Politics
Patience Jonathan’s Love For Power
English poet, essayist,
critic, 1793, Anna Barbauld it was who said that when we carry out eyes back through the long records of our history, we see wars of plunder, wars of conquest, wars of religion, wars of pride, wars of succession, wars of idle speculation, wars of unjust interference, and hardly among them is one war of necessary self-defence in any of our essential or very important interests. Williams Ewart Gladstone also was quoted as saying that we look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessing of peace.
This power of Love, which breeds peace, was exactly what was expected of Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, than the obverse we have been reading in many media outfits especially since 2010 when she visited Okrika and scolded Rivers Governor Chibuike Amaechi as if he was her school pupil, because of waterfront which Amaechi wanted to demolish and restructure, but our big madam said no.
The newest in the humiliating memu of some activities of Mrs Jonathan against Amaechi, was that which appeared with the caption in the newspapers: “Jonathan’s wife aborts APC leaders’ visit to Rivers”. This type of thing does not make some of us who hold women in high esteem happy and peaceful , regarding what Coretta Scott King had told us thus: “I am convinced that the women of the world, united without any regard for national or racial dimension, can become a most powerful force for international peace and brotherhood”. Does this statement about “international peace and brotherhood” concern Mrs Jonathan?
Women are life giver and promoter of peace, but the women who made many thousands of Governor Amaechi’s supporters, who hurricaned the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, on 5th November, to cheer up leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who were visiting the state, to go home disillusioned, is far from the women said to be “life giver and promoter of peace”.
The first woman to enter U.S. House of Representatives in 1917, but lost her seat in congress when she voted against entry in WWI, was Jeanette Rankin, (1880-1973). As if Rankin had Mrs Jonathan at heart, she had said” “You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake”.
And, “the work of educating the world to peace is the women’s job, because men have a natural fear of being classed as cowards if they oppose war”. But is Mrs Jonathan not voting for wars with the way she is going about the politics of this country under her husband’s presidency?
In this case, men in the APC leadership opposed the ‘war’, by shifting their arrival time to the Port Harcourt airport, because Madam Jonathan was returning to Abuja after the burial of her mother, Mrs Oba, in Port Harcourt. We should be ashamed when some of our women want to prove wrong, Olive schreiner, a south African writer-feminist, 1911, as she said: “No tinsel of trumpets and flags will ultimately seduce women into the insanity of recklessly destroying life, or gild the willful taking of life with any other name than that of murder, whether it be the slaughter of the million or of one by one”.
Leo Tolstoy writes in “War and Peace” that “Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the company of intelligent women.” But are Nigerians sure if we are not missing one woman among “the company of intelligent women”, in Nigeria?
Aside politics and whoever that was perceived to be opposing Mr. President; in earnest, general Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.) and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who were billed to visit the Rivers State from the APC, were not just party folks, but among Nigerians leaders and stakeholders and they deserve respect as at when due. So, for Amaechi’s supporters to have been reportedly stopped at the airport roundabout on the ‘orders’ of Mrs Jonathan, was not only insulting but reminds one of what Leo Tolstoy writes in the book: “The whole world is divided for me into two parts: one is she, and there is all happiness, hope, light; the other is where she is not and there is dejection and darkness…”
Even as Mrs Jonathan may be harbouring animosities for Governor Amaechi, from news reports of his humane behaviour at the burial of the mother-in-law of President Jonathan, where Amaechi was said to have traumatized his opponents who had made frenzied efforts to do politics against him with the funeral, showed that he (Amaechi) had forgotten whatever it was that Nigerians thought was between Mrs Jonathan and him. This is how a leader should behave and not be walking with troubles everywhere as we have not stopped to experience around “her Royal Majesty”.
At the interment service of Mrs. Oba held at Okrika National Secondary School, those present said that Governor Amaechi sang and danced more than others in crowd. Chai! “This attracted thunderous ovation from surprised members of the congregation”, said a source. Whereas Mrs Jonathan’s ‘order’ was later at the airport causing what in the eyes of Leo Tolstoy sees as, “We are asleep until we fall in Love!”
Amaechi was also reported to have earlier gone to the airport, Omagwa, to welcome President Jonathan to Rivers State for the burial of his mother-in-law amongst all odds, thereby showcasing Leo Tolstoy’s comment: “Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death.
But to him who does not fear it, everything belongs. If there was no suffering, man would not know his limits, would not know him.”
Amaechi has shown that he has the understanding as could be seen at the burial. But Madam Jonathan has to listen to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s comment: “Peace cannot be achieved though violence, it can only be attained through understanding.” Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” advises us that, “we don’t realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” And, Amaechi is at peace with Mrs Jonathan and self!
In “Letters to a Young Poet” Rainer Maria Rilke counsels us to, “Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart…. Live in the question.”
Governor Amaechi has proved Thomas Jefferson right by being himself in the face of daunting many made challenges. Jefferson had said: “Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” Governor Amaechi has shown to us what is also written in “Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior” by Bohdi Sanders.
It reads: “Never respond to an angry person with a fiery comeback, even if he deserves it… Don’t allow his anger to become your anger.”
Let Mrs Jonathan not see Presidency as the whole world, but should reason this that came from Virginia Woolf who hailed from England (1882-1941), and was also a woman like her.
Woolf said: “If you insist upon fighting to protect me, or ‘our’ country, let it be understood, soberly and rationally between us, that you are fighting to gratify a sex Instinct which I cannot share; to procure benefits which I have not shared and probably will not share; but not to gratify my instincts, or protect either myself or my country. For, the outside will say, in fact, as a woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a women, my country is the whole world…”
Fereshten Gol-Mohammadi from Iran in 1983 directs people like Mrs Jonathan with this line: “If war boosts the economy of the industrial nations that own the war supplies, it smashes the economy of the nations that consume them.” Does Madam Jonathan know that there are younger ones looking up to her as their role model? Regrettably, Julinda Abu Nasr, Lebanon, 1980s, believed, “if a child grows up with the idea of violence, that you get what you can be force, what kind of world will this be?”
Odimegwu Onwumere, Poet/Writer, resides in Rivers State.
Odimegwu Onwumere
Dame Patience Jonathan (middle), with her husband (left) and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, during a public function in Abuja, recently.
He said he would not hesitate to activate the recall process against any lawmaker found wanting, if he returns for a second term in office.
He stated this while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including those who lost out at the recently held national and state assemblies primaries and have become aggrieved and disrespectful to the party.
While emphasizing the supremacy of the party, he said decisions were taken in the overall interest of the party and the state and must, therefore, be respected by all members.
He warned lawmakers against being insolent and arrogant to their people to the extent of shutting them out after each election cycle, saying such would no longer be condoned.
“So I am appealing to all of you. If you were born with arrogance, please just drop that ticket here”, he said.
The governor hinted that after the next cycle of elections, the process of recalling lawmakers who made themselves “tin gods” would be activated.
“Well, they say they don’t recall people from parliament, but this will be the first time.
“Anybody whom the people say they are tired of will be brought back home. Anybody who goes and forgets his people completely and doesn’t care, thinking that during elections he will come and pretend to be a good man, will be brought back.
“And we are making this very, very clear. We will not fail in what we have said. I am working tirelessly; I don’t sleep. If you are going into office during this period, there will be no sleep for you”, he said.
He advised politicians not to ignore their people who hold the power, insisting: “You cannot overlook them and become so arrogant and pompous that you don’t know your people.”
Gov. Otu also advised members of the ruling APC, who lost at the just-concluded party primaries in the state, not to defect to opposition parties like the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that they would suffer untold hardship and would not make any political headway, if they did.
“There are some kwashiorkor parties that are registering people. Such parties are wasting their time and not even my time. They cannot do anything.
“I don’t want anybody to suffer the fate I suffered. That’s why I’m warning those aggrieved aspirants who lost not to go the way of those parties to avoid unnecessary suffering.
“I don’t want anybody to go that route. It’s an absolute waste of time, energy and people’s future, because at the end of the day, you will drag people into that bottomless pit.
“And when you drag them there and can’t take care of them, you begin to rot, you begin to die. May God give me the energy and power to sustain.”
He appealed to the aggrieved APC members, saying: “There’s nothing that we cannot settle. God’s time is the best. Whatever we’ve done is for the common good of all of us.”
2027: INEC APPEALS JUDGMENT ON ELECTION GUIDELINES
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified aspects of the Commission’s 2027 General Election Guidelines.
The appeal, filed before the Court of Appeal, seeks to overturn the judgment delivered on May 20, 2026, by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The trial court had nullified the provision in the guidelines directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as part of the conditions for participation in the 2027 General Election.
The suit challenging the directive was instituted by the Youth Party, which argued that the Commission’s timeline was inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline stipulated under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 regarding the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
However, INEC, through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, filed a notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment.
The Commission also filed a motion seeking an order staying the execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
INEC raised nine grounds of appeal, arguing among others that the trial court failed to determine the jurisdictional issue concerning whether the suit was hypothetical and academic in nature.
The Commission further contended that the respondent lacked the locus standi to institute the suit and urged the Court of Appeal to strike out the case accordingly.
INEC maintained that its actions were in line with its constitutional mandate to ensure the orderly conduct of elections and effective electoral administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
WHY I ENDORSE TINUBU’S SECOND TERM BID — ADELEKE
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has explained that his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027 was influenced by moral responsibility and the need to sustain developmental progress.
The governor said his endorsement was not based on political calculations alone but on what he considers appropriate in view of the relationship between Osun State and the President, as well as ongoing projects benefiting the region.
The position of the governor was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Mr Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke spoke on Sunday after conducting an inspection of the ongoing construction work on the Ibadan–Ile Ife–Ilesa Expressway.
During the visit, the governor reportedly commended President Tinubu for embarking on major infrastructure projects across Osun State and other parts of the South-West.
Gov. Adeleke noted that infrastructure development remains essential to economic growth and improved connectivity among communities.
He acknowledged the significance of road projects currently underway, stressing that such investments are expected to contribute to easier transportation, commercial activities, and broader development outcomes within the region.
The governor also highlighted the importance of leadership support in facilitating projects that have direct effects on residents.
He indicated that recognition should be given where efforts are being made to improve public infrastructure, particularly projects capable of enhancing movement between states and strengthening economic interactions in affected areas.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke’s remarks came while assessing the progress of the expressway project, which has continued to attract attention due to its strategic role in linking major cities within the South-West.
The governor reportedly used the opportunity to express appreciation for federal involvement in projects impacting Osun State.
His comments further reflected his view on political and regional ties, especially considering Osun State’s historical connection to President Tinubu.
Gov. Adeleke suggested that such considerations, alongside visible developmental initiatives, shaped his decision to openly support the President’s anticipated re-election effort in 2027.
He said, “I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him?”
IPAC specifically said that INEC guidelines cannot supersede constitutional provisions or extant electoral laws.
The Council, which stated these while appraising the judgement of the Federal High Court, stressed that the court judgement specifically addressed exclusionary conditions capable of disenfranchising aspirants and party members during primaries.
This is contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Mr Martins Egbeola, stating that the judgment was a reaffirmation of constitutional supremacy, democratic principles and the rule of law within Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC said that even though INEC possesses powers to issue election guidelines, such powers must however, operate strictly within constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
It noted that the court judgment represented a major victory for democracy, political parties and citizens participating in Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC also said that the court judgement had restored the constitutional rights of political parties to manage their internal affairs democratically without unlawful interference through administrative directives.
“The judgment would ensure equal opportunities for eligible members to participate in party primaries without discriminatory or exclusionary conditions.
“The INEC Chairman should deepen engagement and consultation with political parties on issues concerning electoral administration and reforms.
“Greater dialogue and collaboration between INEC and political parties would help prevent avoidable disputes and litigation arising from controversial guidelines,” IPAC stated.
Prof. Yilwatda stated this while speaking on a live television interview programme.
According to him, the ruling APC was not focused on fighting opposition parties, claiming that the political battle was currently between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He said, “In the last three weeks, the APC has not been fighting ADC or NDC. It is NDC versus ADC or ADC versus NDC.
“Actually, I watched with fun all the insults that the ADC is raining on the NDC and the NDC is returning those fireworks on the ADC.
“I watched the videos, and I laughed. The self-implosion is in the opposition rather than in the APC.”
When asked whether he was orchestrating the crisis in the opposition, Prof. Yilwatda denied the allegation but said weakening the opposition was part of politics.
He said, “No, I can’t. But I will be happy if I can do it. That’s my job.
“If you are opposing me, should I be happy? If you oppose me because you are in the opposition, what’s my job? Of course, to stop the opposition.”
The APC chairman also said the ruling party had stronger conflict resolution mechanisms than other political parties.
According to him, the party had committees at national and state levels to resolve internal disputes arising from congresses and other activities.
Speaking on the APC membership register and the votes secured by President Bola Tinubu during the party’s presidential primary, Prof. Yilwatda said the party relied on data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its registration process.
“To register as a member of the APC, your name and primary data are sourced from NIMC. That’s the same primary data that is used across the country to open a bank account, get a driver’s licence and secure an international passport.
“So we’re the only political party that sources our primary data from NIMC. This is why people have seen the APC as one of the most politically viable and stable parties. We are a data-driven political party,” he stated.
RIVERS ADC PRIMARY: ASPIRANT REJECTS OUTCOME, ACCUSES AMAECHI OF IMPOSITION
The governorship primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has been thrown into turmoil after aspirant Mr Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart rejected the outcome and accused former governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi of imposing a candidate.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart described the exercise as a “shambolic charade” and said it had produced three separate governorship primary “winners” within the same party.
“Right now, we have three governorship candidates in one party, all thanks to Amaechi’s high-handedness,” he told journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He warned that the situation could plunge the opposition party into crisis ahead of the 2027 elections if the national leadership fails to intervene.
According to him, while the party’s timetable fixed May 23 for the primary, aspirants were informed late Friday that the exercise had been moved forward.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he was mobilising supporters across the 23 local government areas when fellow aspirant, Hon. Farah Dagogo, informed him that a parallel process had already been conducted.
He accused the state party chairman, Mr Chukwudi Dimkpa, of inviting only five aspirants loyal to Mr Amaechi while excluding himself and Hon. Dagogo. The arrangement, he alleged, was designed to clear the path for Dr Gabriel Pidomson, whom he described as Mr Amaechi’s preferred candidate.
He further alleged that three aspirants were persuaded to step down for Dr Pidomson in what he described as a disguised consensus arrangement, despite the party’s public stance against consensus.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart claimed Hon. Dagogo later approached him to jointly resist Mr Amaechi’s camp but asked him to publicly congratulate him as the winner.
“He told me to go on air and congratulate him, saying we are from Atiku Abubakar’s political family and should unite. I told him to stop rubbishing Atiku’s name. Atiku will not be part of this nonsense,” he said.
The aspirant said he rejected the offer and subsequently declared himself winner after Hon. Dagogo made a similar announcement.
“As it stands, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state exco, and I also declared myself winner. Three winners in one primary that never held. This cannot stand,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart accused the Rivers ADC leadership of sidelining him despite being the only aspirant who formally notified the party in writing of his intention to contest.
He also faulted Mr Amaechi for allegedly imposing candidates while demanding transparent presidential primary at the national level.
“How can someone who is demanding transparent presidential primaries at the national level turn around and impose a governorship candidate in Rivers?”, he queried.
He urged the ADC National Working Committee to nullify the exercise and either conduct a fresh primary or adopt a lawful consensus arrangement in line with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The most pragmatic thing now is for the NWC to order a rescheduled primary or quickly adopt a lawful consensus option. Time is running against us,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he would pursue all grievances within the party’s constitution and warned Hon. Dagogo against invoking Atiku’s name to bolster his claim.
“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party. I will not rock the boat unnecessarily, but the party must recognise that I won the primaries,” he said.
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