News
Opinion: That Malaria Dream of Interim National Government
By Solomon Idachaba
The preposterous proposition for an Interim National Government currently championed by some individuals and groups is indicative of an underlying illness perhaps being suffered by those calling for it. There is definitely no doubt that such persons are nothing but desperate and pathetic miscreants trying to grasp at straws as a last bid to achieve the demented ambition of clinching power. Like drowning men, the illusions of installing a caretaker government is indeed their only hope of satisfying wicked, selfish and inglorious interests. Nothing justifies these senseless calls for Interim government in Nigeria considering that a seamless democratic form of Government has been practiced in the past two decades.
In fact, the country has just successfully conducted its seasonal elections from which a new government was duly elected and will be sworn in on 29th May, 2023. Not only that, the current security atmosphere has remained relatively peaceful and normalcy has returned with citizens going about their daily activities. Only naysayers are grandstanding.
So on what grounds are the despicable agitations for an interim national Government? On what basis should it be formed? Is Nigeria in a crisis situation? Are we in any emergency or chaotic circumstances? Is the Nation bedevilled with violence or experiencing general sense of instability? The answer is NO! It is crystal clear that these psychotic agitators of a government that could threaten the country’s existence are acutely diseased by Malaria and its accompanying symptoms of a high fever thereby blindsiding their thought processes. Otherwise, those calling for it, would have understood its meaning. Nigeria has bid bye even to the circumstances that once warranted it. Its justification is clearly non-existent in our statutes.
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, the tradition of transition from one government to another has been steady and ceremonial every May 29. Curiously, these unwarranted palpitations for interim government started prior to the 2023 general elections apparently by those who have calculated their chances of winning the elections and were certain of a resounding defeat.
When out of the blues, the likes of Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) in the last quarter of 2022, called for an Interim Government after the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, what came to mind was that the 93-year-old “elder statesman” was daydreaming.
For Babalola and his other unstated cohorts, the sentiments upon which an ING is premised or perceived cannot even hold water. All the illogical reasons are old fashioned. To push their agenda forward, after the general election and following their abysmal failure to win, which of course, was in tune with their earlier predictions of failing at the polls, they collaborated with subversive groups and dubious interests, thus, the recent growing pressure to install an interim government. Once again, I ask, on what grounds?
One thing that is clear is that those beating the drums for Interim National Government are hell bent on truncating our cherished democracy and eroding the gains and growth achieved as a country in the last 24 years. These Malaria stricken persons calling for such, must understand that this ill-advised option is not a silver bullet solution to Nigeria’s problems. approach to address them. An interim government will not in any way solve our underlying problems. But alas, these enemies of Nigeria, its peace, stability and progress are ignorant.
The so called clamour for an interim government is definitely a ploy by political elites, failed politicians and agents of destabilisation to gain power. It is not an exaggeration that these persons are not interested in addressing the problems facing the country but rather in securing political and economic influence in addition to other personal gains. But these fruitless efforts are nothing but a lost cause. Nigerians have spoken through the ballots and elected their next President that will take over the mantle of leadership come 29th May. No amount of threats, mischief or propaganda will stop or prevent this peaceful transition.
Contrary to the lies and falsehood being circulated by fake news merchants, President Buhari has strongly assured that he would indeed hand over power to the newly elected President. Those peddling fake news and spreading baseless conspiracy theories around the inevitable transmission of power on democracy day are only beating a dead horse. Their ploy will never come to fruition; only disgraceful defeats await them. The Country’s electoral umpire has advised those aggrieved by the outcome of the 2023 general elections to seek legal redress. And they are doing so.
It beats rationality that they would want to be on the street and in the courts. Let them choose one. If they choose the streets and recalcitrance, let them be treated as dissidents and outlaws. But if they are in the courts, let them be served justice. During the waiting time, let us all be patient, law abiding and of good behaviour. Those Malaria afflicted peddlers of an inconceivable and futile interim government should take full dose of their drugs and be healed.
Idachaba writes from Makurdi, Benue State
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the service of court documents on the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Professor Pat Utomi, in relation to a suit pending over his alleged plan to establish a shadow government in the country.
The Department of State Services (DSS), in the suit, argued that not only is the planned shadow government an aberration, but it also constitutes a grave attack on the Constitution and a threat to the current democratically elected government.
Justice Omotosho granted an ex parte motion argued by the counsel for the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, ordering service of court documents on Utomi, listed as the sole defendant, at his Lagos address using courier service.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case to June 25 for hearing, before which Utomi is expected to have filed his defence.
In the suit instituted on May 13, the DSS expressed concern that such a structure, styled as a “shadow government,” if left unchecked, might incite political unrest, cause inter-group tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which pose a grave threat to national security.
The plaintiff wants the court to declare the purported “shadow government” or “shadow cabinet” being planned by Utomi and his associates as “unconstitutional and amounts to an attempt to create a parallel authority not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
The DSS is also seeking a declaration that “under Sections 1(1), 1(2) and 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, the establishment or operation of any governmental authority or structure outside the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is unconstitutional, null, and void”.
The plaintiff wants the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Utomi, his agents and associates “from further taking any steps towards the establishment or operation of a ‘shadow government,’ ‘shadow cabinet’ or any similar entity not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
Among the grounds on which the plaintiff is hinging its prayers is that Section 1(1) of the Constitution declares its supremacy and binding force on all persons and authorities in Nigeria.
It added that Section 1(2) prohibits the governance of Nigeria or any part thereof except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
According to the DSS, Section 14 (2Xa) states that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, from whom the government, through the Constitution, derives all its powers and authority.It is contending that Utomi’s proposed shadow government lacks constitutional recognition and authority, thereby contravening the aforementioned provisions.
The plaintiff further stated, in a supporting affidavit, that it is the principal domestic intelligence and security agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, statutorily mandated to detect and prevent threats to the internal security of Nigeria, including subversive activities capable of undermining national unity, peace, and constitutional order.
The DSS added that it is statutorily empowered to safeguard the internal security of Nigeria and prevent any threats to the lawful authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constituent institutions.It states that it has monitored, “through intelligence reports and open source material, public statements and interviews granted by the defendant, in which he announced the purported establishment of what he termed a ‘shadow government’ or ‘shadow cabinet’, comprising several persons that make up its ‘minister.’
“The ‘shadow government’ or ‘shadow cabinet’ is an unregistered and unrecognised body claiming to operate as an alternative government. Contrary to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).“
The defendant (Utomi), through public statements, social media, and other platforms, has announced the formation of this body with the intent to challenge the legitimacy of the democratically elected government of Nigeria,” it said.
“Based on the intelligence gathered by the plaintiff, the activities and statements made by the defendant and his associates are capable of misleading segments of the Nigerian public, weakening confidence in the legitimacy of the elected government, and fuelling public disaffection.
“It is in the interest of justice, national security, and the rule of law for this honourable court to declare the existence and operations of the defendant unconstitutional and illegal,” it added.
Digital solutions company, Globacom, has advised young girls to dream big and never to be deterred in the pursuit of their dreams and aspirations, promising that the company would always be behind them to power their ambitions.
Adeboye Adeniji, Vertical Head, Financial Institutions and HNI at Globacom, shared this encouraging insight with a select group of secondary school students during the 13th edition of the Girls in ICT Day observance in Lagos. The event, which had students from various secondary schools in Lagos, was organised by e-businesslife Communications Limited.
She called on girls not to see themselves as users of technology service, but to see and envision themselves as creators, leaders, and innovators.
“At Globacom, we know that when girls have the tools, the training, and the confidence, there is no limit to what you can achieve. Whether you dream of becoming a software engineer, a robotics expert, a cybersecurity analyst, or even the next big tech CEO – it’s all possible”, she said.
Warning the girls not to be discouraged from pursuing their dreams, Adeniji advised them not to let “anyone tell you tech is ‘only for boys’. You are smart enough. You are strong enough. And you have every right to dream as big as you want”.
She counselled the students to “keep learning, stay curious, ask questions, and never be afraid to try, because the future of technology in Nigeria isn’t just being built in labs and boardrooms but in classrooms”.
She promised that Globacom, a wholly owned Nigerian brand, will always be ready to support the dreams and aspirations of young people in Nigeria. “We believe in you, we support you, and we can’t wait to see how you’ll change the world” she added.
The convener of the yearly event, who is also the CEO of E-Business Life Communication Limited, Mrs Ufuoma Emuophedaro, while welcoming the students and guests to the event, noted that the “world of ICT holds limitless possibilities. It is a realm where creativity knows no bounds, innovation thrives, and dreams are transformed into reality through lines of code and digital solutions. Yet, despite its vast potential, the representation of women in this field remains disproportionately low.”
She said her effort is geared towards challenging the narratives, breaking down the barriers, defying stereotypes, and paving the way for a “future where every girl, regardless of background or circumstance, feels empowered to pursue her passion for technology.
“That means ensuring that women and girls have equal access to leadership training, career development, scholarships, and fellowships. It means addressing gender bias and challenging societal norms and stereotypes that discourage girls from pursuing ICT careers,” she noted.
Apart from lectures, round table discussion and a quiz, the students from the various schools also demonstrated their prowess in developing obstacle-avoiding robots. Though they were not perfect at it, but their commendable efforts indicated the growing interests of young girls in ICT and science.
The South East Senate Caucus has expressed worry over what it described as a ‘curious and highly suspicious’ JAMB examination glitch at some centres in Lagos and especially in the whole of Southeast in the last exam circle.
They blamed it on “injecting hateful politics and narrow parochial considerations in both policy enunciation and its implementations”.
In a statement on Saturday in Abuja by its Chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), the caucus said it would be disheartening and hopes not to contemplate such conspiracy theory “that there is a narrow agenda being pursued to deliberately shortchange and harm the future of our children”.
Though the caucus, after a careful assessment of the reports of the ugly incident, noted with cautious optimism the efforts being made to mitigate the near disaster, particularly the rescheduling of the examination, it, however, warns that a future reoccurrence will be unacceptable.
Nonetheless, Southeast senators, he added, welcomed the timely acceptance of fault as expressed through the open declaration of regrets and tearful apology by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) management, particularly its registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
According to Senator Abaribe, the Southeast lawmakers hope and warn that such a display of penitence in public would not be an effort to mask a future sinister agenda aimed at harming the educational advancement of children of the southeast region.
Abaribe said: “The so-called glitch, as curious and suspicious as it was, is enough to erode confidence and dangerously lower national pride among the future generation.
“The relevant national education drivers must recognise the inherent danger of injecting hateful politics and narrow parochial considerations in both policy enunciation and its implementations.
“That the glitch happened in the whole of South East raises pertinent questions that must be answered by JAMB to assuage the growing frustrations and fears among the people of the region, particularly the children who are directly at the receiving end. We must pursue a Nigerian agenda and not a narrow one that will ultimately injure national unity.
“Education remains one of the most important bedrocks of any society’s advancement. It is one major index of development in every facet of life that can never be faulted. Education is a major pivot that triggers national development. Every child is entitled to it; therefore, we must not play roulette with it.
He said that the South East Senate Caucus is alert and under pressure as it unequivocally demands firm assurance from JAMB and other relevant national educational policy drivers that there will never be a recurrence of such a scandalous glitch in the future.
