Nation
Don’t Truncate Democracy, Lawmaker Charges Opposition
A two-term Lagos lawmaker of Igbo extraction, Mr Jude Idimogu, says politicians against the victory of Sen. Bola Tinubu at the February 25 Presidential election must avoid actions capable of truncating democracy.
Idimogu, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, told The Tide source last Saturday in Lagos that aggrieved politicians must be cautious so as not to let down the roof.
The lawmaker, also Deputy Apex Leader, Ndigbo in Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), was reacting to politicians kicking against the planned inauguration of the President-elect on May 29.
According to Idimogu, any politician who finds it difficult to accept defeat is not fit to lead the country, because such attitude reveals their other side if they win.
He said: “Nothing will happen, Tinubu will be sworn in as President come May 29. Nigeria does not belong to an individual or a cabal.
“It belongs to the people of this country. Let those who are pained by the outcome of the election guard their utterances.
“Those vying for the position of President should not be seen making senseless and insensitive statements.
“Let those who lost be tolerant and exhibit sportsmanship. If you lose an election, don’t bring down the roof, just wait for another four years.
“Nobody should end democracy. All of us have interest in this country and we appreciate democracy. Some people worked hard for it. God will punish whoever that wants to truncate it”.
The lawmaker urged the aggrieved politicians to guard their utterances so as not to truncate the democracy the nation’s founding fathers fought and died for.
According to him, Nigerians should see anyone that wants to truncate democracy as enemy of the nation.
Urging the aggrieved to calm down, Idimogu said, “if you don’t win today, you can win another time, just wait till another four years”.
He urged the opposition not to stampede the judiciary and create confusion.
“We are talking about one Nigeria. Politicians should be calm. We want peace in this land”, Idimogu said.
The source reports that anti-Tinubu protesters have intermittently taken to the streets of Abuja, kicking against the inauguration of the President-elect on May 29.
Operating under the aegis of the National Youth League for the Defence of Democracy (NYLDD), they demanded the invocation of an Interim National Government (ING) to conduct a fresh presidential poll.
They also asked for the sacking of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
