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, on Friday in Lagos described Abiola as a “political institution” whose political struggle gave birth to the current democratic dispensation.
Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential poll, died in custody in July 1998.
“M.K.O. Abiola deserves to be immortalised by naming the National Assembly complex after him.
“He was a symbol of democracy; his struggles as symbolised by June 12 led to the birth of the current democratic dispensation in 1999.
“If we consider June 12 (1993) presidential election as the fairest in the history of Nigeria and how Abiola died in the struggle, Nigeria should honour him,” the statement said.
Conscience Nigeria said that Abiola should be seen as a political institution and not as an individual whose contributions would remain indelible in the annals of the country.
On the 2011 general polls, the organisation urged Nigerians, the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the elections were free, fair and credible.
It said, “We owe it a duty to conduct free, fair and credible elections to show the whole world that we can repeat what happened on June 12, 1993.
“History beckons on us again to do it right.”
Civil society groups shun anniversary
Cajetan Mmuta, Benin
Civil society groups and political parties in Edo State on Saturday shunned the 17th year anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Nigeria.
Attendance at the low-key ceremony held at the National Museum, Ring Road in Benin, the state capital, was witnessed by a few members of the Nigeria United for Democracy (NUD), Nigeria Labour Congress, Labour Party and about two serving commissioners, with a great number of policemen manning security in the area.
However, the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, whose speech was read by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Cordelia Aiwize Aiyowieren, said the acclaimed winner of the election, Chief Moshood Abiola, and other Nigerians paid the price in the struggle for the sustenance of democracy in the country.
Oshiomhole urged the electorate of the country to ensure they elected credible leaders in the forthcoming general election through wise and effective use of the ballot papers.
He also challenged the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to make positive impact in the nation’s electoral process by making sure that the labour of the heroes past was not in vain.
The governor reiterated the resolve of his administration not to betray the confidence reposed in it by millions of residents of the state but to strive towards credible elections through the application of the principles of one man, one vote in the state.
According to him, the electorate should use the power of the ballot box to choose those they want and vote out those they do not want.
He added that Nigerians should learn serious lessons from the June 12 elections and the country’s political history.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kaduna Egboigbodin, challenged elected and appointed leaders as well as the various organs of government to use the opportunity provided by the June 12 struggle to reach out to millions of citizens of the nation who have been abandoned by inculcating the ideals of positive and exemplary leadership lifestyles.
He also appealed to members of the national and state houses of assembly to use their privileged positions to ensure that the recommendations of the Justice Mohammadu Uwais report on electoral reforms were implemented while positive steps should be taken to accord traditional rulers and local government councils the much desired recognition in view of their roles and importance in grassroots development .
In addition, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana, said that the mission of June 12 anniversary was initially a tribal issue despite the fact that Edo State has played a frontal role in the struggle for democratic justice and freedom before, during and after the annulled election.
He charged Nigerians to rise to the challenge in the forthcoming polls as there are still a lot of challenges to be surmounted.
‘Quit blames, move ahead’
Geoffrey Ekenna
For Nigerians still mulling over the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election won by late Business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, time has come for the country to move ahead and stop laying blames on individuals.
That was the position of, Seyi, a daugther of the founder of the O’odua Peoples Congress, OPC, and a politician, Alhaji Hammed Adekunle Makama, at the 17 year anniversary in Lagos yesterday.
They held that rather than continuing to point fingers on the unfortunate annulment, Nigerians need to move ahead in nation building and ensure that next elections, particularly in 2011, achieved the milstones for which June 12 was known.
Makama, who was the guest speaker at the event organised by the Nigerian Rennaissance Group, said that time had come for Nigerians to forgive former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who annuled the election.
Makama said it was improper for Nigerians to continue to blame Babangida over an election that he supervised, was considered the best in Nigeria’s history, without actually giving him credit for the election itself.
He wondered why Nigerians could forgive Chief Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, who led the Igbo to a war against the country; why former President Olusegun Obasanjo ruled Nigerians for eight years without acknowledging Abiola and not forgive IBB 17 years after the annulment.
He said,”The annulment was an institutional decision with lots of external pressures from the present day beneficiaries of the June 12 saga. It is saddening that it is these group of over night democrats and freedom fighters that are now making the worst noise about June 12. It is a remarkable act of courage that IBB assumed the responsibility and despite serious pressure, he failed to indict any other person or group of people to the present time. The annulment was a product of military climate. That era has gone”
He pointed out that it was actually June 12 that paved the way for the present day democracy the country is enjoying.
Also speaking, Seyi said time had come for Nigerians to start building their country and advance the country to the next level.
Group supports June 12 as Democracy Day
Olusola Sanni
A political group, Democracy Forever Movement, has called on Nigerians to reconsider the choice of date for the nation’s Democracy Day.
This according to the group is in view of the significance of June 12 as compared to May 29 which is recognised by the government as Democracy Day.
The group said there was nothing symbolic about May 29, but that it was rather, the product of the arbitrariness and characteristic lawlessness of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Ibadan based group said May 29 could only be remembered for despotism, extreme executive recklessness and other vices which were characterised by Obasanjo’s eight year rule.
In the opinion of the political body in a statement by its General Secretary, Comrade Abdul Rasheed Yinusa, June 12 is a more ideal and suitable for Democracy Day.
The group however failed to fault General Ibrahim Babangida on account of the annulment of the memorable election.
According to Comrade Yinusa, it is hypocritical to blame IBB for the annulment without first commending him for organising a free and fair election in the first instance.
“It is unimaginable to expect a human being to organise a free and fair election with the plan for the annulment of the same election. If such happens as was the case on June 12, it could only have been for forces outside the control of the organiser of such election,” he said. .
He argued that the annulment was not a personal decision of IBB.
He said even after even after IBB stepped aside, the military did not restore the mandate to MKO. Rather, Yinusa said, the acclaimed winner was arrested, incarcerated and humiliated to death by successors of IBB in government.
He said even after even after IBB stepped aside, the military did not restore the mandate to MKO. Rather, Yinusa said, the acclaimed winner was arrested, incarcerated and humiliated to death by successors of IBB in government.
6/12/10
MKO AND IBB
-IBB
MKO had a special place in my heart -IBB
Saturday, 12 June 2010 00:00 Nigerian Compass
“WE were friends. He knew deep in his mind (that) he had a special place in my heart.” With those words, former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida penultimate Tuesday spoke of
his close relationship with the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
General Babangida described the annulment of the election by his military junta as a painful decision to stave off coups by younger elements in the military.
He also, however, acknowledged that efforts by him and Abiola to resolve the logjam did not yield the desired results.
In a three-hour interview, Babangida opened his heart, and his much-talked about home in Minna, Niger State, to the Board of Editors of the Western Publishing Company Limited, publishers of the Nigerian Compass newspaper and the Westerner magazine.
He disclosed that in the heat of the crisis, his late wife, Maryam, and the slain wife of Abiola, Kudirat, once locked him and the billionaire businessman in a room and ordered them not to come out of the room until they resolved their differences.
Today marks the 17th year of that election that was adjudged Nigeria’s freest and fairest, and was won by Abiola of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Abiola roundly defeated his opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, of the National Republican Convention (NRC) up to the Kano State polling booth of the latter.
Explaining the factors behind the annulment, Babangida said: “There were three issues: the personality of Abiola, as seen by some Nigerians; the country, as seen by the military; and Abiola, as seen by other people.”
He continued: “All the noise, we knew they were not honest, they were not genuine, but it was not for me. We knew those who were shouting loudest about him, they were not honest, they didn’t like him. But those were not the issues as far as we were concerned as a government. The other issue was we wanted to stop military coup, which we wanted to avoid at all costs. They are encouraged by the people, by Nigerians, by democrats and by the civil society and so on. A soldier is a very intelligent man, not because I was, but because he will never attempt to undermine or overthrow the government unless he is sure there is frustration in the society itself. There were frustrations so if they struck, they would be most welcome.”
Babangida, a much-acknowledged friend of Abiola, was the leader of the junta.
When local and international uproar over the annulment was pushing the country to the brink, Babangida stepped aside and handed over power to Abiola’s fellow Egba man, Chief Ernest Ademulegun Shonekan.
That government was declared illegal by a Lagos High Court and the late General Sani Abacha, who was left behind by Babangida as Defence secretary to Shonekan, seized power 83 days after. When Abiola attempted to reclaim power, Abacha clamped him in detention from which the winner of the election never gained freedom until he died in the custody of the government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar that succeeded Abacha, the latter having died in mysterious circumstances.
When told that Nigerians were distrustful of the military organizing another election after cancelling the one that everybody had acknowledged as free and fair, the former ruler said: ‘The guarantee was simple. There are common factors: Moshood Abiola... Don’t forget that some of us were accused, especially myself of my relationship with him. But that didn’t bother me. They said I was a friend to Abiola and Tofa. In other words, either way, I was the beneficiary. So I saw that as a very big problem. Everything we did we had to consider peace and stability of the country. I knew, we talked during the crisis, I talked with him, we met not once, not twice; the one organised by the Emirs and the other one the late Kudirat and Hajia (the late Maryam Babangida), we sat together and they told us to go inside and kill ourselves, but we must resolve the problem. When we were talking, they were doing their own women thing.”
To a question about why he did not move against those he said his government suspected of plotting a coup should Abiola be sworn in, since he was the Commander in Chief of the armed Forces, the former military ruler said: “We would lose,” adding: “If you go to the military, they had not moved against him. So, I couldn’t deal with them or move against them. Their plan was, ‘let him (IBB) go and we would come back.’
Reminded that his government removed some senior military officers in circumstances that suggested a pre-emptive strike to prevent a coup, he said: “Yes. Because they were a potential threat, we quietly removed them. Because they were hot up politically, and what we could not afford was to allow the younger ones step in. They may not want to come and help and what happened in Ghana, you all know, it’s what everybody should try to avoid, maybe they will kill one section of the country without reflecting federal character, so what happens?”
Prodded to give particulars of the persons he said were a potential threat, more so that he was the Commander in Chief, Babangida said: “Yes, as a Commander-in-Chief. You are right. But don’t forget that the Commander-in-Chief is up there, while the younger ones had the rifles and ammunition. We had to find a balance. I was sleeping one day in Dodan Barracks when they (Gideon Orkar and co.) raided and shot everything.”
MKO had a special place in my heart -IBB
Saturday, 12 June 2010 00:00 Nigerian Compass
“WE were friends. He knew deep in his mind (that) he had a special place in my heart.” With those words, former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida penultimate Tuesday spoke of
his close relationship with the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
General Babangida described the annulment of the election by his military junta as a painful decision to stave off coups by younger elements in the military.
He also, however, acknowledged that efforts by him and Abiola to resolve the logjam did not yield the desired results.
In a three-hour interview, Babangida opened his heart, and his much-talked about home in Minna, Niger State, to the Board of Editors of the Western Publishing Company Limited, publishers of the Nigerian Compass newspaper and the Westerner magazine.
He disclosed that in the heat of the crisis, his late wife, Maryam, and the slain wife of Abiola, Kudirat, once locked him and the billionaire businessman in a room and ordered them not to come out of the room until they resolved their differences.
Today marks the 17th year of that election that was adjudged Nigeria’s freest and fairest, and was won by Abiola of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Abiola roundly defeated his opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, of the National Republican Convention (NRC) up to the Kano State polling booth of the latter.
Explaining the factors behind the annulment, Babangida said: “There were three issues: the personality of Abiola, as seen by some Nigerians; the country, as seen by the military; and Abiola, as seen by other people.”
He continued: “All the noise, we knew they were not honest, they were not genuine, but it was not for me. We knew those who were shouting loudest about him, they were not honest, they didn’t like him. But those were not the issues as far as we were concerned as a government. The other issue was we wanted to stop military coup, which we wanted to avoid at all costs. They are encouraged by the people, by Nigerians, by democrats and by the civil society and so on. A soldier is a very intelligent man, not because I was, but because he will never attempt to undermine or overthrow the government unless he is sure there is frustration in the society itself. There were frustrations so if they struck, they would be most welcome.”
Babangida, a much-acknowledged friend of Abiola, was the leader of the junta.
When local and international uproar over the annulment was pushing the country to the brink, Babangida stepped aside and handed over power to Abiola’s fellow Egba man, Chief Ernest Ademulegun Shonekan.
That government was declared illegal by a Lagos High Court and the late General Sani Abacha, who was left behind by Babangida as Defence secretary to Shonekan, seized power 83 days after. When Abiola attempted to reclaim power, Abacha clamped him in detention from which the winner of the election never gained freedom until he died in the custody of the government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar that succeeded Abacha, the latter having died in mysterious circumstances.
When told that Nigerians were distrustful of the military organizing another election after cancelling the one that everybody had acknowledged as free and fair, the former ruler said: ‘The guarantee was simple. There are common factors: Moshood Abiola... Don’t forget that some of us were accused, especially myself of my relationship with him. But that didn’t bother me. They said I was a friend to Abiola and Tofa. In other words, either way, I was the beneficiary. So I saw that as a very big problem. Everything we did we had to consider peace and stability of the country. I knew, we talked during the crisis, I talked with him, we met not once, not twice; the one organised by the Emirs and the other one the late Kudirat and Hajia (the late Maryam Babangida), we sat together and they told us to go inside and kill ourselves, but we must resolve the problem. When we were talking, they were doing their own women thing.”
To a question about why he did not move against those he said his government suspected of plotting a coup should Abiola be sworn in, since he was the Commander in Chief of the armed Forces, the former military ruler said: “We would lose,” adding: “If you go to the military, they had not moved against him. So, I couldn’t deal with them or move against them. Their plan was, ‘let him (IBB) go and we would come back.’
Reminded that his government removed some senior military officers in circumstances that suggested a pre-emptive strike to prevent a coup, he said: “Yes. Because they were a potential threat, we quietly removed them. Because they were hot up politically, and what we could not afford was to allow the younger ones step in. They may not want to come and help and what happened in Ghana, you all know, it’s what everybody should try to avoid, maybe they will kill one section of the country without reflecting federal character, so what happens?”
Prodded to give particulars of the persons he said were a potential threat, more so that he was the Commander in Chief, Babangida said: “Yes, as a Commander-in-Chief. You are right. But don’t forget that the Commander-in-Chief is up there, while the younger ones had the rifles and ammunition. We had to find a balance. I was sleeping one day in Dodan Barracks when they (Gideon Orkar and co.) raided and shot everything.”
6/11/10
JUNE 12, AFTER 16 YEARS
Culled From Vanguard Newspaper
GRADUALLY, the upper echelon of the Nigerian establishment is beginning to realise the need for this country to honour June 12 and the man who symbolises it, the late Chief Moshood Abiola. In his 2010 Democracy Day message to Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan, became the first sitting president to admit that this date and Chief Abiola mean something to our nation and deserve to be properly acknowledged.
Even the man who annulled the election of Chief Abiola, General Ibrahim Babangida, has remorsefully thrown his weight behind the acknowledgement of this date and the sacrifices of Abiola.
“June 12” is a household name in Nigeria .
The mere mention of it without naming which year the date refers to tells any adult and reasonably informed Nigerian that it refers to June 12, 1993. On that date, Nigeria held its freest and fairest election.
Nigerians ignored the fact that the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji MKO Abiola and his running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, were Muslims in a country where it has become an acceptable culture to always balance between both religions in everything we do. They were given the presidential mandate to lead this country.
This was even more profound given the fact that the rival National Republican Convention (NRC) had a more balanced ticket of Alhaji Bashir Tofa as presidential candidate and Dr Sylvester Ugoh as his running mate. Abiola won in all parts of the country, which indicated that Nigerians also eschewed ethnic, tribal and religious sentiments in making their choice.
Nigerians behaved like people of a political enlightened society in that election which would have been an African showpiece and a precedent that would have stabilised Nigeria and increased the chances of electing quality leadership to provide good governance.
But unfortunately, there is no June 12th with June 23rd 1993 when the military annulled the election without allowing the Professor Humphrey Nwosu-led National Electoral Commission to release the rest of the results. What makes June 12 and June 23 special was the consequence of the annulment.
The annulment was rejected by the civilian populace, and Chief Abiola, who had initially run away to exile, was forced to return to Nigeria to fight for his mandate. The crises that followed led to the fall of the Interim Government and the advent of the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
Abacha’s regime was draconian and wily. It was able to divide the supporters of June 12 along ethnic and sectional lines. It crushed the Labour uprising and arrested many activists (including Abiola). Many got killed while many more escaped to self-exile.
But in May 1998 when Abacha was ready to announce his presidential candidacy, he died mysteriously and a new transition to civil rule was pursued under a new interim military regime led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
June 12 became a watershed in that it forced the system to redefine the ways so many things have been done.
For instance, it forced power shift to the South, even though the annulment was meant to prevent power shift to the South.
For the first time, a Yoruba person, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was elected president of Nigeria as a way of appeasing the Yoruba for the slap in the face that June 12 was.
On getting into power, Obasanjo introduced the now popular fashion of people sponsored by political godfathers and entrenched interest refusing to dance to the tune of their sponsors. Obasanjo removed the military’s appetite for using coups to consummate ethnic and sectional agenda by retiring risky military officers.
Furthermore, the fire of popular protest has become a political tool to say no to impunity and sectional arrogance. The more extreme part of it – armed struggle – was also fallout of June 12 because before then, all parts of the country were cowed over by Biafran experience. June 12 gave the youths of the Niger Delta a new boldness to force Nigeria to pay greater attention to the nation’s cash cow.
Without June 12, ethnic arrogance would not have permitted a Goodluck Jonathan to succeed the late President Umar Yar’ Adua. The army would probably have intervened to block the shift of power.
We are of the view that the hand over of power to the next elected crop of leaders next year should be shifted to October 1, 2011, while June 12 should be celebrated as the nation’s Democracy Day. We will eventually come to this inescapable decision.
GRADUALLY, the upper echelon of the Nigerian establishment is beginning to realise the need for this country to honour June 12 and the man who symbolises it, the late Chief Moshood Abiola. In his 2010 Democracy Day message to Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan, became the first sitting president to admit that this date and Chief Abiola mean something to our nation and deserve to be properly acknowledged.
Even the man who annulled the election of Chief Abiola, General Ibrahim Babangida, has remorsefully thrown his weight behind the acknowledgement of this date and the sacrifices of Abiola.
“June 12” is a household name in Nigeria .
The mere mention of it without naming which year the date refers to tells any adult and reasonably informed Nigerian that it refers to June 12, 1993. On that date, Nigeria held its freest and fairest election.
Nigerians ignored the fact that the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji MKO Abiola and his running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, were Muslims in a country where it has become an acceptable culture to always balance between both religions in everything we do. They were given the presidential mandate to lead this country.
This was even more profound given the fact that the rival National Republican Convention (NRC) had a more balanced ticket of Alhaji Bashir Tofa as presidential candidate and Dr Sylvester Ugoh as his running mate. Abiola won in all parts of the country, which indicated that Nigerians also eschewed ethnic, tribal and religious sentiments in making their choice.
Nigerians behaved like people of a political enlightened society in that election which would have been an African showpiece and a precedent that would have stabilised Nigeria and increased the chances of electing quality leadership to provide good governance.
But unfortunately, there is no June 12th with June 23rd 1993 when the military annulled the election without allowing the Professor Humphrey Nwosu-led National Electoral Commission to release the rest of the results. What makes June 12 and June 23 special was the consequence of the annulment.
The annulment was rejected by the civilian populace, and Chief Abiola, who had initially run away to exile, was forced to return to Nigeria to fight for his mandate. The crises that followed led to the fall of the Interim Government and the advent of the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
Abacha’s regime was draconian and wily. It was able to divide the supporters of June 12 along ethnic and sectional lines. It crushed the Labour uprising and arrested many activists (including Abiola). Many got killed while many more escaped to self-exile.
But in May 1998 when Abacha was ready to announce his presidential candidacy, he died mysteriously and a new transition to civil rule was pursued under a new interim military regime led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
June 12 became a watershed in that it forced the system to redefine the ways so many things have been done.
For instance, it forced power shift to the South, even though the annulment was meant to prevent power shift to the South.
For the first time, a Yoruba person, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was elected president of Nigeria as a way of appeasing the Yoruba for the slap in the face that June 12 was.
On getting into power, Obasanjo introduced the now popular fashion of people sponsored by political godfathers and entrenched interest refusing to dance to the tune of their sponsors. Obasanjo removed the military’s appetite for using coups to consummate ethnic and sectional agenda by retiring risky military officers.
Furthermore, the fire of popular protest has become a political tool to say no to impunity and sectional arrogance. The more extreme part of it – armed struggle – was also fallout of June 12 because before then, all parts of the country were cowed over by Biafran experience. June 12 gave the youths of the Niger Delta a new boldness to force Nigeria to pay greater attention to the nation’s cash cow.
Without June 12, ethnic arrogance would not have permitted a Goodluck Jonathan to succeed the late President Umar Yar’ Adua. The army would probably have intervened to block the shift of power.
We are of the view that the hand over of power to the next elected crop of leaders next year should be shifted to October 1, 2011, while June 12 should be celebrated as the nation’s Democracy Day. We will eventually come to this inescapable decision.
6/10/10
SOUR GRAPES OF DEMOCRACY: Political, economic uncertainties
Adisa Adeleye
IT is always nice that Nigerians – good and patient creatures, would always remember every year their escape from oppressive dictatorship into their haven of freedom, howbeit, dangerous. In their innocent naivety, some Nigerians would conclude that the worst form of democratic rule is better than the best form of military administration.
The virtue of the present democratic rule is the freedom of expression and the ability and the opportunity of the citizens to say what they feel about how they are being ruled without that fear of total disappearance or jail term (without trial). At least, the media could express voices of dissent within the polity without risk of either the printing houses being surrounded by the fierce looking security officials or the editors being dragged for a ‘chat‘ with security overlords from ‘above‘, as was the common practice.
Thus eleven years of democratic rule have given Nigerians that unique advantage of shouting hoarse without being heard or of knocking without being answered. Afterall, it is our wish at all times that we prefer freedom with danger to servitude in tranquility. Many people might think that what we are getting at the moment might not resemble rich dividends we deserve or desire, but the opposite of what Nigerians (except the wealthy few) prefer.
In the midst of perplexing confusion, the politicians of old order, under the nascent freedom of expression, could find the Abacha‘s dreadful era, a golden episode as compared with the present dispensation. In an atmosphere of freedom of expression (a dividend of Democracy), it is not uncommon to berate the attitude of the ‘Youth‘ in the art of governance because of lack of visible signs of real infrastructural development (except in a few states) in areas under their control.
In real facts, if expectations under democratic rule since 1999 would be compared with the observed reality on ground today, the only conclusion to be drawn would be that art of living to witness the snail speed (not on the real track) towards political stability and economic transformation. At all levels, progress could be measured in terms of advisory groups, special committees and other appointed bodies to look into specific frequent problems without solutions.
Official solutions often await other occurrences (often more severe). The tardy way of governance at all levels in the country points to the inevitable conclusion that the country is treading the dangerous path of a failing State.
There are many issues that could have been finally settled by now which have grown into terrible distractions on our body politic. It is unfortunate that President Jonathan has not considered ‘wholesale‘ reform of electoral system necessary but would concentrate on strict punishment for electoral fraudsters like snatchers of ballot boxes or recorders of false results.
The criminal element in the voting system, as it exists today, has not been easy to prove as verdicts of Election Tribunals have shown. It is better to prevent election fraud than rely on punishment as a deterrent. I think Justice Uwais Committee has provided enough ground for a comprehensive review of the present unsatisfactory system.
In tackling the problem of the voting system in the country, the President is expected to be a ‘Statesman‘ and a visionary ‘Leader‘, and not a party loyalist bent on seeing the continuous rule and domination of his party in the country.
A more serious case is the amendments to the 1999 Constitution by the Legislature (dominated by the ruling party) and reported being sent to the States (majority of which is controlled by the ruling party, PDP) for endorsements.
They are believed to contain electoral reforms, State creation, etc which would involve lives of Nigerians, which should not be left to the dictates of members of the Legislature but to the free decision of all Nigerians through a sort of referendum.
Instead of a piece_ by _piece approach, a Constitutional Conference should examine a number of other relevant issues like State Police; True Federalism; Parliamentary/Presidential system; Revenue Allocation; Economic and Political Reconstruction to ensure national unity, political stability and economic prosperity.
It has been realistically observed that in politics, we are remiss and in economics, we are amiss. Some distortions have pervaded the economy since 1960 that real growth has remained stunted, if not static. The manufacturing industry lacks the stamina to produce enough for the home market and it is under severe strains to face foreign competition because of its high cost structure.
Factors inhibiting continuous industrial growth are – lack of adequate power supply, high interest lending rate (18%+) and low value of the naira (N150 to $). It looks as if there is a symbiotic relationship between the officials of the Central Bank and the Deposit Banks (which borrow at 6% and lend at about 21%).
On devaluation, the former President Shagari said in 1983, ‘I have followed with keen interest the on_going debate on devaluation of the Naira. I am convinced that given the structure of the Nigerian economy which depends on one export commodity on the one hand, and places heavy reliance on imports of capital goods and raw materials on the other hand, devaluation will not be in the best interest of our country‘.
Under Shagari, Naira accounted for $1.6 and bank lending rate was below 10%. Shagari was overthrown in 1983 and the succeeding military adventurers ‘assaulted‘ the mighty Naira.
If the present Central Bank Governor could find a way to bring all infrastructural development projects under a low interest regime (as he is trying to do), he would have departed from his conservative and growth_shy predecessors.
On the ripened grapes of democracy which have turned sour over the years, I cannot but agree with former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana in his poetic assessment. ‘We are people who have lost our values. We have plenty of religious people, but no righteousness; plenty of priests, but no holiness; plenty of education, but no character; plenty of leadership, but no vision‘.
But we can change our attitude under a visionary Leader.
IT is always nice that Nigerians – good and patient creatures, would always remember every year their escape from oppressive dictatorship into their haven of freedom, howbeit, dangerous. In their innocent naivety, some Nigerians would conclude that the worst form of democratic rule is better than the best form of military administration.
The virtue of the present democratic rule is the freedom of expression and the ability and the opportunity of the citizens to say what they feel about how they are being ruled without that fear of total disappearance or jail term (without trial). At least, the media could express voices of dissent within the polity without risk of either the printing houses being surrounded by the fierce looking security officials or the editors being dragged for a ‘chat‘ with security overlords from ‘above‘, as was the common practice.
Thus eleven years of democratic rule have given Nigerians that unique advantage of shouting hoarse without being heard or of knocking without being answered. Afterall, it is our wish at all times that we prefer freedom with danger to servitude in tranquility. Many people might think that what we are getting at the moment might not resemble rich dividends we deserve or desire, but the opposite of what Nigerians (except the wealthy few) prefer.
In the midst of perplexing confusion, the politicians of old order, under the nascent freedom of expression, could find the Abacha‘s dreadful era, a golden episode as compared with the present dispensation. In an atmosphere of freedom of expression (a dividend of Democracy), it is not uncommon to berate the attitude of the ‘Youth‘ in the art of governance because of lack of visible signs of real infrastructural development (except in a few states) in areas under their control.
In real facts, if expectations under democratic rule since 1999 would be compared with the observed reality on ground today, the only conclusion to be drawn would be that art of living to witness the snail speed (not on the real track) towards political stability and economic transformation. At all levels, progress could be measured in terms of advisory groups, special committees and other appointed bodies to look into specific frequent problems without solutions.
Official solutions often await other occurrences (often more severe). The tardy way of governance at all levels in the country points to the inevitable conclusion that the country is treading the dangerous path of a failing State.
There are many issues that could have been finally settled by now which have grown into terrible distractions on our body politic. It is unfortunate that President Jonathan has not considered ‘wholesale‘ reform of electoral system necessary but would concentrate on strict punishment for electoral fraudsters like snatchers of ballot boxes or recorders of false results.
The criminal element in the voting system, as it exists today, has not been easy to prove as verdicts of Election Tribunals have shown. It is better to prevent election fraud than rely on punishment as a deterrent. I think Justice Uwais Committee has provided enough ground for a comprehensive review of the present unsatisfactory system.
In tackling the problem of the voting system in the country, the President is expected to be a ‘Statesman‘ and a visionary ‘Leader‘, and not a party loyalist bent on seeing the continuous rule and domination of his party in the country.
A more serious case is the amendments to the 1999 Constitution by the Legislature (dominated by the ruling party) and reported being sent to the States (majority of which is controlled by the ruling party, PDP) for endorsements.
They are believed to contain electoral reforms, State creation, etc which would involve lives of Nigerians, which should not be left to the dictates of members of the Legislature but to the free decision of all Nigerians through a sort of referendum.
Instead of a piece_ by _piece approach, a Constitutional Conference should examine a number of other relevant issues like State Police; True Federalism; Parliamentary/Presidential system; Revenue Allocation; Economic and Political Reconstruction to ensure national unity, political stability and economic prosperity.
It has been realistically observed that in politics, we are remiss and in economics, we are amiss. Some distortions have pervaded the economy since 1960 that real growth has remained stunted, if not static. The manufacturing industry lacks the stamina to produce enough for the home market and it is under severe strains to face foreign competition because of its high cost structure.
Factors inhibiting continuous industrial growth are – lack of adequate power supply, high interest lending rate (18%+) and low value of the naira (N150 to $). It looks as if there is a symbiotic relationship between the officials of the Central Bank and the Deposit Banks (which borrow at 6% and lend at about 21%).
On devaluation, the former President Shagari said in 1983, ‘I have followed with keen interest the on_going debate on devaluation of the Naira. I am convinced that given the structure of the Nigerian economy which depends on one export commodity on the one hand, and places heavy reliance on imports of capital goods and raw materials on the other hand, devaluation will not be in the best interest of our country‘.
Under Shagari, Naira accounted for $1.6 and bank lending rate was below 10%. Shagari was overthrown in 1983 and the succeeding military adventurers ‘assaulted‘ the mighty Naira.
If the present Central Bank Governor could find a way to bring all infrastructural development projects under a low interest regime (as he is trying to do), he would have departed from his conservative and growth_shy predecessors.
On the ripened grapes of democracy which have turned sour over the years, I cannot but agree with former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana in his poetic assessment. ‘We are people who have lost our values. We have plenty of religious people, but no righteousness; plenty of priests, but no holiness; plenty of education, but no character; plenty of leadership, but no vision‘.
But we can change our attitude under a visionary Leader.
WORLD BANK RANKS NIGERIA 125 Of 183 ECONOMIES
From Vanguard Newspaper Jun 11, 2010 By Oscarline Onwuemenyi
ABUJA—THE World Bank said, yesterday, that Nigeria needed to develop at more than three times its present rate if it hoped to become one of the most industrialized economies in the world by 2020.
Meantime, the country has been ranked 125 out of 183 economies in this year’s Doing Business Report, published annually by the World Bank and its partners, the United Kingdom Department for International Development, UKAID.
The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Onno Ruhl, said in Abuja at the presentation of the Doing Business Report, that the country needed to improve in the areas of business regulation if it must achieve its Vision 20:2020 targets.
He said: “Achieving the Vision 20:2020 means that Nigeria has to be in a hurry. When we have information as provided by the Doing Business Report 2010 about how we can improve and in what areas, decisions have to be made very quickly.
Ambitious vision
“The Vision is about Nigeria wanting to be ambitious. Indeed, we are not close to achieving it given the present-day growth indices, but the rate of progress can be very fast and the key to achieving it is to start running fast.”
Meanwhile, the Doing Business in Nigeria 2010 report showed that Nigerian states had been actively reforming to encourage business activity over the past two years. Lagos represented the country in the annual Doing Business Report, which compared 183 economies.
The results showed that eight of 11 states evaluated in the 2008 report had improved in at least one of the areas measured between June 2008 and January 2010. It added that 14 reforms were recorded, 11 of which focused on property registration and construction permits.
Ruhl said: “Overall, it is easiest to do business in Jigawa, Gombe and Borno and most difficult in Imo and Ogun states. Kano State is the top reformer, with reforms in three out of four indicators, namely: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, and enforcing contracts.
“In Nigeria, secure property titles exist for less than five per cent of the land area, keeping 90 per cent of businesses in the informal sector without access to credit. It is a well-known fact across the financial world that if you don’t have a solid property title, you find it hard to get credit.
Property registration
“Property registration is extremely important. For one, if you cannot transfer property easily and quickly to get credit as a business you cannot expand. With a solid title you can get security to enable you access credit for business growth. Reforms that make it easier to get property titles and streamline regulatory compliance can yield big payoffs in terms of job creation.”
Also speaking, the World Bank Group Vice President and Head of Network, Financial and Private Sector Development, Mr. Janamitra Devan, said: “Efficient, accessible and simple regulations could unleash the natural entrepreneurship of small and midsize firms in Nigeria even further.”
He said the report “unravels a dynamic synergy in which all states can learn from the local regulations and practices of their peers. For example, publishing court statistics online can improve court efficiency, as was shown in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which could rank among one of the top 35 fastest cities to enforce a contract in the world.”
Devan said the project was part of the Sub-national Investment Climate programme, which supported state governments in improving their business environments, adding that it was the government’s response to its National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS, and the Country Partnership Strategy, CPS, between the government, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, and the World Bank.
ABUJA—THE World Bank said, yesterday, that Nigeria needed to develop at more than three times its present rate if it hoped to become one of the most industrialized economies in the world by 2020.
Meantime, the country has been ranked 125 out of 183 economies in this year’s Doing Business Report, published annually by the World Bank and its partners, the United Kingdom Department for International Development, UKAID.
The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Onno Ruhl, said in Abuja at the presentation of the Doing Business Report, that the country needed to improve in the areas of business regulation if it must achieve its Vision 20:2020 targets.
He said: “Achieving the Vision 20:2020 means that Nigeria has to be in a hurry. When we have information as provided by the Doing Business Report 2010 about how we can improve and in what areas, decisions have to be made very quickly.
Ambitious vision
“The Vision is about Nigeria wanting to be ambitious. Indeed, we are not close to achieving it given the present-day growth indices, but the rate of progress can be very fast and the key to achieving it is to start running fast.”
Meanwhile, the Doing Business in Nigeria 2010 report showed that Nigerian states had been actively reforming to encourage business activity over the past two years. Lagos represented the country in the annual Doing Business Report, which compared 183 economies.
The results showed that eight of 11 states evaluated in the 2008 report had improved in at least one of the areas measured between June 2008 and January 2010. It added that 14 reforms were recorded, 11 of which focused on property registration and construction permits.
Ruhl said: “Overall, it is easiest to do business in Jigawa, Gombe and Borno and most difficult in Imo and Ogun states. Kano State is the top reformer, with reforms in three out of four indicators, namely: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, and enforcing contracts.
“In Nigeria, secure property titles exist for less than five per cent of the land area, keeping 90 per cent of businesses in the informal sector without access to credit. It is a well-known fact across the financial world that if you don’t have a solid property title, you find it hard to get credit.
Property registration
“Property registration is extremely important. For one, if you cannot transfer property easily and quickly to get credit as a business you cannot expand. With a solid title you can get security to enable you access credit for business growth. Reforms that make it easier to get property titles and streamline regulatory compliance can yield big payoffs in terms of job creation.”
Also speaking, the World Bank Group Vice President and Head of Network, Financial and Private Sector Development, Mr. Janamitra Devan, said: “Efficient, accessible and simple regulations could unleash the natural entrepreneurship of small and midsize firms in Nigeria even further.”
He said the report “unravels a dynamic synergy in which all states can learn from the local regulations and practices of their peers. For example, publishing court statistics online can improve court efficiency, as was shown in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which could rank among one of the top 35 fastest cities to enforce a contract in the world.”
Devan said the project was part of the Sub-national Investment Climate programme, which supported state governments in improving their business environments, adding that it was the government’s response to its National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS, and the Country Partnership Strategy, CPS, between the government, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, and the World Bank.
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