Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun has urged Nigerians to have faith despite the economic challenges they are facing, stressing that the country is “still at the baby steps of democracy”.

Abiodun, while emphasising the need to be steadfast and trust the democratic process, urged Nigerians to continue to support the government and its policies.

The governor gave the charge on Wednesday during the Democracy Day Celebration prayers held at the family home of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola in Gbagura, Abeokuta.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Abiodun expressed immense pleasure that Nigerians are celebrating 25 years of unbroken democracy which was laid by the late Abiola and appreciated the Federal Government for setting aside the day not just to honour his memory but also to celebrate democratic rule in Nigeria.

“We give glory to Almighty Allah that we are all here today and that democracy has continued to thrive. There are challenges, we are still at the baby steps of democracy but our call is that everybody works together to support ourselves, support our institution so we can succeed at this governance we are practicing now. We know that ultimately this is what will give us the best leadership,development and everything that we want.

“I also use this opportunity to commend the efforts of our leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for all that he is doing for us in Nigeria and seek the prayer and support from all of us for guidance and success. We should continue to pray for our leaders so that Allah will guide them and they will to lead us aright.”

Abiodun added that his administration would continue to honour the legacy of the Late Abiola particularly as he was a prominent son of the state.

He also pledged that his government would not relent in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Ogun State.

“We would continue to uphold and support this family as we continue to uphold the dividend of democracy across the state.”

Earlier In his sermon, Mufasir Agura, Alhaji Daud Toriola, described Abiola as “food and drugs” due to the role both played in the body system, saying though he is gone, the lives he touched while alive still speaks of his impact.

Mr Ameen Abiola, speaking on behalf of the Abiola family, thanked everyone for coming annually to remember the late MKO Abiola, particularly the state government for its unwavering support and the recent renovation of the family home.

He thanked the Federal Government for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day and honouring the late Abiola, saying the gesture goes a long way towards protecting the legacies he left behind.

The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, says the country’s electoral processes have been monetized.

The party spoke in a statement signed by its acting national publicity secretary, Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, to commemorate the Democracy Day.

The statement said, “The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) joins Nigerians across the country to commemorate the occasion of our 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule. As we mark this milestone, we cannot help but reflect on the journey thus far and the state of our democracy.

“While we congratulate Nigerians on this achievement, we must also acknowledge that our democracy has not been as robust as we had hoped.

“Despite the return to civilian rule, we have not witnessed significant advancements in social democracy, and instead, we have seen a regression of civic rights and a deterioration of material wellbeing. It is a stark reminder that our democracy is still a work in progress.

“Furthermore, the last general elections serve as a stark reminder of the challenges we face in deepening our democracy. The monetization of the electoral process, lack of transparency, and disenfranchisement of voters have eroded the very foundation of our democracy. It is imperative that we take immediate action to address these issues and ensure that power truly resides in the people.

“We call on civil society organizations, professional associations, and community groups to rise up to the challenge. It is time for us to organize and mobilize the populace to demand better from our leaders and institutions. We must work together to reclaim our democracy and ensure that it serves the interests of all Nigerians.

“The PRP believes that a true democracy is one that is participatory, inclusive, and accountable. We urge all Nigerians to join hands in promoting a culture of transparency, accountability, and good governance. It is only by working together that we can build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.”

The Tinubu-led Federal Government has opened up on why it decided to obtain a $2.5 Billion loan from the World Bank to fund the 2024 budget.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has mentioned that the upcoming 2024 budget will be partially funded by the ₦50 billion Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) managed by the National Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority (NSWIA). 

Nonetheless, the minister highlighted that the ₦50 billion would not suffice to support the “Renewed Hope Transformational Projects”, leading the federal government to request a $2.5bn loan from the World Bank.

Bagudu disclosed this during a briefing with the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on National Planning and Economic Affairs regarding the proposed Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

The Minister further mentioned that the World Bank’s management would soon convene to make a decision on the loan’s approval.

Bagudu explained that the entire supplementary budget, still in the process of being formulated, would be directed towards four specific transformational projects.

These projects consist of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Road, the completion of ongoing railway projects lacking counterpart funding from the federal government, and the rehabilitation and expansion of dams and irrigation schemes to enhance agricultural production.

Additionally, Bagudu mentioned that the budget plan would provide increased financial support for projects related to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to boost the country’s energy market position.

The head of the Senate’s Budget Committee, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, observed that making changes to the budget for 2024 could be a more effective approach than creating a new spending bill, considering the significant expenses involved in its preparation.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent June 12 Democracy Day speech

The rights activist described the President’s speech as a mere historical narrative devoid of addressing present challenges.

Adegboruwa, while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, expressed his disappointment, noting that the speech did not address the critical issues plaguing Nigeria’s democracy.

He argued that despite the commemoration of June 12 and its significance as the day of the annulled 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola, the government’s commitment to democratic values has not translated into tangible progress.

The Senior Advocate emphasized that greater expectations are placed on someone like Tinubu, who played a pivotal role in the democratic struggle and now holds a position of leadership.

Adegboruwa said, “I listened to the speech of the president, unfortunately, I am unable to agree that anything has changed.

“I am sorry, I am not impressed in anyway at all by the speech of the President, in the sense that it is just rehearsing history.

“For me, looking at the past one year and indeed, our collective history from the time we started agitating for democracy, things have gotten worse, nothing has changed at all.”

The Human rights lawyer highlighted the significance of the June 12 struggle, emphasizing the need for recognition of the annulled 1993 election and true federalism in Nigeria.

He expressed disappointment that the dream of better elections and democratic principles remains deferred, citing unanswered questions in recent polls.

Adegboruwa called for the release of wrongfully detained Nigerians and engagement with constituent units to ensure true federation.

He criticized the president’s speech for lacking a roadmap to achieve true democracy, reflecting a broader sentiment among citizens and activists for substantial changes beyond ceremonial gestures.

A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro has demanded a review of the budget of Senate and House of Representatives as a strategy to reduce cost of governance.

Obanikoro lamented that democracy has become expensive.

He stated this while speaking with newsmen in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

He urged the government to make the budget of the National Assembly more transparent.

“It is expensive because we have made it so. Let me give you a good example because we borrowed this system from America.

“In America they don’t provide accommodation for lawmakers, they fend for themselves when it comes to that, they live basically on salary and very small fringe benefits.

“Democracy doesn’t have to be this expensive, that is one thing we don’t get right,” Obanikoro said.

Speaking further, he argued that if the budget of the two legislative houses would be made transparent, the recent calls for a parliamentary system of government would have been avoided.

“When the budget is more transparent, and people can go online and see what is allocated to every member of the National Assembly and can also input into the process, I do believe that will make the process or the institution less expensive.

”This clamour that the bicameral system of legislature should be jettisoned will reduce if the budget is reduced, because the idea is that there are some budgetary provisions that should never be in our books and we must be bold enough to expunge them.

“We cut the budget size of the National Assembly to a reasonable level that an average Nigerian can live with,” Obanikoro, added

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has debunked reports of contesting the 2027 presidential election alongside the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir-El-Rufai.

Naija News learnt that Akpabio’s posters have flooded some parts of Abuja, suggesting that he and El-Rufai would run for the presidency in 2027.

However, Akpabio, in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, described the posters flying around as the handiwork of mischief makers.

Akpabio stated that he has no interest in contesting for the presidency but is currently preoccupied with collaborating and providing the required legislative support to President Tinubu to reset Nigeria.

The Senate President urged security agencies to launch serious investigations into the matter to unravel the promoters of the “ugly enterprise.”

The statement reads, “The attention of the office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to posters circulating in some parts of Kaduna associating the President of the Senate with a supposed El-Rufai 2027 political ambition.

“This is the handiwork of mischief makers and familiar fifth columnists and those bent on opening up windows for tar brushing of the President’s loyalists. The action is spurious and mischievous.

“Senator Akpabio is presently preoccupied with the responsibility of collaborating and providing the required legislative support to President Bola Tinubu to reset Nigeria and make the nation regain its pride of place in the comity of nations.

“This is exactly what Senate President Akpabio, as the Chairman of the National Assembly has been doing since June 13, 2023; and has NEVER at any time contemplated running for President in 2027 or at any other time.

“It is therefore, embarrassing for anyone to link the person of Senate President Godswill Akpabio to an insipid presidential ambition, when a competent, trusted and tested leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is in the driving seat, effectively navigating the contours of purposeful leadership and adept governance with his renewed Hope Agenda.

“We implore members of the public to disregard this unbridled mischief intended to distract Nigerians from the purposeful and positive interventions the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio is demonstrating.”

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said the majority N62,000 minimum wage proposal by the federal government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) was negotiated in good faith.

The president’s assertion was disclosed in his speech to mark the 25th anniversary of Democracy celebrated June 12.

Recall the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma had expressed optimism, that the federal government and OPS N62,000 proposal would be enacted as law.

According to him, “Arising from what happened in 2018, when the government lost after offering N24,000 and OPS and Labour offered N30,000.

“When the recommendation got to the then-president, he approved and took the opposition party. In the same margin, we expect when this gets to the president, he will also take the majority position”.

However, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Festus Osifo while reiterating the organised labour demand of N250,000 told THE WHISTLER “There is nothing really about the majority proposal, because Labour creates wealth, and we are those who create wealth, we are those who wear the shoes and know where the shoe pinches also.

“We believe that Mr President is reasonable enough and understands what Nigerians are passing through having promised Nigerians a living wage, that he will consider our positions and our Plight”.

But addressing the N62,000 minimum wage proposal, the president said, “In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage.

“We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less.

“In the face of labour’s call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.

“No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution”.

In the end, our national greatness will not be achieved by travelling the easy road, it can only be achieved by taking the right one, the president said

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has said Nigeria is not practising democracy but experiencing state capture with increasing attacks on journalists.

Journalists have come under increasing attacks with a number of them abducted and thrown into jail without trial for months under the administration of Bola Tinubu.

But Obi decried the attacks on media practitioners insisting that true democracy forbids such state-sponsored attacks on free speech while speaking on Wednesday to Mark the 25th democracy day celebration.

Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999 after years of military rule.

Obi said as the country marks democracy day commemorating 25 years of striving to be a democratic country, the fundamental question remains if the country is truly democratic.

He said an unexamined life is not worth living, “so it is now time to re-examine what we have been doing over this quarter of a century.

“Democracy, as we know, is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

“While we may say that in 1999 we started in earnest in the right direction, today we have deteriorated into what can be classified as classical state capture. Instead of benefiting all, it has become a deprivation to all.”

He stated that the consequences of not being a true democracy have led to leadership failures that have resulted in “uncontrolled systemic corruption, high levels of insecurity, lack of freedom of speech, increasing poverty rates, and unprecedented levels of hunger and hardship, which remain unsolved and are growing geometrically.”

True democracy, he said, should be people-oriented, where the rights of citizens are respected, the laws are obeyed, the leaders remain accountable to the people, and people’s welfare and care, especially for the poor, become paramount and high priorities.

He pointed out that to “further illustrate that we are not truly democratic and have only produced the vices enumerated above, we are now ranked as follows:

“In the measurement of democracy, we have a democracy index score of 4.23, which ranks us low on the Global Democracy Index.

“In the Corruption Perception Index, we are ranked 145th among the 180 countries measured, showing a high level of corruption in Nigeria.

“In the Rule of Law Measurement, we are ranked 120th out of 142 countries measured in the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, indicating that Nigeria suffers from gross disobedience to the rule of law.”

He referenced that the “2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) describes Nigeria as one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists.

“Nigeria ranks 112th out of 180 countries where journalists are regularly monitored, attacked, and arbitrarily arrested.

“We are ranked 109th out of 125 countries measured on the Global Hunger Index.”

He called for a return to a truly democratic nation, the fear he said was achieved on June 12, 1993, by collectively voting for democracy. “We must stand in defence of Nigeria’s democracy today.

“I urge everyone to respect and protect the institutions of the democratic state, obey the governing laws of the state, be accountable to the people, and fulfil the responsibilities of responsible governance as contained in the constitution.

“As we build a New Nigeria, these tenets shall be the pillars of our true democracy. It is possible,” Obi said.

Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has said that phase one of the Lagos-Calabar super highway will be ready for commissioning by May 2025.  

Umahi disclosed this at a meeting with contractors at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja. Commending the contractor handling the project for the quality of work, Umahi also revealed that the Federal Government has paid N10bn as compensation for communities and individuals along the road corridor affected by the project.  

He said;  

“The ministry is doing everything possible to see how we can do away with veriation of price. In the states, there is nothing like variation of price, but what is fashionable in the Ministry of Works is variation of price.

“Let me announce that the concrete we gave, the asphalt we gave are based on a price of N1,700 per $1 US dollar; it don’t attract any variation. Even the legacy project, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, we have cut down to six lanes. The project has not been stopped. 

“It is going on smoothly. The first phase of this project should be ready for commissioning by May 2025. It shows that we mean business. As we are taking now, over 4 kilometers of concrete road has been completed. And where you have MTN and African cable, we saved the community and the cables. 

“We had to reroute to establish a new pathway away from the old route and the gazetted route. We’ve paid compensation of almost N10bn. 

“Over 90 percent of the new projects in the 2024 budget are constituency projects of the National Assembly. These constituency projects have very poor (funding) allocations in the 2024 budget, and that is why I say it is a palliative budget. 

“The budget is, (however) also very useful because a chain is as strong as its weakest link. If you have a beautiful road and it is broken into two by a flood, what do you do? That is where the budget provision or emergency project will come in handy. 

“We have 330 (emergency) projects, and as at today, we have completed over 80 per cent. We’ve completed some bridges.”

Umahi also said that the Federal Executive Council has agreed that some projects that do not have funding will be stepped down for those that have the greatest impact on the lives of a greater number of Nigerians.