Democracy Day: Tinubu should be ruthless on war against corruption, insecurity —-Nigerians

CYRIL MBAH, Abuja, CLEMENT NNACHI, Abakaliki,
IBRAHIM QUADRI  with agency reports

As the nation celebrates another democracy day and the 30^th anniversary of the annulled June 12 1993 presidential election, some notable Nigerians have expressed the hope that the current administration led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would summon the courage and the political will to effectively tackle corruption and strengthen democratic institutions in a manner that would make elections more credible and less contentious in the country.

In separate telephone interviews conducted by our correspondent with a cross section of citizens in Abuja showed that many are sceptical about the ability of the present administration to ameliorate the suffering of the nation’s population and usher in good governance.

The respondents criticised the sudden removal of the oil subsidy on the first day of the administration without providing palliatives to cushion the effects of the policy, describing it as an example that the leadership may toe the line of the past regime by engaging in irrational policies.

Some of the respondents however appealed to fellow Nigerians to be patient and pray for the new administration to move the country forward with good policies despite the numerous challenges facing the nation which impeded development in the past.

Professor Abdurasaaq Na’Allah, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, University of Abuja said, “We have not had a positive journey in the country for sometimes. Even now, kidnapping and terrorism are still at their height and we need strong policies to tackle these things while also challenging poverty and hunger head-on in the country.

“There are big challenges ahead of us. We should celebrate democracy day with a sense of humility knowing that all is not well with our nation. The new administration should reassure Nigerians by fulfilling its promises for good governance and by showing commitment to nation building, tackling corruption and engaging in true reconciliation of the people.

“I will call on the Tinubu administration to look critically at every sector of the society and face the challenges left behind by the previous administration without imposing more hardship on the people. The global community has been watching the nation and some believe that it is a miracle that Nigeria has survived so far despite its numerous challenges. This is the time to put the nation on the right track for development, peace and reconciliation,” Prof.Na’Allah said.

Another respondent, Professor Noah R. Yakubu, who is the Vice Chancellor of Global Seminary University said Nigerians should thank God that we have democracy to celebrate and he urged the new administration to do everything within its powers to restore hope in the people by exploring ways to right all the wrongs inflicted on the nation by the previous administration.

He said “There are many areas where we have problems. They include economic problems, political and social issues that must be resolved in the first few months of the administration. Nigerians have suffered enough. The administration should come up with better strategies to improve the living conditions in the country.

“Although, the survival of the people depends on God but we should be prayerful and hope that those in authority would do the right thing for the people,” he concluded.

On his part, the President of the Ohaneze Ndigbo in the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Nweze said we do not yet have the type of democracy that is worth celebrating in the country.

According to the Igbo leader, what we have now is autocracy and not democracy because elections are not transparent and the people’s votes do not count. He urged the government and the judiciary to deepen democracy pointing out that the hope of the people that the courts would do the right thing remains unshakeable.

“Let the courts do the right thing by restoring the people’s hope in democracy but if the courts fail to do the right thing, then democracy is doomed in the country,” he said and concluded by urging the administration to engage in reconciling the ethnic nationalities without delay.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Mike Ahamba on his part insisted that Nigerians should celebrate the day because democracy has survived several turbulence and lasted in the country.

He said people should not leave the task of deepening democracy in the hands of politicians alone even as he pointed out that politicians cannot survive without the might of the people.

He urged the Tinubu administration to remain focused, neutral, positive, articulate and fair in its dealings with the people while also describing the sudden removal of fuel subsidy as “hasty, ill-timed and ill-planned.”

He appealed to the government to have the welfare and interests of the people at heart in its plans, programmes and policies to reduce the level of suffering in the nation adding that leaders must learn that “leadership and the opportunity to govern the people is a privilege rather than a right.”

June 12 annulment, a tragic mistake- Jerry Gana

Meanwhile, Prof. Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information and National Orientation, says the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election was a tragic mistake that was not supposed to have happened.

Gana said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Nigeria’s democracy; the journey so far.

He said that the former military president, retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, meant well by organising the election but for some powerful forces made him to annul it to suit their selfish interests.

“It was a tragic mistake, it should not have happened but since it happened may God help us to get out of it,” he said.

The former minister said that the election was a period Nigerians united against evil forces but along the line the people that never meant well for Nigeria had their way.

He averred that democracy was better than any other form of government across the globe.

“Therefore, we must stay with democracy in order to better Nigeria because it delivers freedom, human rights and a good number of other things,” he said.

Gana said that in all Nigerians needed to thank God for keeping the people and the country together especially, from 1999 to 2023 because the nation’s democracy had had many challenges.

“What happened since all these years destroyed other countries when it happened there but we are still living together as a people,” he said.

He said that many institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others had been put in place to ensure good governance, fairness, justice and equity.

“It is not yet an uhuru, we are not there yet although a lot of progress have been made. Right now the right of people to vote and their votes be counted is there, so our democracy is being refined,” he said.

He said that the country had recorded huge success in its electoral reforms from inception to date.

“The recent Electoral Act (reform) is a huge success recorded for democracy in Nigeria.

“Now the elections are free, fair and accountable,” he said.

Gana noted that the country’s economy improved to the extent that it became one of the best economies in Africa.

“If our crude oil, solid minerals and agricultural potentials are harnessed well Nigeria will rule the world,” he said.

Gana also said that the communication sector had improved tremendously.

“I remember when we came on board in 1999/2000 we had less than half a million lines of telephone across Nigeria.

“But right now we have about 84 million lines, that means that there is a great revolution in the sector,” he said.

He however, blamed INEC for the current electoral challenges where many election results were being challenged in the court for alleged electoral manipulations.

“Recently, INEC has not been fair to Nigerians in conducting national elections. Therefore, we have a long way to go in our democracy if we allow this ugly development to continue. It is true that we have introduced a lot of modern technology to improve our electoral system but these technologies are not being respected today by INEC.To me, it is a major disappointment that INEC was not fair enough to give us the leaders of our choice,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the country would perfect its democracy soon.

“‘After going through the current democratic process, it is my hope that the next one will be better,” he said.

Similarly, Prof. Mohammed Kuta-Yahaya, a former Secretary to Niger Government, described June 12, 1993 presidential election as a moment of political history when Nigerians expressed satisfaction for democracy because they were tired of continuous military dictatorship.

He said that it was unfortunate that the then Supreme Military Council under the leadership of Babangida annulled it for whatever reason.

“Whatever that made the military to annul June 12 presidential election did not go down well with the people of the country because that was when they demonstrated to the whole world that they are one people that believe in democracy.

“This part of why former President Muhammadu Buhari recognised June 12 as democracy day in Nigeria, although the date was changed. It was a day Nigerians came out en masse and freely voted for the leader of their choice irrespective of cultural and religious affiliations,” he said.

He called for caution in the country’s electoral system to end the political event such as June 12 in order to improve the electoral process.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to recruit competent hands into his cabinet to ensure unity, progress and security of the country.

Kuta-Yahaya a lecturer at the University of Ibadan enjoined the country’s leaders to make education their first priority in order to empower the people and make them better persons in the society.

“Quality education will bring about rapid socio-economic advancements because it will make the people self-reliant. If you make education your first charge, you are going to cause a revolution that will outlive you as a leader to better the people and the country.

“If you don’t educate the people especially, the youth to become good citizens they will turn to terrorise you the leader tomorrow. As far as I am concerned, education is the bedrock of any meaningful society,” he said.

He advised leaders in the country to re-trace their steps back to the ideals of our founding fathers when Nigerians coexisted peacefully toward national development.

NAN reports that Gana is a Nigerian scholar, politician and one time senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1983.

Also the Director, the Directorate of Food, Roads and Infrastructure (DFRRI).

He was also, the Director, Mass Mobilisation for Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) under the Babangida’s regime.

Gana was the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Interim National Government of late Ernest Shonekan.

NAN also reports that Kuta is a Nigerian academic, writer and professor of Agricultural and Forestry, University of Ibadan.

He served as Secretary to Niger Government under governor Babangida Aliyu, and was also commissioner for information and agriculture in the state.

Use gains of June 12 to deepen democracy- IBB

Retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, a former Military President, has tasked Nigerian leaders to explore the gains of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, toward deepening democracy in the country.

Babangida spoke in Minna with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Nigeria’s democracy and the journey so far.

“The gains of June 12, 1993 presidential election have not been exploited by political leaders in succeeding elections in Nigeria.

“It was adjudged the freest and fairest election in Nigeria, yet politicians have blatantly ignored that beauty; the beauty of credible elections.

“Remember, it was an election Nigerians came out en mass to choose their leaders, irrespective of their cultural/traditional and religious affiliations,” he said.

The former president who spoke through his Media Aide, Kazeem Afegbua, said that although Nigeria’s democracy had recorded some growth, there was still many grounds to be covered.

“There is thuggery in politics in Nigeria, too many litigations in Nigeria, too many issues that transparent elections ought to have addressed,” he said.

Babangida decried increasing voter apathy in Nigeria’s election, attributing it to insincerity by the leaders resulting in lack of trust by the electorate.

“June 12 should naturally encourage more voters to endorse democracy and election, but the number of turnout during our election is gradually declining.

“Right now there is voter apathy, that’s the more reason why something must be done to ensure mass participation in election,” he said.

He said that the country’s democracy had gotten more advanced with some achievements, urging Nigerian politicians to work toward making it better.

“Nigeria’s democracy is getting more and more older. Democracy has come to stay but despite the imperfections, we can still get our arts together to correct some of the issues and continue on that trajectory.

“It is a learning curve and a work in progress. Our leaders must continue to invest their time, energy and resources to deepen democracy and sustain democratic ideals,” he said.

NAN reports that the Supreme Military Council under the leadership of Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.

Democracy remains in bondage, needs the energy of all to rescue it -Atiku

Similarly former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar in a statement congratulated Nigerians in celebration of return to civil rule, even as he called on ‘’our consciousness to the reality that democracy in Nigeria remains in bondage and it will need the energy of all of us to rescue it’’.

The statement read: ‘’On this occasion of Democracy Day, it is time for us to reflect as a people and a country on our journey to becoming a democratic society. For Nigerians who were around during the dark days of military dictatorships, it is important that we appreciate the successes that we have achieved in making democracy the norm of politics in Nigeria.

‘’But democracy without a corresponding commitment to the principles of fairness and fidelity to the rule of play by stakeholders in the processes of conducting elections still leaves the people prostrate to tendencies of dictatorship.

‘’For our democracy to be fully fledged, it must constantly evolve away from the current practice where the governing elite determines the outcome of elections. Many times, when I take stock of the activism that birthed the current democratic dispensation, I am even more convinced that a lot of work still lies ahead.

‘’Democracy and the process of democratization is a constant work in progress. While what we celebrate today is a return to civil rule in Nigeria, the desire to make our democracy self-sustaining and independent of anti-democratic elements is the new frontier of participation by all democrats.

‘’As it requires collective energy and commitment to attain civil rule, it will require a concomitant commitment to advance the cause of democracy and our democratization process.

The challenge ahead of us and the future of our democracy will rely heavily on what we do or fail to do today.

‘’To achieve this noble goal, our commitment to the cause of democracy must  be eternal. Folks on the other side, enemies of democracy, whom we are up against, are not resting. To defeat them, we must do more!

NADECO activist Ede, cries for help, alleges neglect

In a related development, June 12, 2023 will mark 30 years anniversary by activists and members of pro-democracy group, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), in the quest for the enthronement of a viable democracy, anchored on rule of law in the country.

As Nigerians celebrate this year Democracy Day, several heroes of June 12 struggle may have died, while some are living unsung.

NADECO, was a coalition of pro-democracy groups, human rights, civil society organizations, media practitioners among others that opposed retired General Ibrahim Babangida annulment of June 12 1993 Presidential election, believed to have been won by business mogul Chief MKO Abiola.

With the exit of Babangida and the attempt of Gen Sani Abacha to perpetuate himself in power illegally, members of defunct NADECO mobilized themselves locally and globally to challenge such obnoxious practice by the military Junta.

One of the notable NADECO activists still living in the South-East geo-political zone is Mr. Francis Ede, who hails from Ebonyi State.

Èdè reiterated that he was recruited into  NADECO by the Late Senator Polycarp Nwite (who later became Senior Special Assistant) on Political Matters to former President Umaru Yar’Adua.

In an interview with Daily Champion in Abakaliki, Ede recalled that he was detained at various times in 32 detention camps for more than five years and nine months, over an alleged plot to bomb the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Depot Ejigbo Lagos State.

“I was detained alongside Senator Bola Tinubu, Moses Adasu, others on a spurious charge of attempting to overthrow General Sani Abacha. Abacha plotted to be President of Nigeria for life, we said no to the Khaki boys, we insisted that democracy must stay.

“Abacha vowed that anybody that opposed his government must be detained, terrorism charge slammed on such persons. At the time of our detention, so many NADECO members left the country and went on exile”

Ede re-echoed that he would have been killed the same day Abacha died on June 8th 1998, alongside other NADECO members, over an offence he knew nothing about.

According to him, notable NADECO chieftains who were hounded and detained by the regime of Gen Abacha included Senator Bola Tinubu, Senator Polycarp Nwite, Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu, Gen Alani Akinrinade, Senator Ameh Ebute, Dr Frederick Fasheun, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Dr Beko Ramsone Kuti among others.

Ede recalled with nostalgia that the death of Gen Sani Abacha in 1998 and the subsequent takeover of power by General Abdulsalam Abubakar, led to their release from detention and the withdrawal of the charge of bomb blast and terrorism levelled against them.

“Even when the authorities then ordered that all political detainees be released, I remained in detention for extra one year at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. Eventually on 19th May 1999, luck came my way as the Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal Lagos presided over by Justice Tijani Abdullahi who discharged and acquitted the remaining political detainees”

“My release was achieved through the concerted efforts of Dr Clement Nwankwo, of the Constitutional Rights Project (CRP), and Barrister Femi Fálànà (SAN) of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR}.The I was taken to Tribunal Court where I was discharged/acquitted and  released since  the then Head of State General Abdulsalam Abubakar withdrew all charges against political detainees”.

Ede therefore appealed to President Tinubu, to come to his rescue and assist him to survive as condition of life was becoming increasingly difficult for him.

“My request to President Tinubu is that he should come to my aid, so many other political detainees then, including journalists like Senators Opeyemi Bamidele, Babafemi Ojodu of (News Magazine), have been compensated with juicy positions.

“I appeal to Mr. President to remember me, assist me, give me appointment, let me benefit from this democracy we suffered for. I have been going round crying, nobody listened to me both my State (Ebonyi) and Federal Government’’.

Ede regretted why he had been forgotten and neglected despite his struggles alongside other NADECO activists.