Metro
Democracy Day 2019: Of “Stolen Mandate” and Second Bite at the Cherry
By Raymond Nkannebe
A dark cloud hung in the firmament as president Muhammadu Buhari took his second oath of office yesterday as the 5th democratically elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While it was a day of jubilation in the camp of the ruling APC despite the ugly events of Zamfara couple of days ago, it was a sharp contrast in the camp of the main opposition party who continues to maintain that the mandate of their Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was stolen in an election that can only be qualified by one word : controversy. It is on record that president Muhammadu Buhari has been dragged to the tribunal by the PDP and it’s candidate Atiku Abubakar contending that his victory was a contrived one, and asking to be declared the winner of the election. Little wonder why as the low-key event at the Eagle Square went on, #AtikuDeyCome and #StolenMandate trended on the microblogging platform-Twitter. Some persons even argued that the reason for the low-keyed celebration yesterday was the uncertainty of how long the victory would last especially in the face of the recent decision of the Supreme Court in Zamfara. The presidency however has a different explanation for the rather unusual occasion highlighted by the non-reading of the traditional inaugural address.
On a day that usually boasts the presence of many former leaders of the Country and dignitaries from outside our shores, yesterday’s event was a radical break from the
past. As the ceremony took it’s tool, only one former head of state was visible-Alhaji Yakubu Gowon; a presence that put in sharp focus the abscence of his counterparts. Former presidents Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan perhaps would rather attend to other engagements than play guest to a president whose victory is touted to have been on a dirty electoral slate than confer legitimacy on the process with their presence. For the presidency however, the abscence of these men may not completely be surprising having hot hidden their support for the opposition party in the build up to the last general elections. The jury however is still out on whether the loud abscence of some of these former leaders accords with their lofty position as statesmen.
Arguably no one understands the concept of “stolen mandate” more than president Muhammadu Buhari. All through his attempt at becoming a democratically elected president, it is on record that he challenged each of those elections in court all of which culminated at the Supreme Court in a hurting defeat leaving behind a large body of adjectival jurisprudence on electoral disputes. He therefore appreciates Atiku’s position having shared his ‘shoes’ more than once. Yet, the recently scandalised presidential election Petitions tribunal at the instance of the petitioners, remains without a chairman, and until it gets one, cannot effectively adjudicate on the extent to which Atiku Abubakar’s mandate was stolen as widely believed by his support base. Part of that process would also be to find out whether President Muhammadu Buhari won a popular victory in substantial compliance with the current state of our electoral laws as the supreme court remains of the considered sentiments that no election is a perfection.
Pending when all that is done and the realities to be brought about by it, president Muhammadu Buhari stands on the better side of fortune having being administered with the 2nd instructive oath of office that earns him a second bite at the cherry. It is a rare privilege that must not be taken for granted by the septuagenerian, his first term having not been completely a success in the socio-economic details of governance.
As many analysts have observed, his second term in office affords him the latitude and the benefit of hindsight to right some, if not all the wrongs of his first term under the saddle. There is a consensus in town that this president’s respect for the Rule of Law, has been anything but complimentary given his body lexis to certain judicial pronouncements as appertains to the civil liberties of some senior citizens who could just pass for prisoners of conscience on account of the peculiarities of their prolonged incarceration. To underscore the importance of this, the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)-a leading voice of the Civil Society instructively admonishes that every single day of Buhari’s second term should be expended in the observance of the Rule of Law. This writer cannot agree less.
Beyond the Rule of Law, President Muhammadu Buhari owes it as a duty to Nigerians to better their socio-economic wellbeing as far as practicable. Under his watch in the first term, The Brookings Institution rated Nigeria as the country with the poorest citizens instructively observing that for every 6 minutes that passes, at least one Nigerian falls into extreme poverty. This economic reality leaves a sour taste in the mouth. And by all means, adequate remedial measures must be taken to lift as many people as possible out of poverty. And it does not take rocket science to do that having been experimented in many countries around the world. Buhari’s new economic team must therefore not compromise on this task. Happily, ours is not a nation in short supply of capable hands and egg heads, and all efforts must be made to narrow political considerations in search of a team with the wherewithal to turn around this economy for the greatest good of the greatest number. If more and more Nigerians can put food on their table, president Buhari would have delivered on a core mandate of governance: food security.
In the sundry areas of security, infrastructure, the fight against corruption, education, labour relations, healthcare inter alia, president Muhammadu Buhari cannot afford not to consolidate on the string of gains made here and there under his first term. In the look out for his new retinue of ministers which must not take forever, the right heads must be hunted to bring to bear their wealth of experience in the general service to motherland. Decrepit and deficit infrastructure remains an albatross on our journey to economic boom, and everything must be done to upend it’s current slate. The same attitude must also be extended to other areas where we continue to play catch-up.
Having said that, it is in bad taste that the election that affords this second term remains a litigious warfare. And not just that, a staggering 736 election Petitions remain in docket of the judiciary in virtually all parts of the country. This leaves behind an ugly impression for our electoral process and effectively puts electoral reforms in issue. Analysts are agreed that the failure to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was precipitous of the charade that was the 2019 general elections. A sentiment that lays the blame at the feet of the president rightly or wrongly.
As a matter of urgency therefore, president Muhammadu Buhari must make it a cardinal plank of his second term in office to enhance our electoral process which few days ago was bemoaned by the chairman of the electoral commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu. A veritable way out is the enthronement of the modalities of electronic voting and legislative sanctioning of same atleast before the next general elections. President Muhammadu Buhari is himself a victim of our sloppy electoral system, and must rise to the occasion in rewriting the story. Seeing that our democracy would not be captured in refreshing adjectives with our periodic elections almost always the subject of impossible litigations.
Having declared a fortnight ago that Nigeria must restructure to make any meaningful progress, even if in what could compete for the greatest turn-about of the century given his earlier posturing to the restructuring debate, President Muhammadu Buhari has the rare opportunity of restructuring Nigeria along fiscal lines so as to unbundle the unwieldy and behemoth unitary system mistaken for a federalism. A sure way to do that is to look back at the report of the well regarded 2014 CONFAB which pundits believe has addressed all the salient issues that often rear their heads whenever the restructuring question comes up. Sending that report to the 9th National Assembly might just be the boldest effort at restructuring.
All things considered, the general circumstances of his life, leaves the irresistible conclusion that president Muhammadu Buhari is a friend of history. It was British professor Dave Wilson that said, “sometimes life gives you a second chance. Or even two! Not always, but sometimes! It’s what you do with those second chances that counts”.
This much, represents the political trajectory of this president. His first coming was as a military dictator some 36 years ago, long before this writer was born. Providence ushered him again onto the scene four years ago as the 4th democratically elected president of Nigeria. Here he is again, looking set to join the lean tribe of Nigerians who ruled the country for at least a decade and suffice it to say that he has all the opportunity in the whole wide world to become one of Nigeria’s greatest presidents. Pending the outcome of the Petition against him, he must be alive to Dave Wilson’s admonitions that it is what we do with the second chance life throws at us, that counts.
Raymond Nkannebe is a legal practitioner based in Lagos.
When the National Theatre Lagos first opened ahead of FESTAC ’77, an architectural marvel, a symbol of the cultural soul of a nation ready to introduce its artistic brilliance to the world. Modelled after the Varna Palace of Culture and Sports in Bulgaria and constructed between 1973 and 1976, the National Theatre was designed as an emblem of Nigeria’s ambition to be Africa’s cultural capital. Its 5,000-seat main hall, festival arena, exhibition spaces, and state-of-the-art acoustics made it one of the most sophisticated performance complexes on the continent.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Theatre became home to Nigeria’s most iconic productions, from Hubert Ogunde’s epic plays to international dance festivals, orchestral performances, film premieres, and global conferences. It was a beacon for African creativity, a place where culture, identity, music, and storytelling came alive. But by the early 2000s, the Theatre, though heavy with cultural memory, had fallen into disrepair. Years of inadequate maintenance, stalled concession agreements, and structural depreciation left the building struggling to meet modern technical and creative demands. The symbol of national pride had become a shadow of its past promise.
Recognising the scale of cultural loss and the opportunity embedded within it, the Bankers’ Committee, with Access Bank playing a pivotal role, initiated the largest cultural infrastructure revitalisation project in contemporary Nigeria. The decision was both strategic and patriotic: Nigeria’s creative industry, now contributing significantly to GDP through film, fashion, music, design, cultural tourism, and digital content, urgently needed a modern, centralised hub that could support global-standard production and creative entrepreneurship. Reviving the National Theatre would not only restore a national icon but also stimulate job creation, attract international collaborations, and reposition Lagos as a premier African creative economy hub.
The renewal of the National Theatre is therefore more than a restoration project; it is a necessary economic intervention, a cultural renaissance, and a visionary step toward building a more inclusive and future-ready Nigeria. And for Access Bank, supporting this transformation is a natural continuation of a long, deliberate commitment to art, culture, and creative empowerment.
Access Bank’s Legacy of Championing the Creative Economy
Well before Nigeria’s creative industry gained global recognition, Access Bank had positioned itself as a cultural investor and ecosystem builder. For over a decade, the Bank has supported transformational initiatives across music, visual arts, fashion, film, sustainability, and youth development.
Access Bank has helped spotlight emerging and established African artists on a global stage through partnerships and collaborations with platforms like ART X. The annual fair, now one of Africa’s most influential contemporary art events, has benefitted immensely from the Bank’s commitment to nurturing young talent, commissioning bold projects, and providing a meeting point for creators, collectors, and global art enthusiasts.
In film and entertainment, Access Bank has backed festivals, documentaries, youth-focused storytelling, and creative incubators, recognising that Nigeria’s cultural exports are among its most powerful global assets. Across literature, community theatre, design, and public art, the Access brand remains synonymous with innovation, creativity, and cultural elevation. The revival of the National Theatre is thus an extension of this commitment.
A Cultural Renaissance Rooted in National Development
The National Theatre project is designed as a two-phase undertaking. Phase One, already significantly advanced, focuses on restoring the original theatre structure. This includes upgrading the main stage, cinema halls, exhibition spaces, lighting systems, acoustics, seating, ventilation, and accessibility infrastructure. The goal is to return the iconic building to world-class functionality while preserving its historic architecture.
Phase Two introduces a modern Creative Industries Park, a multi-purpose development designed to house film production studios, music recording labs, fashion houses, IT and gaming centers, photography studios, coworking spaces, and training academies. This innovation hub is expected to host thousands of young creators annually, enabling them to produce, learn, collaborate, and scale ideas into globally competitive businesses.
With Access Bank’s involvement through the Bankers’ Committee, the project has attracted international partnerships, institutional investors, technical specialists, and creative collaborators. It is poised to become one of the most significant cultural and economic catalysts in West Africa.
In a world where creative exports have become a major source of national influence, from Nollywood films to Afrobeats, digital arts to global fashion, infrastructure is destiny. Nigeria’s young creators generate some of the world’s most consumed cultural content, yet the ecosystem has lacked the physical and institutional support systems needed to harness that potential fully.
The revitalised National Theatre is therefore a launchpad for Nigeria’s next creative era.
With Access Bank’s long-standing commitment to empowering Africa’s creative industries, the revival blends heritage with innovation, history with ambition, and art with economic development.
From art fairs to creative hubs, sustainability initiatives to youth empowerment, Access Bank continues to champion platforms that inspire, educate, and elevate communities across the country.
By supporting the transformation of the National Theatre, the Bank has once again placed itself at the heart of Nigeria’s cultural renewal, bridging past and future, preserving heritage, and building an ecosystem where creativity can thrive without limits.
Metro
Aare Emmanuelking Hails Akarigbo, Abiodun on 2025 Remo Day, Canvasses Sustained Cultural Progress
The Otun Akile of Remoland and Chief Executive Officer of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, KOF, has extended formal felicitations to the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, and all sons and daughters of Remoland on the occasion of the 2nd Remo Day Celebration, described the event as a significant affirmation of Remo heritage, unity, and progress.
In a goodwill message to mark the celebration, Aare Emmanuelking noted that Remo Day reflects the resilience, cultural pride, and collective aspiration of the Remo people, whose unity continues to drive sustainable growth and communal advancement.
He commended His Royal Majesty for his visionary leadership and praised the traditional institution’s stabilising role in promoting peace, cultural continuity, and good governance across Remoland.
Aare Emmanuelking also acknowledged the presence of the Executive Governor of Ogun State at the celebration, describing it as a demonstration of solidarity with the Remo people. He saluted the Governor’s purposeful leadership and commitment to good governance, noting the positive impact of his administration’s development policies across the state.
According to him, Remo Day transcends ceremony, serving as a symbolic homecoming that honours the sacrifices of the forebears while strengthening unity and shared responsibility for development.
He further applauded the contributions of Remo indigenes at home and in the diaspora, whose enterprise and collaboration continue to position Remoland as a centre of economic vitality and social harmony.
“As a proud son of Remoland, I am inspired by the unity and sense of purpose that define our people,” he stated, adding that the celebration should further deepen cohesion and accelerate sustainable development.
On behalf of his family, the Board of Directors, and the Management of Adron Group, he wished His Royal Majesty and all Remo sons and daughters a successful and memorable Remo Day celebration.
He concluded with prayers for the continued peace, prosperity, and development of Remoland and Ogun State, reaffirming his loyalty and commitment to the land and its people.
By Tolulope A. Adegoke PhD
“In an age of ceaseless disruption, the wisest pause is to acknowledge the Unchanging Hand—the divine grace that guides our progress, steadies our systems, and writes our story of possibilities with a wisdom no trend can outpace.” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
We are living through an age of acceleration. Technological advancements, from generative artificial intelligence to biotechnology, are not just evolving; they are fundamentally rewriting the rules of human enterprise on a near-daily basis. Concurrently, the global community faces layered, systemic challenges—climate volatility, geopolitical fragmentation, economic precarity, and a pervasive sense of institutional distrust. This relentless churn of innovation and crisis can foster a worldview dominated by pure mechanistic cause and effect, where outcomes are seen solely as the result of data-driven strategy, relentless hustle, or fortunate access to capital.
Yet, within the complex tapestry of human progress—across personal biographies, corporate histories, and the annals of nations—there persists a recurring, almost whispered, narrative. It speaks of moments that defy straightforward analysis: the serendipitous encounter that alters a career trajectory, the breakthrough insight that arrives after all logical solutions are exhausted, the organizational resilience that emerges from a crisis in ways no risk-management model predicted, or the diplomatic breakthrough that occurs against all odds when conflict seemed inevitable. For millennia, across diverse faiths and philosophies, this dimension of experience has been attributed to a higher guiding force—often termed the Hand of God. It represents the divine interaction where diligent human effort intersects with transcendent grace, producing outcomes that feel orchestrated, purposeful, and imbued with a meaning beyond mere happenstance.
In our contemporary context, recognizing this force is not an act of intellectual retreat. On the contrary, it is an exercise in profound clarity and emotional intelligence. It provides the essential counterbalance to the hubris of absolute human control and the anxiety bred by uncertainty. It compels us to a vital, transformative pause—a sacred interval for introspection on our core values, retrospection on the journey thus far, and a heartfelt posture of gratitude for the grace that navigates our collective voyage through these uncharted waters. This pause is not an empty space; it is the fertile ground from which wiser action, more sustainable leadership, and deeper hope can grow.
For the Individual: Cultivating Purpose in an Age of Digital Determinism
The modern professional landscape is increasingly mediated by algorithms that curate opportunities, assess productivity, and even suggest career paths. Personal worth is often unconsciously tied to metrics of digital engagement and visible output, leading to a quiet epidemic of burnout and existential doubt. In this environment, the most meaningful developments frequently occur outside these digital parameters.
Consider the pattern: a sudden redundancy, initially a devastating blow, becomes the forced catalyst for launching a purpose-driven venture that aligns with a long-held passion. A chance conversation during a delayed flight leads to a mentorship that shapes a leader’s ethical compass for decades. A period of enforced stillness, perhaps due to illness or family need, creates the mental space for a creative or spiritual insight that reorganizes one’s entire life priorities. These are not merely random events; to the perceptive heart, they bear the hallmark of intentional guidance.
The ancient wisdom of Proverbs 19:21 observes, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” This is not a dismissal of ambition or strategic planning. Rather, it is an invitation to hold our plans with open hands. It suggests that our detailed life maps are subject to benevolent divine cartography that can see beyond our immediate horizon. The practice of pausing to acknowledge this reality does several things: it replaces anxiety with a sense of guided adventure, it converts envy of others’ paths into contentment with one’s own unique journey, and it fosters a humility that makes us lifelong learners. Gratitude, in this personal realm, is the conscious acknowledgment that our skills, opportunities, and even our recoveries from failure are gifts to be stewarded, not just assets we have self-manufactured.
For the Organization: Building Legacy in an Era of Stakeholder Capitalism
The 21st-century corporation operates under a blinding spotlight. Stakeholders—including employees, customers, investors, and communities—now demand authentic purpose, ethical transparency, and demonstrable social and environmental stewardship alongside financial performance. This shift from shareholder primacy to stakeholder capitalism represents a profound change in the rules of engagement.
In this new paradigm, principles often relegated to “corporate social responsibility” documents are now central to long-term viability. Organizations that operate with integrity—prioritizing fair wages, sustainable sourcing, and genuine community partnership—often experience a form of capital that cannot be listed on a balance sheet: the capital of trust. This trust manifests as customer loyalty during a misstep, employee advocacy in competitive talent markets, and investor patience during necessary transitions. While these outcomes can be analyzed through the lens of sociology or economics, many faith-informed leaders perceive the outworking of a timeless principle.
The Psalmist notes, “The Lord’s blessing brings wealth, without painful toil for it” (Proverbs 10:22). This is not a promise of effortless profit, but a profound observation that sustainable abundance is often tied to alignment with divine principles of justice, honesty, and generosity. When a company avoids a lucrative but unethical deal, it may be protected from future scandal. When it invests in employee well-being, it cultivates innovation and dedication that drives organic growth. The guiding hand here is seen in the provision of wisdom for complex decisions, the fostering of a cohesive culture amid diversity, and the unexpected market opportunities that align with a company’s core values. The necessary corporate pause involves leadership teams reflecting not only on key performance indicators but on their foundational ethos. Gratitude is expressed by acknowledging that success is a collaborative endeavor with a moral dimension and by reinvesting prosperity into the common good.
For the Nation and the Global Community: Steering the Ship of State with Moral Navigation
The arena of geopolitics and national governance is perhaps where the illusion of pure human control is most dangerous and most easily dispelled. Leaders wield immense power, yet they are constantly confronted by the limits of that power—facing natural disasters, global economic tides, and the unpredictable currents of human history. The rise and fall of empires, the sudden emergence of peace movements, and the avoidance of global catastrophes often contain elements that baffle historians and political scientists.
Instances where conflict is de-escalated through a last-minute change of heart, where scientific collaboration across rival nations yields a solution to a shared threat like a pandemic, or where a society makes a collective turn toward justice and reconciliation after generations of oppression—these moments carry a weight of significance that suggests more than shrewd political calculus. They hint at a moral fabric to history itself.
The prophet Jeremiah, addressing a nation in turmoil, conveyed this divine perspective: “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). This promise, made in a context of exile and despair, underscores a foundational belief: that the ultimate trajectory of a people is held within a providential narrative of hope and redemption. National pauses for thanksgiving, days of reflection, or calls for collective prayer are not merely ceremonial. They are acts of humility that can reorient a society’s focus from fear and division to shared destiny and mutual responsibility. Gratitude on this scale is a powerful antidote to nationalistic arrogance. It reminds a citizenry of its blessings, fosters a spirit of stewardship over its resources, and cultivates a posture of compassion toward other nations and future generations.
Synthesis: Gratitude as the Foundational Posture for a Future of Meaning
Ultimately, to perceive and acknowledge the guiding hand of God is to choose a narrative of profound hope and partnership. It liberates us from the exhausting burden of believing we are the sole authors of our fate. It protects our souls from the corrosive effects of pride in success and despair in failure. This awareness transforms gratitude from a fleeting emotion into a disciplined posture—a foundational lens through which we view our past, engage our present, and anticipate our future.
This posture of gratitude is eminently practical. It makes individuals more resilient and adaptable leaders. It fosters corporate cultures of ethical innovation and long-term thinking. It encourages nations to pursue policies of justice, peace, and environmental care. In a world intoxicated by speed and disruption, the deliberate, heartfelt pause to say “thank you” may be the most strategic and humanizing act available to us. It grounds our frenetic activity in meaning, connects our personal struggles to a larger story of grace, and equips us to build a future that is not only smarter or richer, but wiser and more deeply human. We pause, we recognize, we give thanks—and from that place of humble acknowledgment, we find the clarity and courage to move forward.
When the world moves faster than our understanding, true wisdom is found in the sacred pause: to recognize the Guiding Hand that has written our story of progress, to give thanks for the grace in our journey, and to find courage for the path ahead.
Dr. Tolulope Adeseye Adegoke is by God’s grace a distinguished scholar-practitioner specializing in the intersection of African security, governance, strategic leadership and effective management. His expertise is built on a robust academic foundation—with a PhD, MA, and BA in History and International Studies focused on West African conflicts, terrorism, and regional diplomacy—complemented by high-level professional credentials as a Distinguished Fellow Certified Management Consultant and a Fellow Certified Human Resource Management Professional. He can be reached via: tolulopeadegoke01@gmail.com
