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That Nigeria’s father of protests now sees it as treason, is tragic – Ulasi
It is inconceivable that President Bola Tinubu, considered to be the father of protests in Nigeria, having led the 2012 ant-fuel price increase that shook the entire nation, and nearly collapsed the government of the President Goodluck Jonathan, would now become the hammer with which similar protests in the country is struck down and crushed.
This was the contradiction raised by Dan Ulasi, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Anambra State, raised on Tuesday, as he weighed in on recent political development in the country, in his assessment of the current administration, particularly the ongoing trial of some #EndBadGovernance protesters by the Nigerian authorities.
A guest of The Morning Show, a breakfast programme on Arise News Television, Ulasi, who argued that nothing short of removing Tinubu from power would be good enough given his record in office so far, adding that it is incumbent on political gladiators in the country to come together and ensure such an outcome.
The PDP chieftain, particularly called for former Vice President, Atiku Abubaka, presidential candidate of the PDP in the last election, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his Labour Party (LP) and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), respectively to come together under a coalition party to defeat the President.
Bemoaning the state of affairs under the Tinubu government, Ulasi, told his hosts: “For anybody who has interest in political power, especially those who have interest in political offices either in the PDP or Labour Party or NNPP, the person has to first of all tell himself the truth. With the structure I have on ground, what am I able to achieve? In the last election, Labour had one state, Abia State, NNPP, had one state, Kano. I assume that if these three parties come together, they’ll make a meaningful challenge to the national process.
“They’ll have a better chance than running as individuals as they did in the last election. That’s the recommendation, which members of the parties are buying and they’ve set up technical committees to look into this and if you remember the three leaders have met twice now. So, they’re looking towards that concept.
“I developed that concept more than three months ago and I sold it to them that if we’re serious, we have to change the system that exists today. We have to come together. And if they come together, if you’re thinking of being a presidential candidate, you have to sacrifice for the survival of this country.”
He added: “I haven’t spoken to Kwankwaso, but I’ve spoken to Peter Obi regularly and I’ve spoken to Atiku regularly, and they’re prepared to sacrifice their personal interests for the survival of Nigeria. Most people believe that this government, with due humility, are not doing wonderfully well.
“Yes, it is just one year, but for the first time in the history of this country, for a man who led demonstrations in 2012 – the biggest demonstration known in this country, how are they demonising people? They’re sending people to trial because they protested. That is not democracy!”
Reminded that those being tried, actually called for regime change, Ulasi, snapped: “If spoken words make change, then we’ll all be in prison, because they said worse things in 2012 about Jonathan. Spoken words do not make change. After all, I saw the wife of the President of this country, on television, saying the Igbo should leave Lagos and they’ll inherit their properties. That’s spoken words. Did she realise it? No! But it is bad enough for a national figure to be saying that on television.
“There was a time the Oba of Lagos, said the Igbo should leave Lagos. You don’t know the circumstances that gave him the anger to make that pronouncement. I concede to anybody the ability to say what you want to say. Even if it was not in the national interest, but it was said. Nigeria hasn’t broken, Igbo haven’t left Lagos. Nigeria is still moving.”
“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
These were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to Tuesday’s agreement of the 10th Senate to reverse the controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill, in which they earlier retained the discretionary provision of transmission of results of election electronically by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the coalition party, attributing the U-turn to the resilience of Nigerians, described the development as a victory for democracy and people-powered civic action.
Abdullahi, a former Minister, who called on Nigerians to stay alert and continue mounting pressure on relevant authorities until the amended bill secures presidential assent, is duly gazetted, and takes full legal effect, urged Nigerians to maintain eternal vigilance.
Following a groundswell of outrage across the country, regarding its initial decision to retain the 2022 provision and subsequent protests, which saw Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Rivers State, teaming up with a group of Nigerians on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Senate eventually bowed to pressure mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit elections to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), real time, but with a proviso to use manual collation only as a contingency in cases of technological failure.
Hailing the development, ADC stated that the recant by the lawmakers was beyond a simple legislative reversal, but a reflection of the resilience, alertness, and growing political awareness of Nigerians from all segments of society.
The statement, added: “The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people.
“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life. From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them.
“In the face of the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, the Nigerian people have reaffirmed their place as the ultimate custodians of our democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity.”
Calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast, stressing that the development represents only a step in the right direction, not the final victory, the party, added: “We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure there are no last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities, the kind that often lead to ‘stories that touch.’ Let this be a reminder that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes, peaceful defiance.”
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened to stem the political schism between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, the governor that would have led to the latter’s impeachment.
But the Minister, left a caveat – this is the last time the President would be making such an intervention – as he added that both sides would now have to work according to the terms agreed at the parley.
In the latest faceoff which started early in the year, 27 members of the assembly said to be loyal to Wike, had launched a fresh impeachment move against the governor – the third since he took office in 2023, accusing him of sundry infractions of the constitution including spending money without appropriation.
Fubara, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last year, was believed to have run to the President for succour, whose intervention is believed to have halted the move.
Giving details of the rapprochement, Wike told reporters in Abuja, on Tuesday that the President playing a fatherly role stepped in to resolve disputes between the two parties.
His words: “He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene.
“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene.”
Wike, who has since been linked to the crises from the outset and in firm grips of the lawmakers, also pointed out his own role in the matter, saying: “I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday finally sent the name of Usman Isa Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State to the Senate for confirmation as as a non-career ambassador after last month’s embarrassing mix-up in which his name suddenly appeared for posting to Turkey without legislative clearance.
Tinubu, in a correspondence conveying the appointment, which was read by Godswill Akpabio, said: “I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After reading the letter at plenary, the Senate President, said the matter would be referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report back to the Committee of Whole within one week.
Electoral Act: Don’t go to sleep, maintain eternal vigilance, ADC tells Nigerians
This is the last time Tinubu will intervene in Rivers’ row – Wike
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