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.
Alhaji Abubakar, who is also the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressed that Chief Obasanjo’s latest public outburst against him is yet another failed attempt to rewrite history.
Alhaji Abubakar specifically said that if the true history of Chief Obasanjo’s political journey is ever written—free from selective recollection and personal bitterness, he (Atiku) would feature prominently as one of those whom God used to change the course of his (Obasanjo) life and political career.
These were contained in a statement the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the former Vice President, Mr Phrank Shaibu, released in which Atiku said he watched the former President’s interview with profound sadness, but not anger, because it reflected the disposition of a man who has allowed personal resentment to cloud historical truth.
Alhaji Abubakar said the genesis of Chief Obasanjo’s hostility towards him is well known to Nigerians, stressing that he is proud that he stood against the third-term agenda and stood by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the words of Alhaji Abubakar: “I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition. If Chief Obasanjo’s bitterness stems from my refusal to support an unconstitutional third term, then I wear that resentment as a badge of honour.
“No individual, regardless of his status or accomplishments, is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution is supreme, and I chose Nigeria over personal loyalty”.
Alhaji Abubakar noted that the struggle against the third-term agenda was never about two individuals, but about preserving Nigeria’s constitutional democracy for future generations.
He said: “The Nigerian people won that battle. Democracy won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict. It Is therefore unfortunate that the same man whose unconstitutional ambition was resisted now seeks to sit in judgment over those who defended the Constitution”.
The ADC Presidential candidate said it was particularly instructive that barely twenty-four hours before Chief Obasanjo’s latest outburst, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, publicly paid glowing tribute to the economic management team he led, describing it as “the best Nigeria has ever had”.
“Whether or not the timing is merely coincidental is for Nigerians to judge. What is beyond dispute, however, is that while distinguished Nigerians who served at the highest levels continue to acknowledge my contributions to one of Nigeria’s most successful periods of economic management, Chief Obasanjo appears determined to diminish them.
“Chief Obasanjo may choose not to appreciate my role in building one of Nigeria’s most prosperous economic eras, but history has been far kinder. The record speaks for itself, and so do the testimonies of those who worked closely with that administration,” he said.
Alhaji Abubakar further stated that Nigerians also deserve to remember the other side of history which Chief Obasanjo conveniently omits, saying: “History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom”.
He further said: “When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing.
“Beyond that, I mobilised political structures, built alliances and made enormous personal and political sacrifices that culminated in his emergence as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Alhaji Abubakar, however, said he harbours no regrets over any of those acts.
According to him: “Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. When God gives you the opportunity to lift another human being, you do so without expecting repayment. Acts of kindness are matters of conscience, not commercial transactions”.
He added, however, that gratitude should never be replaced with revisionism.
Alhaji Abubakar particularly expressed disappointment that, at a time when Nigeria is battling economic hardship, mass unemployment, insecurity and widespread despair, a former President would devote so much energy to recycling old grudges instead of contributing solutions to the country’s challenges.
In the words of Atiku: “The 2027 election should be about rebuilding Nigeria, restoring security, reviving the economy and giving hope to the next generation—not reopening old political wounds”.
The former Vice President said he had deliberately maintained restraint over the years out of respect for the office Chief Obasanjo once occupied and in deference to the relationship they once shared.
He said: “That restraint should never be mistaken for weakness or docility. There comes a point when silence in the face of repeated distortions of history ceases to be a virtue. While I have no desire to engage in a public quarrel with a man I once stood beside in his most difficult moments, neither will I permit falsehoods, half-truths and calculated attempts to rewrite history to go unanswered.
“Chief Obasanjo is entitled to his opinions. He is entitled to his personal grievances. What he is not entitled to, are his own facts,” Alhaji Abubakar insisted.
The ADC presidential candidate reaffirmed that his attention remains firmly fixed on Nigeria’s future.
According to him; “I have chosen the path of service over resentment, vision over vendetta and national renewal over personal recrimination. Those who mistake my civility for capitulation, or my restraint for weakness, make a grave mistake.
“History is stubborn. It cannot be rewritten by bitterness, nor erased by repeated falsehoods. In the end, history will render its verdict—and so will the Nigerian people,” he stated.
According to the electoral umpire, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, and end on January 15, 2027, exactly 24 hours before the elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
INEC also announced that campaigns for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will begin on September 9, 2026, and conclude on February 5, 2027, ahead of the polls slated for February 6, 2027.
The commission explained that the campaign schedule complies with the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that electioneering activities must not begin earlier than 150 days before an election and must end at least 24 hours before voting.
INEC urged political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to strictly adhere to the approved timetable and conduct their campaigns in accordance with the law, while encouraging the public to obtain electoral information only from its official communication channels to avoid misinformation.
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