Politics
Allow Peaceful Protest On May 29 – Prof. Udenta
Prof. Udenta Udenta, the Founding National Secretary of Alliance for Democracy and Distinguished Fellow at the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, issued a warning to security agencies on Thursday.
He cautioned them against obstructing any kind of protest during the upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony.
Expressing his disapproval of certain statements made by the heads of security organizations, Prof. Udenta emphasized that denying disgruntled Nigerians the right to protest on May 29th would contradict the principles of the constitution and encroach upon the fundamental human rights of citizens.
Prof. Udenta Udenta, a renowned African Literature scholar, expressed his views in an interview with journalists during the public presentation of the book titled “Media and Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy: Threats, Constraints and Resilience,”
The book, co-authored by Paul Obi, a former Political Correspondent of THISDAY Newspapers, Taye Obateru, an Associate Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Jos, and Dr. Sam Amadi, the Convener of ASSPT, received a review from Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, a communication consultant and Deputy Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Baze University in Abuja.
During the book’s launch, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, served as the chief launcher.
Prof. Udenta expressed his concern about the statements made by security chiefs regarding the upcoming inauguration ceremony, describing them as efforts to stifle democratic discourse.
According to a report by BIZTELLERS, the Federal government had announced plans to enhance security measures at Eagle Square, the designated venue for the presidential inauguration on May 29, as well as in the surrounding areas.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, who was represented by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, issued a warning to journalists regarding the dissemination of false information and hate speeches.
The IGP assured the public of the police force’s preparedness for the upcoming inauguration ceremony.
The IGP further stressed the importance of journalists verifying the accuracy of their stories before publishing them while adhering to ethical standards in journalism while reporting on the event.
The Governor expressed his gratitude to the organizers, authors, and editors of the book, acknowledging their well-researched scholarly effort. He emphasized that the book directly and practically contributes to the development of media and democracy.
However, the Governor lamented the ongoing debate in Nigeria concerning the role of the media in the country’s democratic transformation and consolidation.
He highlighted the importance of the media in empowering civic spaces and strengthening democratic governance, as well as the challenges they face in undertaking such responsibilities.
Obi, one of the authors, emphasized the necessity of allowing the press to operate in accordance with constitutional provisions.
He stated “What we need to do is to ensure that those rights are not breached or limited and it should work within our constitutional framework. Any aspect that prevents media from performing constitutional rights, we should raised alarm.”
A Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing it as a joke.
Masari made the remark while addressing members of the Jigawa State Academics Forum.
SEE MORE: ‘A Nation Cannot Escape the Bill’ — Atiku Questions Tinubu’s Third UNGA Absence
According to him, Atiku’s political ambition would not be achieved through what he described as desperation, insisting that the former vice president was aware of the situation.
“Even Atiku himself knows he is just joking and kidding,” Masari said.
The presidential aide also described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the dominant political party in the country and framed the 2027 election as a choice between continuing the Tinubu administration’s programmes and returning to the opposition.
Masari highlighted infrastructure development, economic diversification, security and poverty reduction as areas the Tinubu administration was prioritising.
He also commended the Jigawa State Academics Forum for endorsing President Tinubu and Governor Umar Namadi for another term.
On education, Masari said the Federal Government was giving the sector priority, adding that the university academic calendar had stabilised and students were benefiting from federal student loans.
His comments come as political parties and opposition figures intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be questioned if there were any irregularities in the conduct of the 2023 presidential election.
Sule made the remarks during an appearance on Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, an Arise TV anchor, while responding to questions about allegations surrounding the 2023 presidential election and INEC’s handling of the process.
The governor noted that INEC was the body that conducted and declared the election, saying: “INEC declared that I won the election in 2023. INEC that determined the election.”
SEE ALSO: 2027: Tinubu Has Done Enough Good To Win Re-Election — Gov Sule
Speaking about claims that both Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar believed they won the 2023 presidential election, Sule questioned how the APC could have manipulated the election against both candidates.
He said: “So who won the election between Peter Obi and Atiku? Take President Asiwaju out. So who now rigged each other between the PDP and then the Labour Party? Because you are saying that Peter Obi said he won, Atiku said he won—”
On concerns over glitches on INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the presidential election and allegations that “something fishy” may have happened, Sule said INEC should provide answers if there were any irregularities.
He stated: “Well, if something fishy went down, it is INEC herself that would be asked that question.”
Sule also referred to subsequent elections conducted under the current INEC leadership, including the Osun and Anambra governorship elections.
According to him, APC lost the Osun election without similar complaints, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won in Anambra.
He said: “You know, and so far, all the elections… he held the election in Osun, and they didn’t say there was anything wrong with that one, because APC lost. We had an election in Anambra, there was no problem about that one, because APGA won.”
“You know, so it is anywhere APC won now that there is a problem. It doesn’t… life doesn’t work that way.” the governor added.
Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take preventive measures to protect former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Ejiofor raised concerns over Obi’s safety ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that any harm to the presidential candidate could have serious consequences for Nigeria’s political and democratic environment.
READ MORE: 2027: Peter Obi ‘Unfit’ To Govern Nigeria — Onanuga Declares
In a statement issued in Abuja, Ejiofor said Obi’s recent expression of concern about his personal safety should not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric.
He said when a presidential candidate publicly expresses uncertainty about his safety ahead of an election, the appropriate response should be “vigilance, sober inquiry and preventive action.”
“Nothing must happen to Obi,” Ejiofor said, calling on Tinubu to act now to protect the former Anambra governor and the democratic space.
The lawyer also cited recent developments surrounding the 2027 political season, including Obi’s complaints about difficulties faced by opposition politicians campaigning in some states and the controversy surrounding the obstruction of his convoy during a visit to Benue State.
According to Ejiofor, the circumstances require greater attention from government institutions, security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders.
He warned that if anything happened to Obi, the consequences could extend beyond the individual and potentially affect Nigeria’s already delicate electoral environment.
“If anything should happen to Peter Obi—God forbid!—the consequences would extend far beyond the individual concerned,” he said, describing the possible consequences as “disastrous and devastating.”
Ejiofor urged the Federal Government, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties and state authorities to ensure that presidential candidates can campaign peacefully and that voters can freely hear competing political views.
He also called for political disagreements to be settled through the ballot and the law rather than intimidation, coercion or violence.
“Prevention is wiser than mourning,” Ejiofor said, stressing that Nigeria should not wait for a tragedy before taking steps to address concerns surrounding the 2027 political environment.
He further appealed for an electoral atmosphere where every legitimate contestant can campaign, political parties can organise peacefully and citizens can freely listen to and support candidates of their choice.
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