Opinion
When Democracy Lacks Accountability
Since Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as “Government of the people, by the people and for the people”, it has remained the most popular and acceptable definition of the term.
The reason is that it encapsulates and conveys the essence of democracy as it was practised in Ancient Greece, and is still being practised today.
Lincoln’s democracy is built on the principle that power flows from the will of the people, not as Mao Tse Tung, the founder of modern China, would have us believe that it flows from the barrel of the gun.
Democracy advocates that the people should rule. But since it is impossible, or rather inexpedient for the people qua the people to rule, it demands that those who rule should do so with the consent of the people. In other words, they should have the mandate of the people, and by that fact be responsible to them.
It is this responsibility and accountability of the rulers to the ruled that makes democracy more noble than other forms of government. This, democracy is underlined by the belief in the equality of men, and the right of men to have a say in the politics that inform their life chances.
Given this equality, those who hold power, I mean our leaders, must be made to know that they are only delegates of the people they are not in power because they have preternatural qualities, rather they are there because it is impossible for all citizens to rule at the same time, and some people must therefore do so on their behalf.
It is imperative in any democracy for the elected representatives to be accountable to the electorate. It is this principle of accountability that empowers the people. It rests the ultimate power to the people even when they have delegated same to their representatives.
This power lies in the provision for recall and periodic election which are hereditable features of democracy.
When the elected politician realises the next election date, and is conscious of the power of recall executed on his constituency, he must rule in their interest.
Thus, accountability is the engine that keeps democracy going. Without it democracy ceases to exist. What obtains in its place is tyranny. Democracy without accountability can be likened to a pod without seed. It is empty and meaningless. It can not reproduce itself. It is dead.
It is for this reason that the struggle for democracy the world over is undisguised a struggle for accountability. When the Japanese electorate said it was ready to have ten Prime ministers within 24 hours just to ensure that persons with questionable character or records are outsted, it was fighting to protect its democracy.
The people want to uphold their right to rule themselves by simply ruling those who rule them. When the Italians threw out their prime minister for corruption charges some years ago, they did it to preserve their democratic culture. When the South Koreans recalled their past leaders to account for fraud they perpetrated while in office, they did so not to punish those who served them but to protect their fragile democracy.
They knew that nothing kills democracy like corruption and unaccountability. Therefore, persons who inadvertently worked to kill the best form of government man has ever adopted, should be sanctioned to serve as a deterrence to present and future holders of power.
This was why some Ghanaian Ministers were probed by the Ghanaian authorities for living above their legitimate earnings. It was alleged that the Ministers had properties which worth was far and above their income. Following the development, it was suspected that they might have abused their positions and enriched themselves. Ghana did that to preserve their democracy. Today, the country has one of the strongest democratic structures in Africa.
Any nation that cherishes democracy, will do what Ghana did. To keep democracy alive, accountability must exist. Unfortunately, Nigeria is yet to come to terms with this. Every one talks about democracy but only few talk about accountability, which is a sine qua non of any democracy.
Nigeria is experiencing the biggest scam ever in the fuel subsidy regime because our leaders have failed to accept accountability as an intrinsic part of democracy. Today, the nation is faced with all kinds of scams that are amazing and unimaginable.
Politicians, the electorate and all alike albeit reluctantly look forward to election days in the country, but not much is done to ensure that present leaders are accountable and live above board. We tend to share an erroneous and unfortunate belief that we can sweep corruption under the carpet and make the table over it to relish the dish of corruption.
Despite the cacophonous propaganda on anti-corruption, public officers build multiple estates which their incomes in the next 20 years cannot fund. And no one is concerned about the adverse effects this would have on democracy in the country. No one is worried that the prevalence of unbridled corruption is laying the shaky foundation for the failure of subsequent democratic experiment.
The kind of democracy we practice may create room for resentment against the government. Who says the national Security Adviser to the President, Gen. Andrew Azazi, was not right when he blamed the rising wave of terrorism in the country on the undemocratic way leaders emerge on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP)? I agree with him.
In a world where accountability and good governance hold sway, there is every reason for Nigeria leaders to imbibe the culture of accountability. Unless we show in practice that we detest corruption and assimilate an abundance of accountability, our quest for a viable democracy will remain elusive.
Arnold Alalibo
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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