News
Even US democracy has hiccups – Tinubu *Anambra, next APC target – Ganduje
Nigerians crying out over the wacky nature the nation’s democratic practice has assumed, were reminded on Thursday that the system of government is not easy anywhere in the world, including the US, believed to be its bastion, as citizens there are also witnessing some difficulties with it even after centuries of practice.
This was the contention of President Bola Tinubu, as he received Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, who emerged triumphant in last Saturday’s election governorship election in Edo State, who were at the Presidential Villa Abuja, to hand over the Certificate of Return on the same day it was issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Receiving the governor-elect, who came alongside a delegation of APC bigwigs, including Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the party, a palpably elated Tinubu, who also emerged from the party, in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, assured his visitor of the full support of the Federal Government and the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
Accompanied also by Dennis Idahosa, Deputy Governor-elect, Okpebholor, who went on his knees to thank the President, emphasised the importance of good governance and delivering results to the people of Edo State, saying now the election was over and victory secured, the next stage was to take care of the people, whose mandate he was holding.
His words: ‘’Governor-elect, you can now face the task of development. We are here to work with you. You have seen the progressive governors of APC. They are truly progressive. Work with them. Learn the ropes, and I believe you are up to the task. You have earned the victory. Democracy is difficult, particularly in emerging democracies and economies like ours. ‘If you hear complaints from places like America, you know how difficult it is to navigate democracy. But it remains the best form of government. ”
Praising Okpebholo and Idahosa, who were opponents at the APC primaries, where the former eventually picked the ticket, as ”good symbol of people ordained by God to work together,” Tinubu added: ”You started as rivals and ended us as partners. You are a symbol of good understanding in politics; the man at our party’s helm has been through it before.
“In Kano, he was a front runner, became a second runner, and became a deputy before he eventually became a governor. I saw Adams Oshiomhole radiating in joy… sincerely the governors showed up in Edo, they impressed me. They defended the party. They worked hard for the party. I must thank the security agencies. There was no bloodshed, no riot, people voted and went back to their houses in peace, and the fears dissipated instantly.
”Never mind the noise makers. I do a lot of statistical sampling and results. When you hear politicians saying ‘all politics is local’, you must respect that notion. When you see the stability in the Edo North senatorial district, we see a man that won the Central senatorial district and a candidate who has won a seat in the south senatorial district; we did a match- which turned out to be a winning match.”
Tinubu, who particularly praised the resilience of the people of Edo State to withstand the elements to cast their votes, even under heavy rain and for voting in the rain without using an umbrella, after he was fully briefed by Ganduje about how the people defied the downpour to cast their ballots, told his guests: ”It is a very punching illustration.”
It was at the same occasion that Ganduje, repeated the desire of the party to replicate its Edo victory in Anambra, a position, he revealed in his victory speech immediately after INEC announced Okpebholo as winner, explained that the move was to bring the entire South East into the APC bracket, in order to end the complaint of the Igbo people against marginalisation in the scheme of things in the country.
Hear him: “On the day of the election, there was an exciting scenario: it was raining heavily, yet people came out to vote without using an umbrella. Your Excellency, the people were convinced that our party is the party to be voted for, and we won the election. The election in Anambra is part of our programme, ‘ Political de-marginalization of Southeast geopolitical zone. Having only two states in the Southeast as APC is too small for us. We need more states from the Southeast geo-political zone.”
“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
Tinubu finally sends Dakingari’s name to Senate after ambassadorial posting row
-
News3 weeks agoPresidency: Tinubu has compensated Wike *Fubara must be left alone
-
Editorial2 weeks agoClosure of Onitsha Main Market: How not to gaslight the people
-
News2 weeks agoBREAKING: Senate delivers fatal blow! *Throws out electronic vote transmission
-
News4 weeks agoBlazing guns in Abuja Secretariat, as contractors bar Minister from office
-
News2 weeks agoCoup plotters planned to kill me – ex-CDS *Says Nigerians would have fought back
-
News4 weeks agoAngry workers battle Wike! Paralyse activities at FCT
-
News4 weeks agoPrepare for US bombs if 2027 is rigged – Utomi *Nigeria may cease to exist
-
News7 days agoObi to Senate: Why bring confusion to Nigeria? Joins #Our votes must count protest!