Politics
Grievances Waited For Too Long To Be Addressed – Prof Anthony Ibe
Our dear country Nige
ria and the rest of Africa today face a multiplicity of political, economic, social, environmental, security and cultural challenges that have disrupted our developmental efforts at all levels of governance and social engineering and eroded our identity. Violent conflicts associated with the unremitting struggle for power and scarce resources often result in costly crises at the national and continental levels. As we are all too aware, the African continent is not poor on account of lack of resources; rather, we are victims of ‘resource cause’ and poor leadership that have combined to impoverish our people, who are compelled to helplessly watch this shameful power struggle amongst their insensitive elite classes from the sidelines for too long.
What end should politics serve in contemporary times? As two famous Colombian University scholars, Daron Acemoglo and lames Robinson note in their explosive book appropriately entitled: Why Nations Fail, describe politics as process by which society chooses the rules that will govem it. Politics, according to them, surrounds institutions for the simple reason that institutions may be good for the economic prosperity of a nation, some people or groups, such as the elites of the ruling party or common citizens. Conflicts usually plays out in favour of the powerful groups in any society. It, therefore, follows that the political institutions that are in operation in any society largely determine the quality of life to be enjoyed by the citizens.
In Nigeria, for instance, the correlation between this unrelenting power struggle amongst the elite class and national underdevelopment is so strong that in many instances, citizens willingly forego their franchise in a desperate attempt to avoid being engulfed in election related conflicts that inevitably result in loss of lives and widespread destruction of property by hired thugs and private armies that are commissioned and armed by these despate professional politicians. For instance, in the build-up to the 2011 and 2015 general elections, there were violent conflicts that posed concerns to Nigerian election managers, the helpless electorate, the international election observers and even analysts in the political science community.
Our situation is worsened by the sad fact that political parties are in a constant state of unhealthy rivalries and Implosion from within. The lack of internal democracy in these parties have left a huge dent in our brand of democratic practice. Our experience is that rather stay put to build a formidable opposition to the ruling party, members troop to the winning party to safeguard their pecuniary interests that are usually at variance with the best interest of the people. A former Senator recently declared and I quote him: Life outside the Senate is very suffocating”. He did not ask the rest of us who may never get near the premises of the Senate how life is treating us. That is the paradox of the Nigerian situation today.
Given the inexplicable desperation of the average Nigerian politician to cling to power with or without the expressed mandate of the electorate, it is only by the special grace of God and a dose of good luck that we have not been consumed by the dire security challenges posed by the insurgency in the North Eastern parts of the country, the unremitting daily violence in the
Middle Belt between farmers and well-armed herdsmen, the agitation of Blafran separatists in the South East and militancy in the Niger Delta.
Now, if we add the rising cases of kidnapping of innocent citizens, especially academics to the tally, the full burden of the various conflicts we face in Nigeria begins to become clear. Wherever you look, there are more than enough centripetal forces lurking in hidden and open places, seeking to dismember our nationhood. Some of these contrived or genuine grievances have waited for too long to be frontally addressed by our. leaders, who appear not to read the warning signals emanating from the various crises flash points.
This Conference is coming at a time when security challenges in our environment, particularly during elections are at their peak. The distasteful phrase: Inconclusive elections, is gradually finding a lasting place in our political lexicon. The increasing violent struggles for power is at the centre of several inconclusive elections in recent times, making it not only impossible for election umpires to discharge their statutory obligations, but also leaving many constituencies without representation at both the State and National Assemblies.
I am also happy to note that in the midst of the contrived chaos that brings us a negative image, countries such as Botswana, Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania, and lately Nigeria, have conducted relatively free and fair elections that resulted in peaceful transfer of power from the ruling party to opposition parties on the continent. We hope that this trend would be replicated in the rest of Africa where leaders sit tight in power
until death do them part with the victims of their high-handedness and family dynasty.
Let me hasten to add that Nigerian political scientists stand in a good position to help the nation overcome these challenges through research and enlightenment programmes. As a nation, our journey to improved socio-political and economic advancement would depend so much on committed scholars like you who have a moral and professional obligation to proffer functional solutions to some of the problems I have outlined above.
Prof Ibe is of the University of Port Harcourt.
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.