Politics
Re-Enacting June 12
Last Wednesday, pro-democracy and civil society groups in different parts of the country recalled with disgust one of the darkest chapters in the political evolution of the Nigerian state- the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
That election was adjudged the freest and fairest in the history of the country and was widely believed to have been won by the presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawole Abiola.
Trouble started when a group known as Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) under the leadership of Senator Arthur Nzeribe approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking for an injunction to restrain the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from conducting the election on the premise that 25 million Nigerians wanted the military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda to continue to rule the country in the next four years.
While most Nigerians dismissed Nzeribe and his co-travellers as political jesters and rabble-rousers, the presiding judge, Justice Bassey Ikpeme was of the view that the matter was justiceable and the litigants must be given fair hearing. After all said and done she delivered a rulling that the election should not hold, thus throwing the nation into fits of delirium.
However, respite came when NEC re-assured Nigerians that the election would hold as scheduled. NEC’s announcement also disabused the minds of those who alluded the happenings to a ploy by the military junta to hold on to power.
To demonstrate their discontent for the prolonged military rule in the country, Nigerians for the first time in the history of the country jettisoned their tribal cleavages religious beliefs and political affiliations and voted for the candidates of their choice.
The following day results from 30 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory were in the public domain. Chief M.K.O Abiola had a clean sweep of the poll, waiting for NEC to formally declare him the winner of the most credible election in the country.
Surprisingly, there was a miserable development as ABN in furtherance of its diabolical plot against the Nigerian state and its people secured injunction from a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Dahiru Saleh ordering NEC to stop further announcement of the results. NEC therefore, was compelled by the federal military government to comply with the court order. Few days later, Gen. Babaginda hit the nail into the coffin by announcing the annulment of the election for spurious reasons.
Angered by the truncation of the democratic process in the country, pro-democracy and civil society groups as well as the Nigerian press decided to wage a bloodless war against anti-democratic forces which the military junta and its hirelings symbolised.
As a renowned military officer and coupist, Gen. Babaginda knew when to beat a retreat to save himself from imminent danger. For a man who had ruled one of the “richest” black nations in the world for eight years, he knew it was time to step aside in the comfort of his personal abode to enable him count his blessings. So, he stepped aside.
But Chief Abiola was not one to be cowed by the military junta to forgo the mandate that was freely given to him by Nigerians to liberate them from the state of hopelessness and helplessness as encapsulated in his campaign slogan “Hope 93.” He fought and paid the supreme price for democracy to be institutionalised in Nigeria.
Regrettably, twenty years after the annulment of June 12 election, Nigeria is returning to the path of insanity and ignominy that led to the painful death of many citizens of self-styled giant of Africa, because of selfish, unpatriotic and mindless actions of our past leaders.
What is happening in the Nigeria Governors Forum is a harbinger of what the world should expect from the so-called leaders in 2015. Since May 24, when the governors conducted election to choose their leaders, the NGF has been polarized, because the preferred candidate of the presidency and the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was defeated by a popular candidate who secured majority of the votes. Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was re-elected, having polled 19 votes against Jonah Jang’s 16 in an election that was acknowledged by many Nigerians who watched the video recording both in social and national media as free and fair.
This was against the backdrop of alleged irregularity by anti-Amaechi governors. The plank of their argument was that Governor Jang was endorsed by 19 governors poior to the election and wondered why his endorsement should not take precedence over electoral process in a democratic setting.
Election is part and pareel of a democratic culture. A situation where some of the political leaders declare a winner in an electoral contest before the election proper bespeak of evil days ahead.
A situation where the actual winner in an electoral contest and his supporters are persecuted by the powers-that-be for exercising their constitutional rights is not healthy for the nation’s democracy.
A situation where flimsy reasons were given to decredit a transparent electoral process that returned Governor Amaechi to power as chairman of NGF reminds one of the spurious reasons adduced by the military junta in the annulment of the June 12 election. Nigeria cannot walk that path again. Our votes must count.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has approved the release of N15.6 billion for the payment of outstanding severance gratuities, accommodation, and leave allowances owed to over N3,000 former councillors across the State’s 44 local government areas.
The approved payment covers councillors who served during the periods of 2014–2017, 2018–2020, and 2021–2024 under the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. The entitlements, which remained unpaid for years, will now be disbursed in three installments between April and June 2025.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information to the Governor, Ibrahim Adam, the administration described the move as a corrective measure to address the neglect of past leadership and fulfil a promise to ensure fairness to public office holders.
“The approval of N15.6 billion is in fulfilment of Governor Abba K. Yusuf’s commitment to ensuring that all outstanding entitlements owed to our dedicated public servants are fully paid. It is a matter of principle and justice to uphold the dignity of those who have served in elected positions”, Mr Adam said.
He noted that the financial intervention reflects the governor’s broader vision of governance rooted in fairness, accountability, and public trust.
“His Excellency recognises the sacrifices and dedication of these former councillors. This action is part of a larger effort to right the wrongs of the past and restore faith in public administration,” he added.
Local government officials and affected former councillors have welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue and a step toward healing the financial frustrations of many grassroots leaders.
Governor Yusuf’s administration, elected on a different political platform than his predecessor, continues to draw commendation for its proactive efforts to resolve inherited liabilities and improve the welfare of public servants.
As the payment schedule begins, it is expected that this intervention will offer financial relief to thousands and stimulate local economic activity across the state.
Politics
Gunmen Disrupt Political Rally In Bayelsa ….As Turnah, Others Emerge New Associates’Leaders
Scores of spectators and political faithful were hospitalised after a yet to be identified gunmen invaded a rally organised by a group loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Part of the activities scheduled to hold at the occasion was the inauguration ceremony of the Bayelsa State chapter of the ‘New Associates’, a pro-Wike political forum.
The Tide which monitored the event reports that trouble started just at the preparatory stages of the event, when the unidentified gunmen launched sporadic gunshots from a farm close to the venue of the event, injuring unsuspecting spectators and party faithful across party lines.
However, calm was restored after a swift intervention by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security formations which enabled the event to go on as planned.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after restoration of calm, factional South-South zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the State’s chapter of the party, Barrister George Turnah, commended security operatives for their timely response.
He noted that the plan of detractors had been defeated as forces loyal to certain individuals in the State never wanted the rally to hold as scheduled.
Turnah, who doubles as Convener of the ‘New Associates’ in the State, commended President Tinubu and Chief Wike for the appointment and facilitating the same for Ijaws across the Niger Delta region.
He said, but for the love of the duo for the Ijaw people of various extractions, the Presidency would not have given preferential political portfolios in the Federal Government’s Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to Ijaws even though the ethnic nationality produces bulk of the natural resources for the economic mainstay of the nation.
The PDP chieftain reiterated that the reason for the event which was attended across party lines was to say ‘thank you’ to the two political leaders, stressing that to ‘whom much is given, much was expected’.
“For me, I’m of the larger opposition party, PDP. But I’ve decided to support and work for President Tinubu for what he is doing for the Ijaw nation, Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general.
“President Tinubu has given Bayelsans and other Ijaws across the Niger Delta region several juicy political appointments. He appointed our brother and son, Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of Petroleum even though former President Muhammadu Buhari had previously appointed a Bayelsan as Petroleum Minister in his government.
“Apart from the Petroleum Minister, Tinubu has also appointed Ijaw sons, Chief Boma Iyaye as Executive- Director, Finance, and Dr Samuel Ogbuku as Managing-Director and CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“Though former President Buhari had appointed Ogbuku initially in Acting capacity, when President Tinubu came, even after sacking all board members of the Commission, he still kept our brother, the MD and upon the completion of his tenure in Acting capacity, the President again reappointed him as substantive MD/CEO.
“But there’s one man who has made all these appointments for Ijaws possible. He is the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Ijaw people, Bayelsans are we not enjoying these appointments?
“Has the NDDC not lit up the entire Niger Delta region? Are you not feeling the impact of the Ogbuku-led NDDC? So for me and all the members of the New Associates we’ve decided to support President Tinubu for a second tenure so that our state and region can benefit more from his government”, he said.
“We want Governor Douye Diri to tell us his stand on the forthcoming 2027 general election. He should tell us whether he is supporting the President or not. If he’s supporting the President, we’ll work with him. After all, Diri was the first Governor from the South-South zone that benefitted from the President’s magnanimity during the 2023 elections and even in terms of infrastructure projects and appointments of Bayelsans at the Federal level”, Barr Turnah added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, and leader, Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPCO), Senator George Sekibo, lauded President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for their love and friendship with the Ijaw people.
Represented by former Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Roland Sekibo, Senator Sekibo said the ‘New Associates’ political forum was to galvanize support for the President for his 2027 election.
He said while President Tinubu had performed well as Nigeria’s leader, the FCT Minister had continued to show leadership from the federal level after showing the same in Rivers State while serving as governor.
“I like to thank the convener of the ‘New Associates’ political forum in Bayelsa State, Barr. George Turnah (MON) and the Coordinators for standing firm in spite of threats from highly placed political leaders not to hold this event.
“Love is not theoretically, but must be expressed, which explains why they have gathered to celebrate their Excellencies, President Tinubu and Barr. Ezewon Nyesom Wike for the various roles they have played and have continued to play to ensure the appointment of Ijaw sons and daughters to positions of trust and authority at the federal level.
“The ‘New Associates’ is in synergy with President Tinubu and will continue to follow directives from the FCT Minister who has openly declared support for Mr. President”, he said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State, Mr Titus Odo, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Odo defected to the PDP on Wednesday alongside the former Commissioner for Chieftancy Affairs in the State, Emeka Mamah, who was the state Coordinator of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign in the 2023 presidential election.
The duo dumped the PDP during the 2023 general elections for the Labour Party.
Receiving the defectors at the party’s state secretariat, the state PDP Chairman, Martin Chukwunwike, expressed happiness over their decision to return to their former party.
He explained that Governor Peter Mbah gave them the directive to do everything possible to bring back aggrieved party members who left the party.
“We are happy to have them in our midst, and God has set this party on a good footing, as 2027 is already assured,” he said.
The PDP chairman, however, called for unity within the party to package themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during their presentation to the party state chairman, Mr Odo expressed joy for returning to his former party, revealing that Mr Mbah’s massive development in the State informed his decision.
“I am happy to tell you that I am back to my home. I came back because of the giant development strides of Governor Mbah and I say kudos to him.
“The second reason is the defection of my immediate boss, the LP governorship candidate for the 2023 election in Enugu State, Dr Chijioke Edeoga.
“Another reason is that the council chairman in Igboeze North, Mr Uchenna Ogara, is turning the council area into a township,” he said.
Mr Mamah also thanked the PDP leadership in Igboeze North, Enugu North Senatorial zone and the state chapter of the party for receiving him back to the party.
He extolled Mr Mbah for extending hands of fellowship to those who had left the party, saying, “Personally, I am pleased with the performances of our governor.”