OPINION
Perspectives on the National Strike Action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria
By Uji Wilfred Terlumun
One of the leading Presidential aspirants in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria had a blueprint on that, if he had won the election would have led to the total privatization and commercialization of the Nigerian Public University System.The idea to privatize and commercialize the public university system, among many other things, was aimed at curbing, if not the total elimination of protracted strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which has paralyzed the University System in Nigeria.
In addition, the idea was firstly, some of the basic requirements of neo liberal economics to reform the public university system as well as the idea reflects the general thinking and mindset of the Nigerian ruling political class towards the public university system in Nigeria.According to this kind of perspective, strikes in public universities have become unfashionable and it is the responsibility of university governing councils, not the state, to negotiate conditions of wages and salaries of academic staff as well as the general development of the University System.While Neo liberalism has continued to shape and define the public university system in Nigeria through a deliberate withdrawal of government spendings in the sector, in the Western Capitalist Nations of Europe and America, states and governments invest heavily and fund their public universities. The West accomodatates strikes by the University academia but turn around to frown at labor strikes in Nigeria.For nearly forty years, since the era of General Sani Abacha in the 1990s, Nigerian public universities have been reduced into a theatre of strikes that has made universities in Nigeria a laughing stock and spectacle of the global community.Under General Sani Abacha, ASUU embarked on a protracted strike action for nearly six months that not only paralyzed the University System but had far reaching disruptions on the academic calendar and the quality of the University System in Nigeria. General Abacha, in his dictatorial style, ordered the sacking of all University academic staff of public universities. He further decreed that the governing councils of universities employ new academic staff to replace the sacked ones. Furthermore, the management of public universities were directed to fish out and isolate recalcitrant and rebellious academia who were held suspicious for the mobilization of the six months strike action.The military directive pitched management of universities against the academic staff, a development that had long effects in the polarization and balkanization of the University System in Nigeria.During the era of the democratic dispensation of President Olusegun Obasanjo, strikes by public universities in Nigeria witnessed the collapse of academic activities for several months. In his usual vulgular and raw style, President Obasanjo lambasted ASUU as a Union of ungentle men and sexual debauchery, something that ASUU had to publish the sexual adventures of the former president to prove his incontinence and lack of self-control.The Academic Staff Union of Universities pulled out of the strike with a deal that for the first time in the labor history of public universities in Nigeria raised salaries and wages for the academia to reflect a near real and living wage. In addition, the state in Nigeria established institutions such as the Tertiary Education Tax Fund for the finding of the infrastructural development of Universities alongside other major interventions such as NEEDS.These finding agencies represented some of the real gains of the ASUU Struggle and marked a beginning of state funding and intervention in the development of public universities in Nigeria.The President Good luck Jonathan administration, an offshoot of the President Musa Yar’Adua administration withnesed more agitations from ASUU that resulted into the negotiation of the 2009 agreement between the Union and the Federal Government of Nigeria. President Jonathan desired to seal the agreement with a Presidential Dinner which the Union declined, some kind of diplomatic blunder and tactical mistake that the Union did. A Presidential Dinner could have gone a long way to seal the 2009 Agreement but above all, would have provided President Jonathan, a platform and opportunity to plough back into his constituency, the tertiary education system.One of the peaks of the bitter labor struggle that left scars on the Union was the ASUU strike under President Mohammedu Buhari which lasted for over eight months in 2022.The strike came at the heels of a global and national lock down following the Western Medical Imperialism of COVID-19. The national ruling political class on one hand, adopted an arm twisting strategy that divided ASUU into two parallel and opposing Unions and on the other hand, used the weaponization of NO WORK, NO PAY policy to break the resolve of Union members who were hungry and helpless in the face of non salary payments for the strike period.Since 1995, the Nigerian Government and State has been indifferent to the yearnings and demands of ASUU such as, improvement of emoluments and salaries, increased investment in public universities and education, in line with best global practice, the autonomy of universities, implementation of reports of Visitation Panels, democratization of leadership recruitment, Student Welfarism, etc.These issues were encapsulated and captured in the milestone agreement of 2009 under President Good luck Jonathan. Since 2009, The ASUU – Federal Government Agreement has been subjected to a process of renegotiation and review by succeeding administration and governments in Nigeria.Where Do We Go From Here in the words of the Nigerian Statesman and Legend, Paul Unongo.There are few important question posers here, looking at the protracted history of the ASUU, can we say that the ruling political class in Nigeria has value in the public university system or of what value is the public university system to the ruling political class in Nigeria, do universities, particularly the academic class , a basic determinant of who gets power and what in Nigeria, is there a power structure that the Union is in total control, that can shape and define the outcome of the power struggle in NigeriaAbove all, can the Union prevent or stop the ruling political class of Nigeria in the implementation of some of the Neo liberal economic reforms that have unleashed inequality, social discrimination and poverty on the Nigerian people.Under the yoke of Neoliberalism, the idea that the common man pays dearly for being made by God through an obnoxious tax regime and subsidy removal, Nigeria is fast becoming a failed State. This has a far reaching impact on all strata of society, not just the educational system.What is required to fix Nigeria is beyond an ASUU Struggle that has so devalued and battered the public university system in Nigeria.According to Times Higher Education, Universities in Nigeria are ranked the lowest on the top one hundred in Africa. University Lectures are far below the average African minimum in the payment of salaries and wages.Statistics from the National Diaporan Commission shows that Nigeria loses billions of dollars through a capital flight of Nigerians schooling in Universities abroad. The collapse of the public university system in Nigeria has triggered one of the worst drain or human capital flight in recent years.Nigeria is fast losing what the West is fast gaining.It is obvious and certain that the concern of the ruling political class of Nigeria does not lie in the development of the public university system in line with best global practices. The Nigerian University Academia does not in any way define or shape the power dynamics and struggle of Nigeria, unlike the military, judiciary, thugs and hoodlums who dictates who gets power and howThere is no power structure the academia in Nigeria wield control over like their counterparts in Germany where every University Professor is part of the board of advisers to the national government or in the United States of America and Europe where University Professors are the stewards and custodians of research funds and investment that drives development in both public and private sectors.In the West, the synergy between the private sector and University provides opportunities of research and development that enriches the academia and makes them part of the power structure that shapes and defines politics and development.Above all, what is worrisome is the kind of monumental fraud and mismanagement of resources by Universities Management in Nigeria as often exposed and revealed by frequent reports of visitation panels. The worst nightmare of the University System in Nigeria perhaps is not even low or poor funding but the untold story of the monumental decay and fraud orchestrated by the management of universities in partnership with their collaries at the Ministry of Education and political ruling class.The reports of several Visitation Panels have revealed cankerworms as to the state of the development of public universities. It appears that while the struggles of the Union, over the decade has paid off with a capital intervention in our public universities, the management of public universities has been the major swamp that has swallowed and sinked some of the great and best national intervention, through Tetfund and NEEDS, in the funding of public Universities in Nigeria.It is imperative for the Government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to embark on sweeping and fundamental reforms, which should once and for all fix the University System of the country.There is need for the overhauling of the entire University Architecture both from within and outside.There is the urgent need to decide on how best to reposition our public universities to be globally competitive in both infrastructural development, content, emoluments, research etc. Doing so will achieve a number of things, arrest capital and human flight , but, more importantly, achieve a synergy between what is produced by universities and its relevance both to the public and private sectors.There is a society or nation that will ignore and isolate her University System for decades, if such Universities have a direct bearing on the development and transformation of that nation. What is the direct contribution of our universities in terms of research and community development on the growth of the private and public sectors. A nation which cannot see or evaluate the impact of a shutdown of universities on the economy and development, cannot value her academia and students.There is something terrible amiss of the ruling political class of Nigeria, their mental and philosophical outlook, that, rather , believes in the coercion of ASUU through mass dismissal or NO PAY, No WORK policy, than a prompt attention to the well-being of the University System that has been in the doldrums for nearly forty years.Above all, there is a need to integrate the elite corp of the University Intelligentsia, Professors, into the power dynamics and structure of the Nigerian State. Traditional Rulers in Nigeria exercise and display more relevance than the professors of Nigerian Universities.Statistics show that elected councillors of Local Governments in Nigeria have more societal relevance and grass roots community development. There is the urgent need to make the professors of public universities in Nigeria as the hub and catalyst of all research institutions, public or private, even the hosting, sourcing, content development of workshops and seminars for the nation’s civil service.
By Abiemwense Moru
As the morning sun rose over Kuje in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, mothers cradled their babies, queuing patiently at the Primary Health Centre.
Laughter and the soft cries of infants filled the air, punctuated by the reassuring voice of health workers administering the life-saving polio vaccine.
It was the 2025 World Polio Day, a global reminder that the war against one of humanity’s most crippling diseases is not yet over.
For Rotary International District 9141 Governor, Anthony Woghiren, it was not just another commemoration; it was a call to action.
Standing before a crowd of mothers, he issued a rallying cry that resonated beyond the small community of Kuje:
“I have instructed mothers to be our ambassadors.
“Tell your friends and every pregnant woman that every child must receive immunisation to prevent any form of polio.”
Rotary International has been at the forefront of the global fight to eradicate polio for nearly four decades.
With support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and national governments, the campaign has achieved an astounding 99.9 per cent reduction in polio cases worldwide.
Only Afghanistan and Pakistan still record cases of wild poliovirus, a reminder that while victory is close; the battle is not yet won.
For Nigeria, the journey has been one of perseverance and partnership.
The country was officially certified wild poliovirus-free in 2020, but maintaining that status has required vigilance.
According to Woghiren, Rotary’s goal remains clear, to achieve total eradication of polio before 2030.
“We cannot do it alone; we appeal to well-spirited individuals to contribute to the Rotary Polio Fund. Every naira donated helps us procure vaccines and support the health workers on the frontlines,” he said.
These health workers, many of them women, have become the unsung heroes of Nigeria’s immunisation story.
Armed with coolers of vaccines and sheer determination, they traverse rivers, mountains, and conflict-prone areas to ensure every child, no matter how remote, is protected.
In Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi, the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Ilyasu-Bashar, added a royal voice to the national chorus for eradication.
Addressing the state’s polio team, he hailed the collective commitment of the Kebbi Government, development partners, and traditional rulers in keeping the state polio-free.
“All hands must be on deck for us to completely eradicate the scourge of polio from resurfacing.
“We thank the state government, traditional rulers, and the Ministry of Women Affairs for their unrelenting efforts in ensuring that polio is eradicated in the entire state,’’ ” the Emir declared through his representative, Alhaji Muhammad Sambo-Aliyu.
Reports from local government areas across Kebbi showed impressive coverage, a testament to community cooperation and trust built through traditional institutions.
Traditional leaders have long been critical allies in public health campaigns.
Their endorsement carries the weight of culture, faith, and authority, essential in communities where misinformation and mistrust can derail vaccination drives.
As Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, District Head of Diggi, observed, “Traditional institutions in the state have been instrumental in building trust and dispelling misconceptions about vaccination.”
Further north, in Zamfara, the 2025 World Polio Day was a celebration of progress in spite of adversity.
The event, held at the Emir of Gusau’s Palace, gathered government officials, WHO and UNICEF representatives, and even polio survivors–living reminders of why the campaign must not relent.
Dr Husaini Yakubu, Executive Secretary of the Zamfara Primary Healthcare Board, reaffirmed the state’s unwavering commitment.
In spite of insecurity and logistical challenges, Zamfara has maintained its polio-free status through collaboration and innovation.
“In spite of the challenges of insecurity, the state has maintained its polio-free status.
“We will continue to collaborate with partners to ensure children are protected from killer diseases,” Yakubu said.
That collaboration has yielded tangible results.
According to Dr Murtala Salahudeen, Incident Manager of the Zamfara Polio Emergency Operations Centre, more than 1.8 million children under five have been vaccinated against polio, and more than 2 million have received measles and rubella vaccines.
“These achievements were possible through strong partnerships between the state government, WHO, UNICEF, and local organisations.
“Even nomadic communities were reached through the joint efforts of health teams and security agencies,” Salahudeen explained.
Zamfara’s story illustrates a powerful lesson: with political will, community engagement, and technical support, even insecurity cannot stop progress.
Among those attending the Gusau event was Aisha Musa, a 32-year-old polio survivor from Kaura Namoda.
Sitting in her wheelchair, Aisha radiated optimism. “I was only three when I was struck by polio.
“My parents didn’t know about vaccination then. I don’t want any other child to go through what I did.”
Aisha now works as a volunteer with UNICEF, helping raise awareness in rural communities. Her story, like many others, embodies resilience and transformation.
“When mothers see me, they understand what polio can do; I tell them, ‘You can prevent this; vaccinate your child,’” she said.
Her voice, both literal and symbolic, emphasises Woghiren’s call for mothers to become ambassadors.
Observers say these living testimonies bridge the gap between statistics and real lives, between policy and impact.
In Enugu State, the fight against polio is being waged with science, structure, and strategic partnerships.
At the 2025 World Polio Day commemoration themed “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,” the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to immunisation as a pillar of primary healthcare.
Through targeted vaccination outreach, enhanced surveillance, and massive investment in healthcare infrastructure, Enugu is making strides.
In April and June alone, more than 2.38 million children aged 0–59 months received the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV).
Ugwu credited these achievements to strong collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and local NGOs.
He also highlighted the construction of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state, one in each ward, as part of Gov. Peter Mbah’s vision to deliver accessible healthcare for all.
Still, challenges persist.
“Vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, insecurity, and infrastructure gaps remain real threats.
“But we are intensifying community engagement, strengthening surveillance, and promoting risk communication,” the commissioner said.
WHO’s State Coordinator for Enugu, Dr Adaeze Ugwu, emphasised this optimism: “Let us keep pushing forward, making new innovations, and advocating for every child to receive this life-changing polio vaccine.
“Together, we can make history.”
In Yobe, the story is one of determination amid daunting odds.
Marking World Polio Day in Damaturu, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammad Gana, lauded Nigeria’s collective progress but cautioned against complacency.
“Now is not the time to step back.
“The final steps toward polio eradication are the most critical and challenging; any complacency could reverse decades of progress,” he warned.
Gana outlined the strategies driving Yobe’s success, strong political commitment, community engagement, and innovative outreach campaigns targeting hard-to-reach populations.
According to him, vaccination teams employ “hit-and-run” campaigns in conflict-prone zones, use cross-border checkpoints for migrant vaccination, and collaborate with nomadic leaders to ensure no child is missed.
He attributed the state’s achievements to Gov. Mai Mala Buni’s leadership and the resource mobilisation efforts of his deputy, Alhaji Idi Gubana, who chairs the State Taskforce on Immunisation.
From Kuje to Kebbi, Zamfara to Enugu, and Yobe, one message resounds: polio eradication requires everyone, mothers, fathers, traditional rulers, health workers, and political leaders alike.
Each region’s experience offers a piece of the national puzzle; in the South, infrastructure and awareness lead the charge.
In the North, resilience, tradition, and collaboration drive success.
The unifying thread is Nigeria’s collective determination to ensure that no child ever suffers from a preventable disease again.
As Nigeria marks yet another World Polio Day, it stands at a historic crossroads.
With 99.9 per cent of the world already free from wild poliovirus, the country’s role is no longer just national, it is global.
Every vaccination campaign, every advocacy effort, and every mother who chooses to immunise her child brings the world one step closer to eradication.
Experts say the fight against polio is not just about science; it is about solidarity; it is about communities believing in the power of prevention, leaders using their influence for good, and survivors transforming their pain into purpose.(NAN)
By Kadiri Abdulrahman
At the recently concluded Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Washington D.C., the World Bank unveiled its flagship agricultural initiative, “AgriConnect”.
The President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, explained that the flagship initiative is designed to boost global agricultural productivity and enable smallholder farmers to move from subsistence to commercial production.
According to Banga, AgriConnect was conceived to transform smallholder farming into a viable engine of economic growth, job creation, food security, and value-chain development in developing countries.
In particular, it seeks to support 500 million smallholder farmers who produce the majority of the world’s food but still operate largely at subsistence levels.
Furthermore, the initiative aims to double the World Bank’s annual investment in agribusiness to nine billion dollars by 2030, while also mobilising an additional five billion dollars from development partners.
Banga noted that the initiative was building an ecosystem around cooperatives to integrate financing for farmers and SMEs, link producers to markets, and harness digital tools such as “small AI”.
This, he added, is underpinned by a pledge to double agricultural financing and attract further resources through strategic partnerships.
He stressed that agriculture had always been central to development.
“Today, the challenge is not only to grow more food, but also to turn that growth into a business that delivers higher incomes for smallholder farmers and creates opportunities across entire economies,” he said.
Banga further observed that over the next 10 to 15 years, about 1.2 billion young people in developing countries would come of age, yet only 400 million jobs were projected to be created.
“Hundreds of millions will either power the global economy or spill over into unrest and migration. That is why the World Bank Group has made job creation our central mission,” he explained.
He noted that although jobs ultimately come from the private sector, they do not all start there.
“Countries move along a continuum: early on, the public sector drives job creation; over time, private capital and entrepreneurship take the lead.
“Our three-pillar strategy reflects that arc of building infrastructure and skills; creating predictable regulations and a business-friendly environment; and supporting investors with risk tools that crowd in capital,” he added.
According to Banga, the World Bank sees potential in five priority sectors of infrastructure, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and value-added manufacturing.
However, he noted that agribusiness remains central to both job creation and meeting the projected 50 per cent rise in global food demand over the coming decades.
Moreover, he highlighted that Africa holds 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land and could significantly boost yields on already cultivated land.
“Latin America already produces enough food for well over a billion people, but faces infrastructural challenges.
“Across Asia, smallholder farmers manage most farmland; an enormous base that can be lifted with better technology, finance, and market access,” he said.
Banga noted that globally, 500 million smallholder farmers produce 80 per cent of the world’s food, yet many remain trapped in subsistence due to inadequate electricity, storage, training, and access to markets.
Similarly, Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, shared insights on his country’s Agri-Finance and Climate Resilience Reforms.
He underscored the crucial role of agriculture in Pakistan’s economy, which contributes nearly one-fourth of GDP and supports millions of small farmers.
He reaffirmed the government’s policy shift from control to facilitation and empowerment, enabling the private sector to drive agricultural growth.
Ongoing initiatives, he said, aim to enhance productivity, access to finance, and value-chain development from production and storage to exports.
“When the full value chain is considered, agriculture contributes nearly 40 per cent to Pakistan’s GDP,” he added.
In the same vein, Guinea’s Minister of Agriculture, Mariama Cire Sylla, emphasised the need for financing and infrastructure reform to empower smallholder farmers and attract investment in alignment with AgriConnect’s goals.
Earlier in 2025, the World Bank published a Guinea Economic Update highlighting the nation’s economic progress.
The report commended Guinea’s fiscal discipline and economic performance, which helped it secure a B+ credit rating from Standard & Poor’s in September 2025.
However, it noted that while growth was encouraging, it had not yet translated into significant poverty reduction, stressing that domestic resource mobilisation remained critical for long-term development.
Meanwhile, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) pledged to transform the lives of at least 70 million small-scale farmers through the AgriConnect initiative.
The IFAD President, Alvaro Lario, explained that the initiative aims to create jobs in agribusiness, transform livelihoods, and strengthen global food security.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
“Our investments have led to higher incomes, bigger yields, and better market access for small-scale food producers.
“Delivering that triple impact, we will target at least 70 million people in rural and fragile areas,” Lario stated.
He added that IFAD, alongside other multilateral development banks, governments, and private sector partners, shared a common ambition to connect small-scale producers to markets and turn rural areas into engines of growth, jobs, and food security.
Lario highlighted that IFAD brings nearly five decades of experience investing in rural communities, particularly in remote and fragile regions where poverty and hunger are most severe.
“These communities, home to 80 per cent of the world’s poorest people, face challenges from climate shocks to limited access to inputs, technologies, and finance, despite immense untapped potential,” he said.
He observed that meeting the rising global food demand, projected to increase by nearly 60 per cent by 2030, could generate an estimated 10 trillion dollars in annual economic opportunities by 2050.
He also noted that Africa’s agribusiness sector could reach one trillion dollars by 2030.
Furthermore, Lario pointed out that 1.2 billion young people would enter the job market in developing countries over the next decade, adding that agri-food systems already provide employment for 40 per cent of the global workforce.
In addition, the African Development Bank (AfDB) reaffirmed its partnership and support for AgriConnect.
Its President, Sidi Ould Tah, noted that the initiative aligns closely with the Bank’s own programmes aimed at transforming smallholder farming through technology, finance, and value addition.
He mentioned AfDB’s related efforts such as the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), Agri-Food SME Catalytic Financing Mechanism (ACFM), and ENABLE Youth Programme.
These initiatives are designed to improve infrastructure, reduce investment risks, and provide financing to agri-SMEs and young entrepreneurs.
“These initiatives focus on improving infrastructure, de-risking private capital, and supporting farmers and SMEs to increase productivity and create jobs,” he said.
As the World Bank, AfDB, and their partners roll out large-scale agricultural initiatives, some Nigerians have raised concerns over the discontinuation of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).
The scheme, launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in November 2015, was designed to provide financing support for smallholder farmers.
The ABP was designed to boost production, link smallholder farmers with agro-processors, and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on food imports.
Its objectives, which closely mirror those of AgriConnect, included increasing agricultural output, promoting food security, creating rural jobs, and enhancing farmers’ access to credit.
However, the programme was phased out in 2023 and replaced under the new CBN Development Finance Framework.
The framework aims to streamline agricultural financing through deposit money banks and other financial institutions, rather than through direct government interventions.
All in all, the launch of AgriConnect reflects a renewed global resolve to make agriculture a driver of inclusive growth, food security, and rural development.
However, for initiatives of this scale to achieve meaningful impact, experts say they must align with country-level priorities and lessons from past experiences.
In Nigeria, many believe that the phase-out of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme offers valuable insights into the challenges of sustaining agricultural financing and ensuring equitable access for smallholder farmers.
By harmonising local policies with global initiatives such as AgriConnect, Nigeria and other developing nations can strengthen their agricultural systems, boost productivity, and build more resilient rural economies. (NAN)
By SKC Ogbonnia
A famous American journalist, Sydney J. Harris, once wrote that, “History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.”Once upon a time Nigeria had a military Head of State, Sani Abacha, who ruled as a maximum dictator.
He would eventually yield to pressure to transition the country to a democracy, but he also plotted to succeed himself as the president. Keenly aware that he was unpopular and had no chance of winning the presidency in any free and fair election under a multiparty democracy, Abacha turned to unholy schemes. His regime staged an aggressive montage of propaganda to launder his image behind a facade of positive narratives–all suggesting a show of overwhelming public support for the military head of state to succeed himself. They portrayed him as the best leader ever and his candidacy as the second coming of the Messiah. But that was not all.Buoyed by the false public support, General Sani Abacha used the instrument of power to coerce opposing political parties to endorse him as a sole candidate. All coasts were clear for him to enthrone a sham democracy featuring only one party and, of course, without internal or external opposition. But providence has a way with destiny, as well as with ambitions. Sani Abacha died unexpectedly. And his brand of democracy also died suddenly, or so we thought. That was in 1998!Fast forward to 2025, history is repeating itself in a disgusting disguise. The objective fact is that the Abacha model of democracy or resemblance of it is back in our naked eyes, and the man in charge has a similar trait and background. Like Sani Abacha, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not gain power by popular account. While Abacha became Head of State by the way of a military coup, a majority of Nigerian voters (64.7%) rejected Tinubu in the election that he used to assume power. Like Abacha, Tinubu is widely rated as one of the most corrupt leaders in the world. Like Sani Abacha, amid a woeful record of performance, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is employing underhand tactics, undermining democratic norms in order to win a re-election.So far, the former Lagos governor is in full control of both the Legislature and the Judiciary. The gravest of all, however, is a grand design to emulate the Abacha model by using all manner of political intimidation to decimate the structures of the opposition parties. The objective is a one-party state or a semblance of it. This explains the wave of defections of legislators and governors to Tinubu’s ruling APC. Nothing more!!Of course, the defecting politicians or the Tinubu enablers have continued to labour so hard to offer nothing but tantalizing reasons for abandoning the people and the parties that brought them to power. However, every reason or excuse they have offered is in conflict with history and common sense.Interestingly, the governors who have decamped so far happen to hail from the South-East and South-South zones of the country. This is a region that ‘aligned with the center’ for 16 of the 25 years in the Fourth Republic. This is a region that has produced a President, Vice President, Senate Presidents, Deputy Senate Presidents, Deputy Speakers, Ruling Party Chairmen, and some of the other most powerful portfolios when PDP held sway. Yet, there is nothing to show for the support or the patronage. Needless to remind them that this same region includes Imo and Ebonyi states, which have been under the control of the same APC since the previous regime; yet, such a gesture did not stop Bola Ahmed Tinubu from waging a shadow war against the Igbo people of Nigeria.Let us even choose not to factor the common knowledge above, but common sense dictates that only an enemy of Nigeria will be singing praises of the APC regime that has plunged the country into untold hardship with no end in sight. Only a corrupt mind would be rushing to a ruling party that is leading the most criminal and unjust regime in national history.The truth of the matter is simple: Their reason for the defections is purely for selfish interests. Specifically, these defecting politicians are lily-livered leaders who lack principle and have either corrupt baggage, afraid of winning elections on their own merit or those eager to benefit from the ruling party’s corrupt ecosystem. The whistling charm is the prevailing pledge by the then National Chairman of theAPC, Adams Oshiomhole that the sins of the members of the opposition parties would be forgiven if they defect to the ruling party.Former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, probably had in mind the type of unfolding political crisis in Nigeria, when he noted that, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.Bola Ahmed Tinubu ought to be able to dig deeper in history and remember that brute attempts by then ruling parties to win broad political mandate was the central reason commonly cited for the fall of both the First and Second Republics.Recall the situation under the very Second Republic. Similar to the case of Tinubu, President Shehu Shagari (who scored only 33.7% of the votes) failed to garner majority votes through the 1979 polls. The National Party of Nigeria (NPN), being the ruling party at the time, was desperate for a clear majority in the subsequent election of 1983. It followed the mission by boasting and threatening that it must capture the states where the regional capitals of the First Republic–namely Enugu, Kaduna, and Ibadan–were located. The NPN brushed aside the fact that those states were controlled by political parties featuring popular native presidential candidates, namely Nnamdi Azikiwe, Aminu Kano, and Obafemi Awolowolo, respectively.With the timber and calibre of the ruling NPN behind him, Shagari threw caution to the wind and went ahead to deploy heavy duty federal might to deliver those former regional capitals through the 1983 elections. Accordingly, the election result was greeted with mass discontent and unrest. Not surprisingly, mass jubilation greeted the military coup of 1983 that overthrew the Shagari government. While military coups must no longer be an option, Tinubu can learn from recent history that the restive masses have become even more potent.In sum, it is clear that Nigeria’s hard earned democracy is at its lowest ebb. This failure is because the overbearing influence of the Executive branch under President Tinubu has weakened institutional independence and, by consequence, lack of checks and balances, dictatorship, systemic corruption, and abuse of civil liberties. Today, Mr. Tinubu is widely seen to be above the law. He is widely seen to dictate who gets what, who wins or who loses. Sadly, instead of holding the ruling party accountable, the opposition leaders are succumbing, defecting to become a part of the state corrupt ecosystem. The posterity beckons!SKC Ogbonnia, a former APC Presidential Aspirant, writes from Houston, Texas.
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ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja CDIAL, through its Indigenous AI suite, has partnered with Helium Health in delivering transformative healthcare innovation...
Senate Clears Air Peace for Runway Overrun
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, Abuja After a mild faceoff between members of the Senate Committee on Aviation and the Chairman of...
Road Accidents Claim 4,000 Lives in Eight Months, Says FRSC
ShareBy Elijah Oguche, Abuja The Federal Road Safety Corps has said that 3,915 persons lost their lives in 7,715 road...
Nigeria ’ll Defeat Terrorism, Build Stronger Partnerships, Tinubu Vows
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to defeating terrorism and strengthening diplomatic ties with...