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Inside Eleme Newspaper, LIZPA House, No. 36 Refinery Road, Alesa/Eleme, Eleme, Port Harcourt (2025)

17/08/2024

CAVEAT EMPTOR

“BUYER BEWARE!”
It has come to the attention of ESEJI FAMILY in Egbalor Ebubu Eleme, Rivers State that various individuals and entities are fraudulently attempting unlawfully to claim, sell or buy ESEJI FAMILY lands including the following named and situate at:
1. Oka Okenken
2. Oka Nsi-Ejilee
3. Oka Nwen-Ejilee
4. Okaagi
5. Epipiiejor
6. Epijiji
7. Mmen
8. Akpaankiken
9. Okorkor-Mmen
10. O’ũngokere
All in Egbalor Ebubu in Eleme Local Government of Rivers State, Nigeria

ESEJI FAMILY advises members of the public not to make payments to or engage with any such person, entities or their agents or proxies.
TAKE NOTICE that any purported subdivision, survey, buying or selling, construction upon, or dealing in connection with any of the above said parcels of lands in any manner HOWSOEVER without ESEJI FAMILY consent is unlawful, illegal, fraudulent and further amounts to trespass.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person(s) purchasing any of the said portion or parcels of lands as aforesaid shall do so at their own risks. ESEJI FAMILY shall not honour the agreements, contracts, or arrangements entered into with persons purporting to have authority to transact on any of the said parcels of lands whether in the manner above described or in respect of such transaction.

ESEJI FAMILY
EGBALOR, EBUBU ELEME.

DATED AT ELEME THIS 10TH DAY OF JULY, 2024

28/06/2024

Late Sir Dr. Emere Festus Ngochindo; Celebration of Life

26/06/2024

Eckankar Quote of the Week

26/06/2024

Ollormate Failed As Eleme LGA Boss – Obari

By Desmond Anyanwu

has described the tenure of the Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government area, Hon. Obarilormate Ollor as a failure in local government administration.
Speaking with Inside Eleme in his office at Akpajo, the legal luminary stated that it would be difficult for Chief Obarilormate, commonly called Ollormate to confidently explain how we used the revenue of Eleme Local Government Area as Executive Chairman of the area.
Hear him: “The LGA Chairman we have now is a failure, a failure in governance, can he confidently convince Eleme people that he properly used the monies accrued to the LGA both from the FAAC and IGR. He did not complete or commission any project in his three years as Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area.
Rating Chief Ollor low in areas of sanitation, he stated, “There is no social amenities, when you go through the LGA, you see heaps of refuge dumps on the road, LGA is expected to do sanitation, the contractors in charge of coordinating the clearing of refuges in the LGA are all his constituents, he nominated them. The state pays the Rivers State Waste Management Agency RIWAMA to remove dirty but it's the duty of the LGA to coordinate it and it is obvious there is failure in that regards”.
Berating the LGA Chairman for locking up the Eleme motor park and the Agbonchia Town hall throughout his tenure, Barr. Loveday also revealed that he almost went to court to stop the Executive chairman from demolishing the former council secretariat.
He said “We should clap for him for locking the Eleme motor park throughout his tenure as chairman, we know that his plan was to use the new council secretariat he is building as a front to siphon money. I wanted to go to court to stop it but on counsel, I reasoned that if that is done he might use it as an excuse for doing what he is actually doing now by abandoning the job after allocating money for it in the LGA budget”.
Barr. Loveday further wondered what Eleme money was used for by the LGA Chairman pointing out that Health workers and primary school teachers are paid by the state.
“The only job of the LGA is to ensure basic needs of health workers and primary school teachers are met, the state pays salary but go to our schools and health centers, they are empty, even the local government council secretariat is empty despite our four hundred million to say the least gotten by Eleme every month. What is the money used for, what is our staff strength?”
Recalling that a former Executive Chairman of Eleme LGA, Hon. Oji Ngofa consulted widely with stakeholders and gave account of his stewardship every year in a stakeholders meeting, Barr. Loveday said “After campaign, this LGA Chairman has never officially visited the wards to seek their opinion. He has never called a stakeholders meeting, we've had LGA chairmen who did so like Hon. Oji Ngofa, he called a stakeholders meeting every year to meet and relate with the people of Eleme, seek their input and give account of his stewardship, stating how much came in and how he spent it for the LGA”

26/06/2024

MOSOP Insists On Inclusivity In All Government Engagement In Ogoni Community

By Benneth Baridormale

The MOSOP President, Engr Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu received the Senior Special Adviser to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagement, South-South, Gift Johnbull, and calls for a genuine engagement.
Speaking at the meeting, the MOSOP President Engr Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for considering the engagement of Communities in the south south particularly Ogoni as a top priority on his Renewed Hope Agenda.
"There can be no sustainable community development if the principle of community engagement that promotes inclusivity is not put at the center of every development projects and programs of the government', the MOSOP President said.
"Ogoni has been greatly devastated and traumatized consequent to protracted social crisis in Ogoniland for over three decades.
"I'm pretty sure that a genuine engagement would help leaders at all levels particularly the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government to initiate and implement sustainable projects and programs that have high impact on the people. "For me, community centered approach which encourages a bottom-top approach is the only way to go.
"The Federal Government should endeavor to carry every body along to get diverse perspectives that encourage ownership of every community projects by all stakeholders.
A statement signed by Nubari Saatah, Assistant General Secretary, MOSOP said Ndah Wai-Ogosu also said that Ogoni environment was so devastated to a point that you don't need to go to school to tell how terrible our environment was.
“As a passionate, foremost and practicing environmentalist with over five decades of experience, I conducted the first study that revealed high level of benzene contamination in Eleme before UNEP was invited to Ogoniland”.
The MOSOP President reiterated his commitment to genuine and inclusive conversation that is for the overall development of Ogoni.
The MOSOP President also described the recent meeting held with the President as hurriedly put together by persons not only insensitive to the sufferings and plight of Ogonis but completely lacking in the United Nations Guidelines on Principles of Community and Stakeholder Engagement and doesn't represent the acceptable leadership of Ogoni.
"There is no doubt that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been standing in solidarity with the Ogoni struggle since his hay days in NADECO and would continue to do that. "Ogoni welcomes economic development in Ogoniland but will not welcome any development that exclude critical Ogoni stakeholders," the MOSOP President said.
He insisted that Ogoni has never been a conquered people and can't be conquered under his leadership.
The MOSOP President, assured the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal government of MOSOP's preparedness to collaborate and partner with his government.
In her remark, the Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gift Johnbull on Community Engagement South South thanked the MOSOP President for the warmth reception given to her despite the short notice.
She said that she was sent by the President to engage with Ogoni critical stakeholders and discuss fundamental development issues in Ogoniland.
"It is a deliberate plan of the President to bridge community communication gap between the communities and the Government through strategic community engagement", the Senior Special Adviser said.
She also said that information gathered would inform pertinent development policy for intervention.
She appreciated the work of MOSOP and call for partnership and collaboration to achieve a common goal for a prosperous Nigeria and Ogoni in particular.

26/06/2024

Senate Assures Workers of Speedy Passage of Proposed Minimum Wage Bill

By Desmond Anyanwu

The Senate has assured Nigerian workers of speedy passage of the proposed National Minimum Wage Bill.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, gave the assurance when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja.

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, in his Democracy Day national broadcast, had assured the Organised Labour that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers will soon be sent to the National Assembly.

“In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with Organised Labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less”, the President said.

Speaking on Friday, Senator Adaramodu said the Executive Bill would be presented to the National Assembly after the Sallah holiday.

“Yes, if immediately after Sallah, the Bill is brought by Mr President to the National Assembly, it’s going to be dealt with, with the speed of lightning. Yes, we are going to pass it because it is for the benefit of Nigerian workers.

“So we are not going to sit down and just say that the Bill has been passed. So we go through the crucibles. So within the time, if there are no oppositions from outside, if there are no oppositions from within, there can never be opposition from within because it’s going to be a kind of agreement between Labour, government and organised private sector. So once that one is there and then it comes to us, definitely we will go through the processes without delay and make sure that Nigerian workers get their deal”, he said.
Asked if the new minimum wage would be binding on state governors who have expressed strong reservations about their financial capacity, to pay N62,000, Adaramodu said “Since they are all meeting, we know that at the end of the day, all of them will agree on the figure because when it’s an executive bill, an executive bill means state executive, federal executive and even local government executive.

“So definitely there is going to be an agreement. So once there’s an agreement, the bill will come and I don’t think any of the components of the negotiating bodies will oppose the agreed figure at the end of the day. So we don’t have any fear about that. You know when you are negotiating, you negotiate for various reasons, parameters and parallels. So at the end of the day, all the lines will converge and meet at a concentric point. So that’s where we now come in. So we come in at the end of the tunnel and then we’ll pick it from there and make it into law so that we can have a better deal for Nigerian workers.

“We are going to do a watertight bill that we are proposing that the president will sign to ensure that it is strictly adhered to as a law. Once it becomes law, we are going to make it watertight. And don’t let us just speculate what are going to be the ingredients that the federal government will be putting into the bill that will be brought by the Executive to be submitted to the National Assembly.

“But when it comes, whatever is there and whatever is not there, we are going to ensure that it’s going to be watertight, that it’s going to be obeyed by all. And from that, again, when we are talking of minimum wage, is it about the federal government alone? Because it seems that it is a fight between the federal government and labour. That’s the way everybody is looking at it. So we keep mentioning the federal government, we keep mentioning President Tinubu and Labour.

“So we don’t even talk about the organised private sector. We don’t even talk about the sub-nationals. And then it behooves the NLC, which recognises the workers in the organised private sector and the sub-nationals to look at the NLC that recognises them as their members, to even ensure that they advocate for them. The issue of some states still paying N18,000, though I don’t know because I don’t suspect that one to be happening. So if there are some states paying that, what have the labour centres in those states done in order to ensure compliance with that N30,000 minimum wage?

“So we need to ask them questions too. But like I said, the National Assembly is going to make this law seriously watertight so that either the state or sub-national or organised private sector that is not complying, there is going to be sanction for it. So that’s the way it’s going to be done this time around. But the labour centres too need to protect the welfare of their members, not only with the Federal Government.”

26/06/2024

Rivers Assembly Quarters to Get Facelift – Gov. Fubara..Inspects Emohua-Kalabari Road

By Sam George Adeya

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has explained that his visit to the residential quarters of the State House of Assembly is to undertake on-the-spot assessment of condition of the structures for a possible rehabilitation work to restore its status and make livable.

Governor Fubara gave the explanation after he inspecting the 15.24 kilometers long Emohua - Abalama -Tema Junction dual carriageway road project.

The Governor said: "Is the Assembly quarters not part of my property? Is there anything wrong in going to check how things are going on there?
"You are aware of the developments. We have a new speaker, and I went there to see for my myself how things are. There might be a few things I might want to do there for the good of our people."
The Governor, who took a walk round the facility, said that he decided to visit the place to get better appreciation of what needs to be done to make the quarters conducive for lawmakers.
Commenting on the road project, Governor Fubara said he was assessing the extent of job that had been done to know what else was needed in preparing the road for commissioning during his one year anniversary.
He said, "As a matter of fact, we added this section of the road as one of the projects we will be commissioning. So, I needed to see it myself, and what is remaining is just the lighting. By the grace of God, we will commission it."
Governor Fubara pointed out that the road project was inherited from the immediate past administration but a greater chunk of the cost was borne by his administration
He said: "We feel justified to add it as our project and to commission it for the good of our people here.
"Governance is all about the people. When the people are out of the centre of governance, then it is no longer governance.
"So, this road, as we all now know, was in a very bad state. A lot of criminal activities were being carried out here: kidnapping and all sorts of things. So, putting this road in order is appropriate."
Governor Fubara said further: "You can see the little manhour we spent coming here. Before, it takes you 30 to 45 minutes to drive from Emohua to this place. But look at it, less than 15 minutes we are here.
"So, it is about the people, the good of the people, making life easy for the people. That is the way I see governance. Anything outside that has nothing to do with me.
"It is not about me. It is not about glory to me as a person. I am just a vessel that God is using to provide succour to the good people of Rivers State, and more especially, our dear people of Kalabari extraction."

26/06/2024

Fubara Thrills Rivers Workers With Promise of Salary IncreaseSays We'll Sustain People First Policies

By Sam George Adeya

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured of implementing the salary increase recently approved by the Federal Government for workers in the State as soon as the parameters are made available.

Governor Fubara gave the assurance at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, where activities to commemorate the 2024 International Workers Day, with the theme: 'People First’, took place on Wednesday.

The Governor stated how concerned his Administration is about the poor state of the nation’s economy, with the attendant rising inflation, which has impacted adversely on the purchasing power and well-being of the average workers and their families.

Governor Fubara, therefore, said: "Let me assure you that we are going to work with the Federal Government to implement necessary measures, including the continuation of the free bus services and the provision of necessary palliatives to ameliorate the current hardship faced by ordinary citizens.

"We are also committed to implementing the increase in workers’ salaries recently approved by the Federal Government as soon as the parameters are made available.

"We are a listening Government, and we have heard the common concerns and demands of labour on the urgency of stimulating economic growth and improving the living conditions of our people."

Governor Fubara acknowledged workers as critical human resource that have continued to contribute immensely to the sustained long-term economic growth of the State.

The Governor noted that workers are indispensable, from the production lines of small and big factories to Government offices and institutions.

They also play critical roles, he said, in the vast oil and gas fields, to the movement of goods and services, where they ensure service delivery, wealth creation, and the advancement of human civilization.

Governor Fubara, categorically said: "Rivers State is what it is, economically strong, resilient, and vibrant because of our workers. Our local governments and communities are what they are because workers are doing their jobs.

"Our nation is the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa only because of the commitment, efforts, and achievements of our workers.

"What this means is that there can be no nation-building or progress in society without the input, effort, and sacrifice of the workforce."

The Governor gave the assurance that: "As a Government, we recognize the roles, importance, and relevance of our workers to the implementation of our policy agenda for economic growth, provision of infrastructure, social progress and advancing the welfare and well-being of citizens.

"This is the reason we are here, not only to celebrate with you, but also to reiterate, reinforce, and reassure us of the inseparable bonds we have with organised labour as partners in progress.

"We may have reasonable causes to disagree, which is normal in every social relationship. But we cannot afford to be at each other's throats and neglect our common responsibilities to advance the peace, security, and progress of our State.

"Less we forget that the social contract binds not only the Government; it applies to the workers as much as patriots."

Governor Fubara recalled his promise made in his inaugural speech, where he proudly reiterated the fact that labour that is his primary constituency will remain so despite the fact that he has become a Governor.

"I stand by this statement even now and for as long as I remain in office as the Governor of Rivers State. I will not disappoint you. I will continue to govern with the fear of God and carry everyone, including labour, along.

"We promised not to neglect the interest and well-being of our workers within the limits of available resources, and we have not faltered on this promise.

"On the 1st of June, 2023, barely three days after the assumption of office, I visited the State Secretariat Complex to see its dilapidated state and take immediate measures to improve the poor working environment of our workers.

"Since then, we have reactivated and restored some facilities and services in the Secretariat Complex, including the water system, elevators, leaking roofs, and improved electricity supply.

"In addition, we have also commissioned a reputable international company to scope the entire complex and advise on the cost of a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Secretariat Complex, which we intend to carry out in phases as available finances will allow."

Governor Fubara said he implemented promotion of staff stagnated over a decade with financial benefits, and approved the recruitment of 1,000 doctors and other medical personnel to strengthen the State’s healthcare delivery system.

Also, he said, the State’s Contributory Healthcare Insurance Scheme has commenced, urging all workers to take advantage of the benefits of the scheme, adding that the Government was clearing the backlog of gratuities to retired civil servants while ensuring the prompt enrolment and payment of pensions.

"I can assure you that the days of delayed payments of retirement benefits to civil servants are over under our watch.

"We appointed 16 Permanent Secretaries based on merit and equitable spread to local government areas that were hitherto not represented at that level to strengthen the civil service for effective implementation of government policies and optimal delivery of services to our people.

"Few weeks ago, we directed and ensured the implementation of the minimum wage and promotion of our workers in the local government service.

"We have approved and released a grant of N250million only for the completion of the secretariat building of the Nigerian Union of Teachers," he added.

He assured the workers thst no smount of intimidation, harassment and sabotage will make his Government to change focus, adding that his policy thrusts will continue to be driven by the interest and needs of the people.

The Governor also announced the donation of N100million to assuage the sacrifices of the workers who turned up at the stadium for the celebration of the 2024 May Day.

In his address, the Rivers State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Alex Agwanwor, said the theme of 2024 International Labour Day, 'People First', reflects the leadership direction of Governor Fubara, who has continued to prioritise the welfare of workers in the State.

Comrade Agwanwor stated that the Governor implemented promotion for state and local government workers with consequential financial benefits.

Also implemented, he said, were payment of N30,000.00 minimum wage to LG workers, N100,000.00 Christmas bonus across board to all workers, constitution of governing councils, boards and commissions of government agencies, institutions for effective service delivery, restored functionality of basic utilities at the State Secretariat, and reopened Rivers State Transport Company (RTC).

All of these, he noted, have further motivated workers, and emboldened them to remain unfettered in their support to the success of the Governor Fubara-led Administration while increasing their productivity.

"For us as Rivers State workers, we make bold to state without fear, or favour that, the present Administration of Your Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is aptly a reflection of the year 2024 theme of Workers Day celebration.

"We acknowledge consistently, the demonstration of Your Excellency's confession of purpose and value driven leadership and administration in thoughts, deeds, and actions, and as critical stakeholders in Rivers State project and beneficiaries of Your Excellency's humane disposition, we offer to journey with you on the quest to positively impact on the lives of Rivers people."

He commended the Governor for making efforts to revamp the abandoned Songhai Integrated Farms at Bunu Tai, and listed other agricultural initiatives such as Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and C-4 programmes, Delta Rubber Company, among others, as areas the Government must focus on to enhance food sufficiency and security, while taming hunger and raising job creation opportunities in the State.

Also speaking, the Rivers State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Okechukwu Onyefuru, expressed delight over recent feat of Governor Fubara by increasing the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N11billion to N27billion.

Comrade Onyefuru advised that with items like railways and building of refineries moved to the Concurrent List, the State Government should take advantage of this new legal framework, to further grow the State's IGR and create more jobs for the youths.

The TUC chairman also appealed to Governor Fubara to use his good offices to compel International Oil Companies (OICs) not to move their headquarters out of the State, while also thanking him for mediating in the industrial dispute in Indorama Petrochemical and Fertiliser Company Limited at Eleme.

Comrade Onyefuru said Nigerian workers condemned and rejected the recent increase of electricity tariffs, describing it as draconian and anti-people.

The TUC chairman also requested that the salary of primary healthcare workers be moved to the Primary Healthcare Management Board, where he said, they feel better protected.

At the event, the State Civil Service offered the Governor gift of a Bible and portrait while the organised labour honoured him with the Labour Champion of Rivers State award for being the most labour-friendly Governor.

26/06/2024

Gov Fubara Applauds Decency Tompson’s Feat
• Advises Rivers Youths to Acquire Useful Skills

By Desmond Anyanwu

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has advised youths in the State to take up interest in learning useful but technical skills to enhance their competitiveness in the labour market.

Governor Fubara particularly commended Mr. Decency Tompson, a Rivers youth who walked on foot from Nasarawa State to Port Harcourt between April 8 - 25, 2024, to create awareness on the level of unemployment that youths face after graduation from the university and the need to change the narrative.

The Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, on Thursday evening, received Mr Decency Tompson, on behalf of Governor Fubara, at the gates of Government House in Port Harcourt.
Governor Fubara emphasised that Rivers State remains the treasure base of Nigeria, adding that youths in the State should ordinarily entertain no fear about how to be gainfully employed after graduation.
The Governor regretted that poor planning, haphazard implementation of some policies and the near lack of interest in pursuing sustainable economic growth in all facets of the State by leaders had dampened the business environment in the State.
He, however, said: "There is good news for us now. The Governor that we have now, serving us, is the Governor that is thinking of how to fix the situation.
"The Governor is working round the clock to ensure that investors who left the State returned because jobs are created when there is heightened productive activities."
Governor Fubara further said: "We are the base of the oil industry. As investors begin to come back, more jobs will be available.
"So, I will say to you, as youths, key into this particular agenda so that we can create decent jobs. But they are not the jobs of carrying guns, pointing them at someone, and chasing them.
"It is also not to make people to carry caskets to companies to block the gates, and stop the companies from their operations," he said.
Governor Fubara stated that the negative behaviours of youths contributed to closing the doors of job opportunities that would have been more available for youths in the State.
He emphasised that Rivers has now become a very peaceful State, stressing that efforts are in top gear towards rebuilding the environment and making it more attractive for investors.
The Governor explained that with the clear strategic policy thrusts of the Administration, in no distant time, the results will start manifesting.
He noted, "But let us also mention that decent jobs do not start paying fat from the first day. Let your heart be circumcised that if you want decent jobs, then you need to go for the right education, go for the right training.
"Go around and search out the skills in demand by these companies and acquire the acknowledge that will make you attractive to be hired. As Rivers youths, put yourselves together, let trainers also develop structured courses that will provide skills required in companies to achieve optimum capacity utilisation.
"Our Ministry of Youths Development has a lot of training programmes for the youths. The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs has training programmes where youths can go and acquire skills.
"I also want you to go and improve on your skills in Information and Communications Technology, so that when the job openings are announced, you won't be rejected as one who is not qualified," he added.
In his speech, Mr Decency Tompson, said he had decided to embark on a trudge from Nassarawa State where he completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to Rivers State to create awareness against the evil of youth unemployment.
Mr Tompson emphasised that youths who are strong, fit and ready for gainful employment, do not always have their productive strength engaged in areas that contribute to economic growth.
He said, as part of the awareness creation, he had created a platform where Government and companies in the State can feed in data on available jobs per time and youths can just log in, search for jobs that suit their education and skills, and apply to be engaged.

26/06/2024

Democracy at 25: Clamour For Restructuring, New Nigerian Constitution Returns

The draft bill for the return of Nigeria to a regional system of government sent to President Bola Tinubu by Afenifere Chieftain, Akin Fapohunda and a letter from elder statesman, Edwin Clark, urging the President to consider implementing the 2014 National Conference Report, both on June 13, 2024, may well summarise the growing public clamour for political restructuring of the country in the face of dwindling expectations, 25 years down the line.

“But it is like asking the President to jettison his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ not even midstream into its implementation, no matter the seriousness of the idea expressed in the draft bill,” a source in the presidency said at the weekend.

Titled “A bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of the 1999 with a New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” with new extant laws to be cited as, “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024,” the bill proposes to divide Nigeria into eight geo-political regions with rough makeshift boundaries.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the bill’s contents and Clarks’ letter, the source, however, argued that the President was poised to make the desired reforms and launch the country on the path of economic recovery and growth. “After all, he is one of the arrow heads of the struggle for the return of democracy in the country. He knows where the shoe pinches,” the presidential aide said, opting to remain anonymous.
President Tinubu made the point during his nationwide broadcast on June 12, Democracy Day.

Among other things, he said, “I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.
“As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance.”

He vowed to do his utmost best to protect the rights, freedom and liberty of every Nigerian citizen and “to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life.”
Noting that the challenges ahead are steep and multiple, he pledged to pursue reforms to redirect the “economic difficulties we face as a nation.”

He said, “Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.

“The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger and better foundation for future growth. There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.”

OTHER VIEWS
Another comrade –in-arms during the pro-democracy struggles, is not so optimistic in his assessment of the past 25 years of democracy in the country. He is Professor of Political Science at the Lagos State University, Sylvester Odion Akhaine.
As a former General Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy and the United Action for Democracy, who was in and out of prison during the military crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the country, Odion-Akhaine thinks that unless urgent constitutional and legal actions are taken, the future looks bleak.
“I think the first point would be to ask the question: What were the issues that we fought for? ”

Akhaine observed that Nigeria is still in the same state as the military regime when it comes to observance of the rule of law, which is in breach. The judiciary, he laments, has not fared better in the new, democratic dispensation when compared to the pro-democracy period.
“Under the current dispensation, the judiciary has been humbled, given the series of corruption allegations against it. Under the military, the judiciary acted in sync with the struggle against military rule. Remember that it was Justice Dolapo Akinsanya that declared the Interim Government headed by Earnest Shonekan, illegal.”

For Professor Anthony Kila, who is the Chairman of June 12 Movement in the country, it rings good to the ear to hear that Nigeria has had 25 years of uninterrupted democratic process. But what has been the result?
“We still do not have the kind of democracy that was dreamed off 33 years ago. We still deal with issues, such as police brutality, dysfunctional bureaucracy, multi-dimensional poverty, nepotism, corruption, distrust among ethnic groups, religious division and a federation that is not genuinely federal, not to mention the dire economic condition of most Nigerians,” he said.

According to him, it is safe to say that while some things have been done, much more needs to be done, “for our democracy to be a true democracy, we can trust and be proud of.”
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Obidient Movement Council, March Oyinki concurs with Prof Kila. He said 25 years of democracy in Nigeria has left bitter experiences in the memories of the people, especially with the electoral process and bad governance.
“The lack of accountability and transparency in government are some of the reasons the nation has failed to make any tangible progress,” Oyinki told this newspaper in an interview.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?
“Elite closure is the most fundamental thing,” Prof Akhaine said, adding that this posture of the ruling elite has made it difficult for people with integrity, honesty to thrive in the system. “If you want to understand the current situation and fuel crisis in the country, you have to look at the consumerist disposition of the elite. They lack the will to pursue productive ventures. Enterprises are hardly encouraged, not to talk of support. I learnt that between today and 10 years ago, about 800 foreign companies have left the country. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw how palliatives were hoarded by representatives of the people and the people had to invade the warehouses. These are some of the contradictions in the system.”

WAY FORWARD
For Chief Clark and Fapohunda, the solution lies in constitution making. Clark urged President Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, such as scrapping the current system of 774 local authorities and allow states to determine their own local systems; the creation of 18 new states that will be equally spread around the country; revenue allocation that reduces the share of the Federal Government and increases allocation to the states; a modified presidential system of government that combines the presidential and parliamentary systems of government, as well as power sharing and rotation at all levels of government.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, points to a political solution. In his Democracy Day statement made available to the press, he said that political parties should always challenge cases of bad governance and seek to amend it.

Atiku said, among other things, that opposition political parties should be able to come together and form a coalition that will retire the ruling party and articulate a plan of good governance that will earn the conviction of Nigerians.

“Today, the failure of the opposition parties to uphold the functionality of their existence is the major threat to our democracy. The earlier they realise that the fortunes of Nigeria lies in their forging a coalition, the better it will be for our country and the people,” he said.
Professor Akhaine agrees with him, saying that loyal opposition should be able to criticise policies and personalities, when they deviate from set national goals.

“Patriots must join the political arena because politics is about the contestation of power. It is not about violence in a democracy; it is about supremacy of the ballot box,” he said, adding with a call on the National Assembly to revisit the independent candidate provision in the constitutional amendment, which former President Muhammadu Buhari declined to sign in the March 2023 amendments.
“In point of view of national politics where State Houses of Assembly and local government councils are subject to the tyranny of the state governors who impose candidates, independent candidates can make inroads at the grassroots where people are more likely than not to support and defend their votes for the candidates of their choice.”
In support of a patriotic action, Prof Kila says that the June 12 Movement has resolved to help create the atmosphere for the emergence of a people’s constitution that will create a Nigeria that “respects our diversity and is designed for our peace, progress and prosperity.”
The Emir of Kano, Muhamadu Sanusi II cited the ongoing ex-President Donald Trump saga in the United States of America to say there is no perfect system in the world, adding that if the country once practiced the parliamentary system and it failed, why are people calling for it?
“To me, this is no solution. Into how may parts are you going to slice this country to get a homogenous nation, with all the inter marriages and all that? I am not sure that is the solution. We cannot shift responsibilities away from human beings, from the people who are responsible for running the system.”
Oyinki agrees. “Not until the rule of law, checks and balances, as well as separation of powers are made to work effectively, true democracy will remain elusive in the country.”

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