Politics
Democracy Day: Former Kwara House Leader tasks political class on good governance

By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The political class has been enjoined to build on the gains of the Nation’s fledgling democracy towards ensuring good governance and the entrenchment of government of the people by the people and for the people.
Former Leader, Kwara State House of Assembly in the Second Republic and Member, Kwara State Governor’s Advisory Council, Chief Stephen Wole Oke, made the call in his message to mark the this year’s Democracy Day, noting that Nigeria has come a long way in her search and pursuit of a system of government best suited for its structure, which is embedded in her multi-ethnic nationalities.
Chief Wole Oke, who is also the Jagunmolu of Shao, stated that since her days under colonial administration from the amalgamation in 1914, the country has passed through trying periods, which had thwarted her efforts at enjoying a stable democratic governance.
He said: “In 1960, the year that marked the beginning of freedom from colonial rule, the Country has suffered a lot of instability in governance, a fate that has made her pursuit and desire for democratic governance an illusion: the Nigeria Army has become her troubler in this pursuit.
In the 63 years of her independence, the military has usurped power four times, thus disrupting the democratic process which characterises civilian administration.”
Chief Wole Oke, who was the former Kwara State Secretary of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), explained that the most gruesome of these military interventions was the cancellation of the most universally endorsed to be the freest democratically conducted election of June 12, 1993.
He observed that it was for the sake of entrenching democracy in the Country that led some prominent NADECO Nigerians to run out of the Country for their dear lives under the military dictatorship of General Sanni Abacha. Such prominent individuals, he said, included Late Chief Anthony Enahoro, former Governor of Kwara state, Chief C. O. Adebayo and the current President of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that many Nigerian citizens lost their lives fighting for the entrenchment of democracy during the Abacha military era.
“However, it is gratifying to note that the Country, now in the fourth republic, is currently enjoying 24 years of uninterrupted democratic civilian rule. June 12, every year has been earmarked as “DEMOCRACY DAY”, having been created by the former President of Nigeria, General Muhammad Buhari, to honour the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, judged to be the freest election ever held in the Country, Late Bashorun Mashood Kashimawo Olanbiwonninu (MKO) Abiola.
“JUNE 12, being celebrated this year marks 30 years of that heinous and reprehensible political crime against this Country.
“We salute and congratulate the Nigerian citizens for their endurance and resilience. Were it not for these virtues, the Country would have gone under, and in pieces,” he added.
He warned the political class against giving room again for any military intervention in the Nation’s governance, pointing out that “one major justification often advanced by the military interventionists is always built around the allegation of corruption against the civilian rulers”.
Ironically, he said history has over the years shown that the military dictators were more corrupt and they had, as a matter of fact, institutionalised corruption as a trait of rulership in the country.
He warned: “Nigeria and her civilian leaders should by now have learnt the bitter lesson and should therefore never leave a loophole to justify any army takeover in Nigeria again. Let democracy reign and continue to flourish in our Country. Enough of military interventionism.
“This year’s June 12 Democracy Day has offered a great opportunity to admonish our politicians to play politics of ideology, which will lead them to a focused governance devoid of corrupt practices and also put an end to the current practice among politicians which makes them change party membership as they change their daily dress.”
END
Politics
Tinubu Assures Investors Nigeria Is Open for Business, Welcomes Coca-Cola’s $1bn Plan
By Francis Wilfred
President Bola Tinubu has assured local and international investors that Nigeria remains open for business, saying his administration is implementing reforms aimed at creating a more predictable, competitive and investment-friendly environment.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Abuja on Monday, the President said the government is addressing key challenges facing businesses under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our message to investors, both Nigerian and international, is clear: Nigeria is open for business,” Tinubu said,
He noted that reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, access to foreign exchange, stable regulations and a supportive tax system are critical to attracting investment and expanding production.
According to Yomi Odunuga, the President said ongoing economic reforms are designed to build a more productive and competitive economy, reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing and create jobs for Nigerians.
Tinubu welcomed the Coca-Cola System’s proposed $1 billion investment in Nigeria over five years, announced in 2024, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy.
He said the administration is focused not only on the volume of investment attracted but also on its impact on employment, skills development, technology transfer and local sourcing.
“We are interested not only in the amount of capital that comes into Nigeria, but in what that capital does here,” he said.
The President also praised NBC’s continued expansion of production capacity, including new production lines in Oyo and Kano states, describing such investments as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving policies, infrastructure and regulations to support businesses, while urging the private sector to complement government efforts through investment, innovation and job creation.
Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human capital development, commending NBC’s Supply Chain Academy for training over 1,400 young Nigerians and supporting women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.
He urged investors to take advantage of opportunities across Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country can build a stronger economy driven by local production, exports and globally competitive industries.
Politics
Kano Governorship: Accord Party Governorship Candidate Gashash Getting More Endorsement From Kano Electorates.
By Jabiru Hassan.
The movement for Democratic Protection and good governance (MDSG) declared it's full support to the Accord Party Governorship Candidate Ambassador Dr. Mukhtar Gashash in the forthcoming general elections.
In a chat with our correspondent in kano, the national president of the movement, Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali, stated that it is time for the people of kano state to bring new steward who is seriously planning to transform the state with highest regard.
He expressed his confidence that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash will do his best to ensure that kano state becomes more examplary at both sector without bias which is the task previous administrators failed to achieve.
Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali reiterated that " this time around, our movement is working day and night to make sure that Kano people mostly youths remained Committed to actualize real change in the state's politics, leadership and transformation under the Accord Party government".
He called on the people of kano state especially the eligible voters to vote Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash due to his Transformation plans for the progress of kano state and it's citizens at both Urban and rural settlements.
Responding to a question about Accord party's strength in kano state, Dauda Mohammed Ali disclosed that in today's democracy, competent candidates should be tipped for an elective positions not the popularity of the political parties stressing that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash has been found to be the best option for kano state due to his track record on competency, transparency as a real democrat.
Politics
Caught in the middle: Ortom’s silent dance between two camps.
There are growing questions about where Mr. Samuel Ortom, a former Governor of Benue State and a prominent figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), truly stands politically ahead of 2027.
Ortom was a key figure in the divisions within the PDP before the 2023 general elections and was widely associated with support for Mr. Peter Obi, who finished third in that contest. More recently, however, he has publicly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The latest discussion began after a visit by Mr. Peter Obi to Benue State. Reports indicate that a vehicle said to belong to Ortom was used to receive Obi at the Air Force Base airport in Makurdi. It is not clear who authorized the use of the vehicle, and Ortom has not commented publicly on the matter.
During the same visit, Obi was reportedly prevented from travelling to Yelewata, where he had intended to condole with families affected by violence. Obi’s team attributed the blockage to supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The Governor’s spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, denied any involvement by the Governor. He suggested the incident may have been staged to damage the Governor’s reputation, or that it could have resulted from disagreements within Obi’s own support base.
Ortom has not issued a statement clarifying his position on the 2027 elections or on the vehicle in question. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
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