Politics
Echoes From NPSA Conference In PH …Dialogue Needed To Douse Tension – Prof Shuaibu Ibrahim
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
Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar
A press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Mr Linus Obogo, disclosed that the Calabar Centre — designated as Centre B — will host representatives and stakeholders from Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
The public hearing is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Transcorp (Metropolitan) Hotel, Calabar.
The initiative, according to the statement, is designed to promote inclusive dialogue and capture the aspirations of Nigerians from all regions.
It aims to serve as a platform for citizens to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national efforts to refine and strengthen the country’s legal and institutional frameworks.
“Citizens, civil society groups, professional bodies, traditional rulers, and other interest blocs are invited to participate in this landmark engagement aimed at advancing a more just, equitable, and responsive Nigerian Constitution,” the statement read.
The hearing forms part of the broader review process of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and is seen as a strategic move toward fostering national unity and addressing structural legal issues within the federation.
For the first time since 2022, when then-presidential aspirant Alhaji Bola Tinubu declared he made former President Buhari Nigeria’s President in 2015, Mr Mustapha dismissed the claims, stressing that the merger only contributed about three million votes in addition to Buhari’s existing 12 million votes in the North.
He insisted that former President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to the breakthrough, not the three million votes from the merging parties, which he described as insignificant.
Speaking on the role of the merging parties, particularly President Tinubu, the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Mustapha, who was the keynote speaker at the launch of the book ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience’ authored by Mallam Garba Shehu, described the impact of the votes from other merging parties as very insignificant.
In attendance were former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, chair of the event; immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu; PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; former Chief of Staff to Buhari Ibrahim Gambari; elder statesman Babagana Kingibe; former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Raji Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); former ministers Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare; former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, and Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman, among others.
According to Mr Mustapha, “I do not intend to stir up any controversy. The merger in 2013 was midwifed to create a Buhari presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo-Buhari presidential contest where Buhari recorded 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, and it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.
“When we were conceptualising the merger, what would give us a headstart? Obviously, it was at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), though it had only one state, the ACN had six states, ANPP three states, and when you sum up the total votes that we had as the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million.
“So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was three million. Before turning to that presidency, it is important to recognise the former President’s role in reshaping Nigeria’s political trajectory.
“In early 2013, as the leader of the CPC, Buhari formally requested and supported the creation of a CPC merger committee, part of a broader coalition-building process that brought together the ACN, ANPP, APGA faction, and elements of the ruling party through the breakaway ‘new PDP’ group. His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the APC. That coalition-building paved the way for the first democratic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in Nigeria’s history.
“President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to that breakthrough. No account of President Buhari’s tenure would be complete without acknowledging the extended periods he spent on medical leave. These moments, while politically delicate, were also telling of his leadership philosophy and personality,” he said.
In his remarks, President Tinubu promised to build on the legacies of former President Buhari, stressing that “nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next.
“In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just, and inclusive Nigeria—a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens”.
Speaking during an appearance on live television on Wednesday, Mr Omokri alleged that Mr Obi’s statements were misleading and damaging to the country’s economic prospects.
Mr Omokri said some investors currently operating in Nigeria were considering exiting the market due to Mr Obi’s remarks.
“That is not true. He doesn’t rile me up. I rile him up. The reason why I came here is because I’m a patriot. Peter Obi lied. You know, foreign direct investors are watching your programme, who are making investment decisions not to come to Nigeria. There are foreign investors in Nigeria that are making investment decisions to leave Nigeria because of the lie he told.
“One of the lies he told is that President Tinubu has borrowed more than the administrations of Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari. That is a blatant lie”, Mr Omokri said.
To buttress his claims, Mr Omokri referenced figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), maintaining that President Tinubu had actually reduced Nigeria’s external debt burden since assuming office.
“I have here with me data from the Debt Management Office, and Nigerians who are watching can go to DMO.com and search Debt Management Office, Nigeria State of Indebtedness 2015.
“As of 2015, Nigeria was owing a total of $63 billion. When Buhari was leaving office, Nigeria was owing $113 billion. Today, from the DMO, our debt has gone from $113 billion to $97 billion, meaning that Tinubu has reduced our debt by over $14 billion.
“We should be appreciating this man. Yet Peter Obi came here and lied to the Nigerian people. He took the debts and translated them into naira to make it look like the debts have increased”, he said.
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