Politics

Echoes From NPSA Conference In PH …Dialogue Needed To Douse Tension – Prof Shuaibu Ibrahim

Published

10 years ago

July 4, 2016

Political scientists in Ni
geria particularly, and all over the world generally, have great responsibilities in contemporary times. Even in the United States, United Kingdom and Russia today, people are not only concerned with issues of security, terrorism; and foreign relations. They are increasingly focusing also on the declining relevance of political parties, impact of elections, role of money in politics, and internal party democracy.’ Political Scientists have serious responsibilities to humanity today especially in Africa. The world is passing through turbulent times due to conflicts, wars, terrorism, transnational crimes, climate change and others, all of which require leadership and robust patterns of international relations, cooperation and collaboration.
In Africa, just emerging from the throes of military rule, sit-tight rulers and wars, terrorism which stormed the continent in 1998 with the attack on US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya is now threatening to take root and expand. The Al-Qaeda, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Al-Shabaab, as well as Boko Haram are currently tormenting the continent. . New strategies are constantly needed for combating their menace, and Political Scientists must be up-and-doing in this direction.
This is because as Nwolise rightly noted:
“it is the duty of the Political philosopher to provide ideas and principles for policy makers and security operators to perform their functions. Whether or not the policy makers accept and utilize the ideas, and principles made available by the Political Philosopher is a different issue’’,
Political Scientists need to sit up, especially in Nigeria and Africa. There is an inverse relationship today between the growth of Political Science Departments, and by implication, Political Scientists, and their impact on the politics and good governance in the nation and continent. We must strive to infuse back science into political science, and the practise of politics and governance. We have great role to play in redirecting the course of Nigeria’s and Africa’s political history through teaching, research, advocacy and service. . Even the names of Departments need streamlining. There are: Department of Government, Department of Public Administration, Department of Local Government, Department of International Relations and History etc.
The Association must challenge vices in the land-corruption, Xenophobia, ethnicity, religious crisis, sit-tightism, injustices, etc. Political Scientists can take leave to serve in the National Assembly.
Under the government of President Ibrahim Babangida, no serious committee lacked Political Scientists. In MAMSER, Political Bureau, and the Constituent Assembly, we were there. The NPSA under Professor J. Ayoade, had audience with President Babangida when all universities in Nigeria were closed by the Armed Forces Ruling Council. That audience led to the opening of the universities. We need to work together assiduously to regain the glory of the Association.
The Nigerian nation today needs the input of Political Scientists more than ever before.
The Boko Haram war is still raging, though now believed to be at its tail end. But it must be noted that terrorists rarely occupy territory. Their main tactics are bombing (especially of soft targets) kidnapping, bank-raids, and hijacking. This government should not be deceived into lowering the guards, until they are completely routed.
The separatist movements in the South East and militancy in the Niger-Delta are creating survival, stability and security problems for the nation which further worsen dwindling revenue from oil. There is urgent need for dialogue to douse these sources of tension and crises
There is general socio-economic hardship in the land, and more and more citizens are going below the poverty line. The consequences are hunger, disease, unemployment, starvation, cashlessness, and increasing hopelessness and frustration.
Many states are unable to pay workers’ salaries as they have become beggars in a jaundiced federal system in need of restructuring.
The anti-corruption war though popular and desirable lacks strategy. In the absence of new punitive laws and an Anti-Corruption Tribunal, there is little hope for the expected level of performance. For now, instead of being a national war, the anti-corruption crusade looks like government battle.
The foreign exchange policy of the government has undergone two summersaults within 6 months. It is prayed and hoped that the recent policy announced in mid-June will stabilise the naira, improve trade, and go a long way in stimulating the economy. This taking along with the’ positive fall-outs of Mr. President’s China trip and other economic diplomacy trips will greatly improve the inflow of foreign capital and investments.
The country needs effective opposition.
The absence of effective opposition party especially with the post-election loss crises that have been rocking the People’s Democratic Party creates the risk of running Nigeria like one party state. It also denies the country of alternative ideas and policy advice.
Prof. Ibrahim is the President, Nigeria Political Science Association.

Politics

Alleged Defamation: Umahi Directs Legal Processes Against Tracy Ohiri

Published

3 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has directed his legal team to resume all court proceedings against Mrs. Tracy Ohiri over her repeated allegations of indebtedness and other claims against him.

Mrs Ohiri had publicly accused Senator Umahi of owing her N280 million for campaign materials from his tenure as party chairman in Ebonyi State.

The allegations went viral on social media, where she also accused the Minister of sexual harassment.

Security agencies arrested Mrs Ohiri, and she was subsequently prosecuted. Her lawyer, Barrister Marshall Abubakar, intervened, leading to the deletion of all posts and a public apology, which also gained widespread attention online.

However, days after the apology, Mrs Ohiri resumed her claims against Senator Umahi.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, Senator Umahi said he had informed Barrister Abubakar during the intervention that if Mrs Ohiri could provide verifiable evidence, logs, and communications from the period in question, some of his associates were willing to contribute a sum of One Billion Naira (N1billion) to her, evidence which, he said, she had yet to provide.

“The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, has been monitoring the ongoing public discourse surrounding the claims and counterclaims by Mrs. Tracy Ohiri.

“Ordinarily, this would have been ignored, but in the interest of truth and public clarity, it is necessary to address the issues directly”, the statement read.

The statement clarified that Barrister Abubakar acted in good faith and without any financial interest, motivated solely by a desire to assist Mrs Ohiri.

At no point did the lawyer discuss or negotiate any payment with the minister, although some well-meaning associates independently offered support”, the statement added.

Senator Umahi reiterated the conditions for resolving the matter: either the claims must be tested in court, or Mrs Ohiri must provide credible evidence, including all relevant communications, to substantiate her allegations.

The minister emphasised that Barr Abubakar conducted himself with integrity throughout the process.

“Following the failure to meet these conditions, particularly the inability to provide verifiable evidence, the Minister has directed his legal team to proceed with all court processes to ensure the truth is fully established,” the statement said.

Senator Umahi said despite years of public provocations and attacks, he chose to remain silent, focusing on national and state services.

He thanked Nigerians who had taken time to assess the facts and noted that “not everyone who presents themselves as a victim truly is one, and in some cases, narratives are deliberately inverted.”

The Minister affirmed that he will not be distracted by Mrs Ohiri’s allegations and remained committed to his mandate at the Ministry of Works.

“The focus remains on results, service, and ensuring that Nigerians continue to benefit from projects that improve connectivity, economic growth, and national development. This administration will continue to pursue its transformation agenda with dedication, transparency, and an unwavering sense of responsibility,” he concluded.

Politics

COURT ADJOURNS RIVERS PDP LEADERSHIP SUIT TO APRIL 14

Published

3 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned proceedings in a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to April 14, 2026, for the hearing of all pending motions.

Justice Stephen Jumbo made the pronouncement during a recent sitting in Port Harcourt.

The suit, which borders on the legitimacy of the party’s leadership structure in the state, was instituted against the factional State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Aaron Chukwuemeka, alongside the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and other respondents.

Also joined in the matter are the PDP as a corporate entity, the Rivers State Government, as well as Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas, including their respective Vice Chairmen and Councillors.

The claimants, Enyi Uchechukwu, Wisdom Kalio and Uche Amadi, approached the court via an originating summons seeking judicial interpretation on the validity of actions taken by the Chief Chukwuemeka-led state executive committee of the party.

Central to the dispute is whether the said executive committee, whose emergence the claimants contend has been nullified by a subsisting court judgment, retains the legal authority to act on behalf of the party in critical electoral matters.

The plaintiffs specifically urged the court to determine whether the factional leadership could validly submit a list of candidates to RSIEC for the purpose of participating in local government elections.

They further questioned the legitimacy of the PDP’s participation in the August 30, 2025 local government elections, contending that any list purportedly submitted by the factional leadership was invalid and of no legal consequence.

In addition to the declaratory reliefs sought, the claimants also prayed the court to grant consequential orders addressing the outcome and conduct of the said elections across the affected local government areas.

At the resumed hearing, counsel representing the PDP and the affected local government councils informed the court that they had only recently been served with the originating processes and accompanying documents.

The defence team, comprising several Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), disclosed that service of the court processes was effected on March 13, 2026, leaving them with limited time to adequately prepare their responses.

Consequently, the defence counsel applied for an adjournment to enable them study the processes and address the legal issues raised, particularly as they relate to jurisdictional questions and points of law.

Counsel to the claimants, Glory Chizim-Chinda, did not oppose the application, following which the presiding judge granted the request and adjourned the matter to April 14, 2026, for the hearing of all pending motions, with a possible ruling expected ahead of the substantive suit.

By: King Onunwor

Politics

NIGERIA HAS NO VIABLE OPPOSITION, RIVERS EX-LEGISLATOR LAMENTS

Published

3 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

A former state lawmaker in the old the Rivers State, Professor Alex Eseimokumo, has described Nigerian opposition political parties as mere preposition political parties.

He also advised the country’s electorate against selling their votes during next year’s general elections.

The former legislator, who is also the president of the Institute for Peace, Conflict Resolution and Entrepreneurial Research, said this in an exclusive interview with The Tide on the sidelines of an event organized by the institute in Port Harcourt.

He said opposition political parties in Nigeria have been reduced to preposition political parties as most of them are not only dinning with the government but advising government on what to do to win election.

“The problem in Nigeria is we are not practicing politics the way it is supposed to be.The opposition are more in preposition.

“You see, opposition is supposed to find out things that are wrong in government but in our present day politics, you see opposition even dinning with the other group. So, there is basically nothing like opposition in Nigeria “, he said.

He lamented a situation where some individuals within the opposition are allegedly working hard to prevent their parties from fielding presidential candidates in the forthcoming election, adding that such individuals were only there to protect their personal interest.

Prof. Eseimokumo said as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he could not wish his party to fail in the election, even though nothing is impossible in Nigeria.

He noted that though the government in power has been trying it’s best, there was more to be done.

In his words, “I’m an APC member, so I don’t have the right to criticize my party but a word of advice: we still need to do more, more people oriented leadership where everybody will feel carried along.

“For now, I’m campaigning for APC to be re elected and if I stand here to say APC is not doing well, I’m not being fair to myself. But I think, with God all things are possible, there can be changes”.

On his assessment of the performances of governors of the Niger Delta states, Prof Eseimokumo said the governors were doing well within the limit of their resources.

” I don’t know what is given to them as allocation, but if what we are seeing in terms of window dressing is not window shopping, then they are doing well”, he said.

Meanwhile, Prof. Eseimokumo has advised Nigerian electorates against selling their votes during the forthcoming elections.

He said credible election could only be achieved when the electorates refuse financial inducement during the elections.

According to him, though Nigerian voters had been difficult to persuade, the time had come for them to stop selling their votes.

Prof. Eseimokumo said the forthcoming elections will serve as a litmus test for the Nigerian electorate to demonstrate their desire for changes in the country, stressing that free and fair elections will continue to be a mirage in the country until the was a change in the attitude of the electorate.

“If you want your vote to count, don’t take money from anybody; if you want your votes to count, don’t collect money for your vote. The moment you collect money for your vote, you have sold your conscience”, he warned.

He said his institute will continue to work for peace, not just in the Niger Delta region but across Nigeria.

By: John Bibor