Politics
2019 Polls: The Looming Dark Clouds
When people who love the country say that the issue of electoral violence is mostly caused or funded by the elites in the society, especially well placed politicians that have immunity from prosecution is not far fetched from the truth.
Hate speech, intolerance to divergent view,s and the fear of contesting in a free and fair elections are all seen as threats to the status quo.
In Nigeria, no politician likes to lose in any election, if he or she loses, than it is rigged, but if the person wins it is free, fair and credible.
But the most worrisome trends as the presidential election gets nearer, are the high level of threats, hate speeches, childish behaviour exhibited and false rumours spread by the political class.
Some of the ugly incidents being experienced in this present political dispensation that seems not to go away is the issue of intimidation and childish behaviour meted out to political opponents in Kano, Kaduna and Lagos States. In Lagos State the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Peter Obi and the gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje, were locked out of the trade fair complex when they went there to campaign and it took the intervention of the state police commissioner for them to be allowed to use the venue.
Also this week Tuesday the Kano State Governor Alhaji Abdulahi Gunduje ordered closure of two major stadiums in Kano city for renovation.
The order is coming just five days to the scheduled campaign rally of the PDP Presidential Candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
A Similar scenario had also played out in 2015 in Rivers State when the then commissioner for information and communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari said the Rivers State government had put under lock and key the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for renovation few days before the campaign rally of President Goodluck Jonathan in Port Harcourt. It seems that there is something seriously wrong with some of our politicians, because they don’t really realise the consequences of their actions while they are in their lofty and dreamy palaces, Power is transient and will continue to be transient as there is life beyond politics.
From 1999 to date, how many people who started the journey are still holding political offices as presidents, ministers, governors, commissioners or legislators or even party offices? Very few!!!.
Another worrisome scenario is the recent threat issued by the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, that any foreigner election observer who interfered in the forthcoming elections will leave the country in a body bag. This threat is not only a hate and violence initiating speech but shameful to the country. And rather than condemn this gutter language, his party, the APC has kept MUM.
In a civilised society El-Rufai should have been sanctioned by his party, but here in Nigeria, provided you are in the ruling political party or in the good books of the powers you can do no wrong.
The ruling party at the federal level should reflect back if it has conscience, that in 2014 it advocated for foreign observers to monitor the elections of 2015 and was crying to the high heavens that the then ruling party, the PDP, intended to rig the elections.
Surprisingly today, that APC is in power, its body language, actions and comments seem to indicate that it does not want anything like opposition political parties in the country. And if there is to be an election, it must win. So threat to opposition figures, political, parties the judiciary and now that of the international observers, is normal.
This attitude, or hypocrisy to issues of national importance is why Nigeria according to the late musical maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kut is a ‘’Big Blind country’’ where nothing works.
Elections should be seen as a sporting event where someone wins another loses, based on skills and hardwork like in football or any track event. It should be competitive to bring out the best in us. We cannot afford to stand aloof and allow people without the necessary skills to continue to run the affaires of this country, no matter the political leaning or affiliation.
The beauty of democracy is the conduct of elections where individuals cast their ballots to choose who will represent them. And the essence of this, is the freedom to exercise that franchise without any intimidation from organs of the state.
Do we claim that our politicians are now matured? The answer is unequivocally no. Meanwhile, in its reaction to the recent happenings in the country, the election observer team has expressed concern on the issue of the independence of the judiciary and the threat of violence by Mallam Nasir El Rufai. It said, it has been observing elections in Nigeria since 1999 and the forthcoming elections will be the sixth in the country and said that threats would not deter it from carrying out its function.
It however said it would continue to review its security arrangements before and during the elections.
Why is it that between 1999 and 2015 no one issued a threat to international observers but in 2019 when the APC is in office and is about to contest for election from the position of strength, threats to institutions and to individuals have become the vogue?
For how long shall we continue to address this issue even at the state and local government levels, politicians across the various divide see themselves as enemies instead of competitors for various offices. The name of a political party is just a label of a product or a football team which can be changed at anytime. So the struggle, intimidation, killings in the name of a political party is not necessary. Nigerians must never let themselves down by staking their lives for politicians.
This is 2019, the year when we are expected to renew the mandate of those who claim to govern us.
In the situation whereby they, by their actions, continue to heat up the polity, the consequences will not only be grave but send the signal that all we have gained in the first 16 years of our democracy has now gone down the drain.
There is need for attitudinal change in our psyche, and this call is especially meant for our political class, as the country is on the threshold of making another history of a ruling party which was once in opposition, holding an election in which it is either expected to win or lose.
If the independent electoral commission and the security agencies do a good job and the elections are devoid of manipulations and violence, the message it will send across the globe will be positive, loud and clear that Nigeria has consolidated its democracy. But if the reverse is the case then have to go to the drawing board and begin all over again.
Election is not a do or die affair, but an avenue to widen the horizon of governance by us electing individuals who are capable of providing us with the best necessities of life.
Democracy is about choice, freedom, free speech and making the right decisions without fear and threats.
The hard-won freedom from the military juntas that have ruled should not and never be replaced with a civilian dictatorship. We all should rise up and say Not to politics of hatred and intimidation in Nigeria as we ought to have advanced beyond this primitive level of abuse of privileges bestowed on us.
Tonye Ikiroma-Owiye
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.