No Alliance Can Stop Tinubu In 2027– Akinyemi
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Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi, is a public affairs analyst, an advocate of good governance and Convener, Apostolic Round Table (ART). Dr Akinyemi, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of Project Victory Call Initiative, aka PVC Naija, in this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, speaks on crucial national issues.
Nigeria celebrated 25 years of uninterrupted democracy. How would you say the country has fared under this period?
It has been 25 years of uninterrupted scam! What we have in place is not democracy, but a military invention of keeping power in proxy and sustaining their grip on the jugular of the nation. Nigeria is not breathing. At best, since our leaders are not wearing khaki, we can call it ‘militocracy’!
This year’s Democracy Day was celebrated on June 12 with fanfare and a national parade at Eagle Square. How do you see the event?
What was held at the Eagle Square is nothing but the celebration of a man’s turn. Like I said before, ‘militocracy’ is an agreement between a few people to rotate power among themselves and their cronies. The ‘Emi lo kan’ philosophy is the expression of a man from among them whose turn he won’t allow another person to take. Our vote doesn’t count! It’s a ‘turn-by-turn’ thing. While he was celebrating his turn, Nigerians were mourning in regret of his turn. Never have we had it this bad. The electoral process is what defines democracy. It must organically reflect the DNA of constitutional democracy, ‘We the People’. Structurally, it must respect and ensure the choice of the people. It has to be free and fair. How can actors of the 2023 election, the most fraudulent election in this country, gather together celebrating June 12, the only free and fair election ever held on the shore of Nigeria? Some men truly have no shame!
By declaring June 12 Democracy Day, would you say the Federal Government has really rewarded Chief MKO Abiola, who sacrificed his life for democracy to thrive in this country?
Abiola needs no reward. The dead can’t be rewarded. The only honour we owe Abiola would have been to relive his vision: One; Farewell to poverty. But, this administration has opened the door to national poverty like we have never seen before. Two, the reparation ideology should have been revisited, not because Europe and America have anything to offer us, but to see justice done and to redefine our relationship. This idea of looking for a solution to the problem is strange to human intelligence. Slavery ended in principle, but has continued in our reality.
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No Visa Ban On Nigerians–Turkey Embassy
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The Turkish Embassy in Nigeria on Saturday confirmed that there is no visa ban on Nigerian passport holders, dispelling reports that have raised concern.
Reports surfaced on Thursday suggesting that Ethiopia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates had revoked certain privileges for Nigerian passport holders, such as visa-on-arrival, e-visa, and outright passport issues.
Specifically, Turkey no longer allows Nigerian passport holders to obtain its e-visa, which was previously a seamless process.
Despite these changes, the Personal Secretary to the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Wunmi Evelyn, clarified in a chat with our correspondent, “There is no visa ban on Nigerian passport holders.
“As it is well-known, if there will be any update regarding rules and procedures of the policies and practices of any country, these updates are officially notified to the respective foreign ministries, and statements/announcements are issued by the embassies.”
Probe Obaseki’s Govt, Edo APC Urges EFCC
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The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday accused the government of Governor Godwin Obaseki of monumental corruption.
The APC also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate some top government officials of the state for corruption.
Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat in Benin, the Acting state chairman, Jarret Tenebe claimed the EFCC had already invited some top government officials and should ensure they bring the investigation to a logical conclusion.
Tenebe alleged that the much celebrated paperless operation in government was a ploy by Obaseki to delete certain critical data from the server in case the PDP lost the election
He said, “The latest plan by Obaseki to make the activities of his administration paperless is a criminal plan that has been designed by one Ugo who is in charge of e-governance who has colluded with the governor to destroy all documents relating to fraudulent contracts with the excuse that Edo government has gone paperless”.
19 Million Households Benefit From FG N4.3tn Palliatives
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The Federal Government may have rolled out palliatives worth N4.3tn to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal under the current administration, Sunday PUNCH has gathered.
Parts of the palliatives have been payments of cash to no fewer than 18.7m vulnerable households, and acquisition of CNG powered buses amid the rising spate of inflation.
It also included agricultural interventions and financial aids to manufacturers as well as small and medium scale enterprises in the country.
This was just as the presidency said the series of palliatives were informed by President Bola Tinubu’s determination to provide succor to Nigerians amid the consistent wave of economic hardship and inflation.
Recall that shortly after President Bola Tinubu pronounced the removal of fuel subsidy at his inaugural speech, the World Bank said about 7.1 million Nigerians were at risk of poverty if the Federal Government failed to compensate or provide palliatives for them.
“The removal of the petrol subsidy had caused an increase in prices, adversely affecting poor and economically insecure Nigerian households. Petrol prices appear to have almost tripled following the subsidy removal.