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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.”
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, seems to find merit in the damning verdict of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), accusing security agencies in Nigeria of complicity in the deluge of terrorist attacks in the country.
Jare Ajayi, National Secretary of the group, in agreeing with the position, posited on Wednesday: “This is because of the strong belief that the nature of terrorism bedeviling Nigeria would not be festering for this long without complicity from some powerful quarters.”
Though he acknowledged the determination of some patriotic operatives and government to stem the tide, he posited how difficult it was to believe that the activities of the terrorists would continue to thrive without active connivance.
Hear him: “With the vows by the President and top security officers, one has the feeling that the government is determined to end terrorism in Nigeria. When President Bola Tinubu appointed General Christopher Musa, (retd), as Minister of Defence, we had a lot of hope that within months, a total stop would be put to terrorism and banditry in the country.
“Unfortunately, there seems to be a spike, rather than reduction. The reason for this could be rooted in sabotage and complicity from within and from without. This tends to buttress the alarm raised by the US Commission.”
Stressing how the organisation been consistently calling the attention of authorities to areas that needed be looked into he maintained that these included politicians, who could be complicit in promoting the urgly situation.
Citing the recent comments by Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, who pointed in the same direction, Ajayi stated that no matter how unpalatable the position of the US body could be: “It is very important not to dismiss it but to use it a beacon with which to comb all areas.”
“Many people doubted us. Some dismissed us. Others predicted confusion, division, and even outright collapse. But you stood firm. You kept faith with the ADC. And today, because of your commitment, our party stands taller, stronger, and more united.”
With these words, David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday’s night showered praises on members for conducting what he considered a flawless presidential primary election to choose its candidate for the 2027 election.
Mark, Senate President from 2007 to 2015, his audience at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, that by the outcome, the party had demonstrated that democracy and political competition could still thrive in Nigeria without crisis or division.
Regardless of the rejection of the result of the exercise by Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), who contested in the exercise, the former Chairman of the National Assembly, was still upbeat about its outcome.
Atiku Abubakar, Vice President between 1999 and 2007, had emerged winner of the process that took place across Nigeria from Monday till Wednesday, when the result was eventually announced.
The declared result showed that the former VP who would be running for the nation’s number one job for a record seven times came tops with Atiku 1,846,370, to Amaechi’s 504,117 and Hayat-Deen’s 177,120. Total votes cast in the election: 2,546,457 in the 3,113,599 tally.
Mark, who officially presented the ADC flag to Atiku as the party’s presidential standard-bearer, was emphatic that the exercise was not merely about producing a presidential candidate but about proving that internal democracy could still function effectively in the country.
Hear him: “Today is not just about announcing a presidential candidate. Today is also about proving a point to Nigeria and to Nigerians. It is about proving that democracy can still work.
“Proving that political competition does not have to become political warfare. That a party can organise itself around principles instead of personalities. This event has shown that in a season of deep national anxiety, a bright future is still possible.”
Stressing that had doubted the party’s ability to conduct a peaceful and credible primary, with some predicting division and collapse within the ADC, he praised members of the Presidential Screening Committee and Presidential Primary Election Committee for what he described as their professionalism and commitment to fairness despite pressure surrounding the exercise.
“In the face of enormous pressure, logistical complexity, and intense national attention, they carried out their responsibilities with courage, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to fairness and transparency. The conduct of the primary has strengthened confidence in the party and its democratic process.
“Their work has strengthened the credibility of this exercise and reinforced the confidence of our members and the Nigerian people in the integrity of the African Democratic Congress.
“It is important to mention that we are the only political party to have three strong aspirants contest for the presidential ticket. This alone makes the ADC unique in its deep commitment to democracy and democratic practices.
“By subjecting themselves to this process, they did not merely contest an election. They strengthened democracy. And despite efforts in some quarters to create uncertainty and tension, they remained committed to this process and to the ideals of this party,” he added.
For Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the first female Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), it was another day of glory, as Alex Otti, Governor of Abia laid out another red carpet for her in lieu of her starling performance in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The university don, was the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who was nationally recognised for standing her ground against forces that reportedly tried to skew the process, leading to the emergence of Otti as governor.
Since then, she had received several recognitions including from the governor and other bodies, including her own students at FUTO, who gave her a heroic welcome upon the conclusion of her INEC task – the first and only one to be so accorded in Nigeria.
Wednesday’s recognition came through the naming of the newly inaugurated Umuahia Central Bus Terminal, a multimodal transport facility in the state capital after her, by the governor, who said it was in recognition of her role in that exercise.
Otti, who stressed that the decision was informed by her act of courage, integrity and commitment to truth, said: “This terminal has been named after Professor Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the courageous INEC returning officer who demonstrated unflinching integrity in the discharge of her duties during a high-stakes election assignment here in Abia.”
The governor, while stating that the honour was not limited to don alone but symbolised all individuals who resisted electoral manipulation added: “In 2023, through her courageous disposition of standing firmly by the truth… she reminded us that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results by simply saying no.
“So she’s just a representative of all of you—INEC staff who never bent, party officials who didn’t give in, security agencies… people who said no to intimidation.”
Stressing that the state had moved beyond basic infrastructure delivery to building an integrated transport system, he said: “The days of playing small is over. We shall no longer confine ourselves to the margins.”
He explained that the terminal was designed to accommodate over 340 buses and would improve accessibility, safety and efficiency in urban transport operations, adding that it would be supported by electric bus services, with 20 already in operation, while additional units are expected in phases.
“Services will keep improving as more buses are delivered… and you can tell with accuracy when a particular bus will arrive and depart,” he said.
He urged residents to protect the facility and support government efforts by maintaining order and paying taxes, warning against vandalism, waste disposal violations and other practices that could undermine the project, stressing that offenders would face sanctions.
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