Politics
A Case For Political Order In Nigeria
One thing that has probably seemed odd in the political system of Nigeria is that some things we do are not always thought of as “politics”. There is therefore, some variation in the understanding of politics.
Thus, when we talk about office politics, campus politics, church politics, family, workplace politics and so on, we mean activities that fit into the definition of politics to enhance common decisions for groups of people.
But in the real sense of the word, politics, we often refer only to that kind that has to do with governance in the State. State in this sense refers to a country, such as Nigeria.
Democracy is widely seen as government by the majority, which can be christened “popular power” in accordance with the popular definition by its being “government of the people, for the people and by the people”.
Aristotle, in his “No friend to democracy”, said “democracy exists where the sovereign authority is composed of the poorer classes, not the owners of property”.
Democracy began and reached its peak in ancient Athens. With the decline of Athens, it automatically declined. Athenians held that a life deprived of direct involvement in rulership is without merit, for the citizens involvement in the exercise of sovereignty is the major business of life.
Democracy requires the consent of the governed, formal political equality, inalienable human rights, including the right to political participation, accountability of power to the governed and the rule of law.
This means strict adherence to the principle of equality as well as the rule of law.
The importance of equality is underlined by the tradition of filling offices by lot, the rotation of offices and the adoption of very short tenure to enable as many people as possible to take a turn or participate in holding offices.
Unfortunately, the concept of democracy has been bitterly abused or bastardised in Nigeria to this day. The players know about it but do not give a damn. They are in the least confused about the meaning of democracy and merely address themselves to the idea of popular power which sparks off criticisms and fear among the ruled and opponents.
The practice of democracy in Nigeria has become merely the formation of multiparty for electoral competition rather than adopting the doctrines and theories which are regarded as the classics of liberal democracy.
The founding fathers of Nigeria’s democracy took the momentous historical step of challenging the consensus on the meaning of democracy instead of merely denouncing democracy as being done by the present crop of politicians who use it harmfully.
In Nigeria, democracy has in some degree been reduced to an ideological representation without well internalised realities and serious considerations. There is little or no political order in the Nigerian system. What we have is political disorder.
According to Thomas Hobbes, human nature demands political order, for humans are irresistibly egotistical. For Nigerian politicians, their existence is a continuous striving for the satisfaction of an endless stream of desires, a striving that ends only in death.
The current situation in the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is putting the country’s democracy in question. The crisis in the party is a crisis in democracy. Democracy is the unifying discourse which is supposed to tame national and international politics to foster peaceful co-existence in a country.
It has been globalised to the point that it is no longer threatening to the political elites around the world, but unfortunately, Nigerian politicians have trivialised it and do not embrace it the way it should be. People no longer enjoy political legitimacy without being subjected to the notorious inconveniences of its practice.
The leadership of the PDP in collaboration with the government should concentrate on improving the economic activities of the country, create employment for the teeming unemployed graduates and skilled youths, and ensure the security of lives and properly of the citizenry while avoiding undue destructive issues that can only bring unnecessary consequences to the people.
Exerting or creating unnecessary authority with unacceptable rules obstruct development and cause division between states and people. We should try to exploit the available riches and opportunities at our disposals to better the situation of the country as well as create a synergy that would promote unity, freedom and peace.
Nigeria’s political problems are largely home-grown and blamed on the rulers. Our rulers rule by corruption, oppression and deceit. Despite Nigeria’s wealth, its citizenry are wallowing in abject poverty and hunger as a result of long neglect, inefficiency and unwise investments by the government.
The country is frighteningly lawless and blatantly corrupt with ethnic divisions and mistrust. Nigeria is seen and known to be playing a positive role in African affairs, and, perhaps, in world affairs too, and putting lots of energy and money into other countries affairs.
The country so dominates the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that this organisation would have been boneless without Nigeria. It is a member of the AU, Commonwealth, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as well as the UN, and is active in a unique sample of international organisation.
Though the country’s political and economic problems are largely home-grown, the colonial past bear some responsibilities, but receding ones. The military era were controlled by rulers without political experience or with minimal experience of governance and precarious authority.
Their authority was personal, derived from charisma or rank, so that the choice for the people, so far as they had a choice, lay between the demagogue and the general. Some were good, some were bad, but all lacked systematic political backing.
They were obliged, therefore, to rely on their wits or swords. The natural outcome of any regime without focus becomes either an entrenched tyranny or constant shifts and instability while freedoms are curtailed or abused on the plea that the autocrat or the one party state would be more efficient.
But such regimes failed to deliver the goods. Industrial and commercial failure became the order of the day-roads and educational institutions decayed, and the health system deteriorated, with corruption at all levels and sectors thriving.
The instability of the Nigerian State and its disappointing performance are due to the kind of leader who power poverty, corruption and crime in swollen proportions. They indulge in u-conceived and ill-managed economic policies which produce crippling external debts.
This is against the principles of a strong economy, which is the prime element in political power and in the public glare, while economic weakness and inequality promote disorders.
The political independence and sovereignty of Nigeria had not been able to assuage the height of poverty plaguing the citizenry and remove dependence on other counties. The country’s trading system among other trading nations still suffers some barriers in tariffs and quotas as the economy weakens day by day, despite the fact that Nigeria has entered the international economy.
Worse still, the country’s economic ties with other nations are not properly protected due to the corrupt tendencies of our leaders.
Nigerian manufacturers are ill-equipped for international economic competition and they produce inelastic goods for which demand (except in the case of oil is less than world standards. The effects of economic recession is clearly marked on the faces of majority of the nation’s populace and there is desperate poverty, in some areas famine.
The rich are getting richer, while the poor soar in abject poverty. Governments at all levels have talked for decades about poverty eradication without implementing the policies.
The time is, therefore ripe for new measures to be devised principally
Shedie Okpara
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.