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US Election: Lessons for Nigeria [OPINION]
Published
9 months agoon
By
Editor
By Suyi Ayodele
We are a nation in perpetual contrast! We claim to want the best for our country. But at every election turn, we hand over the country to those who have the lowest mental aptitude to govern a complex country like Nigeria!
In the heat of the 2015 election between President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, I asked one of the Buhari supporters, a PhD holder, why he would support Buhari who paraded a questionable West African School Certificate (WASC) qualification against Jonathan, with a PhD. His response determined our relationship since then. “Even if it is a goat, I will still vote for him against Jonathan!”, he told me. The result is what we are seeing today. When you vote for a goat, you don’t expect the agility of a lion from it!
The first five chapters of Chude Jideonwo’s book, with contribution from Ademola Williams, How to Win Elections in Africa (2017), contain interesting topics. The chapters which run from page one through page 32 have the sub-topics: Legacy doesn’t matter as much as it used to, Change matters. Period.; Anger matters, more than you know; Establishment matters and Candidates matter, first and foremost.
The authors, on the qualities of candidates, say: “All the messaging in the world, all the ideas in the world, all the great plans and purposes and visions in the world amount to nothing if they cannot find the candidate who embodies this, that expresses it and that symbolises it” (Page 26).
The excerpt above underscores the importance of the competence of any candidate who seeks to rule over a people. The greatest problem bedevilling Nigeria, I say without hesitation, is leadership, quality leadership.
We have been so unfortunate in the last 25 years to have had almost the dreg of humanity at the helm of our affairs as a nation. The situation has been more terrible for Nigeria in the last nine and half years under the administrations of President Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Buhari was elected in 2015 under the guise of a pseudo-legacy of honesty, discipline and a strong stance against corruption. Nigerians learnt too late to realise that all the robes Buhari was decorated with were borrowed ones and misfits in fabrics, sizes and styles. Under his watch, corruption wore three-piece suits on the streets of Nigeria while the Mai Gaskiya kept on picking his teeth!
Buhari’s successor, President Tinubu, gained access to the Aso Rock Villa because his handlers were able to successfully sell the dummy of a man with inimitable legacies of sterling performances when he held sway as the governor of Lagos State.
All attempts to convince the people, especially the poor masses, that the masquerade they were asked to come and behold at the political arena in 2023 was nothing but a normal human being with guttural voice and terrestrial robes, fell on deaf ears. Today, we are all victims of the terrible choice we made last year. The tendency that we may remain victims of the lacklustre performance of Tinubu for the next six and half years is very high.
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In the United States (US), today, November 5, citizens will be out to elect a new president who will take over power in January 2025. I have followed the US election with little or no interest. The problems at home here are more than enough to bother about what happens or does not happen in the US.
I agree that whoever becomes the president of the so-called God’s Own Country will have multiple effects on us here in Nigeria and the entire world. It is not lost on me, nor on many Nigerians, that Nigeria has rarely benefitted anything from the Western. In fact, the West often takes more than triple of whatever it offers us! Regardless of who emerges as the US president, their primary focus will always be “America First”!
This is where I think we should focus our attention. We should, in my own thinking, begin to ask if there will be a time when we will have a leader who will put Nigeria first before his personal ambition. That is the biggest lesson I have learnt from the US election and its electoral processes so far.
The US is not a Superpower because God created it to be so from day one. No! Leaders after leaders developed the country to be what it is today because the US has been fortunate to have leaders who think “America First”.
Nothing captures this more than the attitude of the incumbent President Joe Biden. Biden had sought to be US president for a second term. He was the choice of his party, the Democratic Party, until the love for the country came in and he had to bow to public opinion by yielding the stage to a more robust candidate, Kamala Harris, a woman and Biden’s Vice President.
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The US is an institutionalised country. Nobody aspires to be the president without subjecting himself or herself to public scrutiny. It is not a place where a president-to-be will call the bluff of the people and refuse to participate in public debates.
The presidential debate in the US goes beyond an avenue to lay before the people, the presidential candidates’ programmes and plans. The presidential debate is essentially the avenue provided for the mass of the people to test the mental capacity of whoever aspires to lead the country.
The US has developed to that level of political maturity where the beauty of a candidate’s manifesto does not sway voters. While manifestoes are valuable, citizens prioritise the candidates’ ability to read the manifestoes, understand and effectively implement the ideas and ideals outlined in these documents.
This is what Jideonwo and co point out when they posit that: “All the messaging in the world, all the ideas in the world, all the great plans and purposes and visions in the world amount to nothing if they cannot find the candidate who embodies this, that expresses it and that symbolises it” (op cit).
The above test is what President Biden failed during the June 27, 2024, presidential debate with his main challenger then, former President Donald Trump, who is also running as the Republican candidate in today’s election in the US.
At the debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta and watched by over 51 million viewers in the country, President Biden was rated poor in all ramifications and his performance was declared by Elliot Morris and Kaleigh Rogers of ABC News’ 538 as a “disaster.”
One major weak point that the public noticed in Biden’s performance at the debate was his “frequent loss of train thought while he gave meandering, confused answers.” The general opinion was that Biden failed to convince anyone that he had the capacity and capability for another four years.
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Little wonder all hands; party officials, fundraisers, undecided voters and volunteers, were up for him to step aside. The Democratic Party and the public correctly judged his mental ability. Biden had no choice but to step down for his vice president, Harris, to take over.
That is one of the beauties of the US democracy; the very one Nigeria claims to have copied. One single debate took Biden out of the race. But what do we have in Nigeria? How do we test the mental preparedness of our would-be presidents?
I have read a lot of comments by Nigerians about the US election and the Trump versus Biden debate. I have friends who were promoters of the spine-chilling cliche of “Buhari-can-have-NEPA-bill” – a reaction to the argument that beyond having no minimum certificate to contest the 2015 election, Buhari does not possess any inspiring mental aptitude for the office he sought- jumping and calling for Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
I did not also find it amusing that many Nigerians who did not see any wrong in President Tinubu asking his aides to answer questions thrown at him at the charade called Chatham House outing in 2023, pontificating on the Biden debate with Trump!
It is on record today that since 2015, there has been no presidential election debate in Nigeria. Yet, within that period, we have held three consecutive presidential elections in 2025, 2019 and 2023. The implication is that for the past nine and half years, Nigerians have never had the opportunity to assess the mental aptitude of their would-be presidents.
The argument has always been that debates have nothing to do with performance! This argument, sadly, is the position of many Nigerians who stayed glued to their TV sets, keeping vigils, to watch the US presidential debates between Trump and Biden, and between Trump and Harris!
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This lazy mental reasoning also played out in the recent Edo State governorship election where the two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), refused to push forward their candidates for any debate.
Ours is a nation where all a Fulani man needs to be president is to line up all the Almajiris of the North behind his candidature and his Yoruba counterpart to enlist the support of all street-urchins of Lagos on the election day! The Igbo candidate, of course, can always bank upon the home support of the Nzobu nzobu orchestra of Ndigboland!
A nation that sacrifices merit for mediocrity can never rise above the mediocrity of its leaders. The physiological, physical, mental and character configuration of a leader matter. The health and mental fitness of a president will have negative or positive effects on his output. This is why we should not support any candidate who is not willing to put his mental and health issues to test at public debates before any election. If Biden had not participated in the June 27, 2024, presidential debate, the Democratic Party would have fielded a “disaster” as its flagbearer.
Nobody gives what he does not have. We have dwelt too much on lies and propaganda. We keep dressing dregs of humanity in our country in the celestial robes of Angels. We place ethnicity above competence and go after money at the expense of our collective future.
Those who should not hold the lowest councillorship positions are leaders of governments and legislative bodies in Nigeria today. We elect leaders based on sentiments and we expect them to be fair, just and equitable. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Check out all the leaders in the executive and legislative posts; what do you find?
A last quote from Jideonwo: “Elections begin with candidacies. And often, they rise and fall on candidates. If the essential candidacy is defective or inadequate, almost everything else is doomed to fail.” Do we need a further prognosis of our woes?
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NAS Offers Free Medical Services To Over 800 Residents In Imo Community
Published
1 hour agoon
August 3, 2025By
Editor
National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has provided free medical services to more than 800 residents of the Orogwe community in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State as part of the association’s humanitarian service.
The medical mission, held at the National Primary Healthcare Centre, was part of the association’s 49th National Konverge and Annual General Meeting in Owerri.
The event offered diagnosis, treatment, and essential medications to hundreds of community members, many of whom had been unable to access healthcare due to financial hardship.
NAS Cap’n, Dr Joseph Oteri, said the initiative was part of the confraternity’s broader vision to support vulnerable communities and bring healthcare directly to those most in need.
“This programme targets those who ordinarily cannot afford basic healthcare, especially treatment for non-communicable diseases,” Oteri said.
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“Today, we attended to a child with a serious condition. Thankfully, we had a paediatrician on the ground who stabilised her and referred her to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. We’ve also identified a few cases that will require surgery, and we plan to support their hospital bills.”
He emphasised that NAS, formed in 1952 by seven young idealists including Imo-born Ralph Opara, has evolved into a formidable force for social advocacy, committed to humanitarian and civic interventions.
Dispelling common misconceptions about the association, Oteri said: “We are not a cult group. We exist to protect the downtrodden and drive positive societal change.”
The association’s Chief Programme Officer, Chief Bart Akelemor, echoed this commitment, stressing that the NAS legacy is one of access, equity, and community service.
“Our mission is to promote a just society where citizens can access resources such as healthcare, education, and employment,” Akelemor said.
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“With Nigeria’s growing population and the acute shortage of doctors and functioning medical facilities in rural areas, bringing this medical outreach to Orogwe is both timely and necessary.”
According to him, 41 volunteer doctors, drawn from across Nigeria and the diaspora, participated in the programme, attending to hundreds of patients with ailments ranging from malaria and hypertension to vision and dental issues.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Chizoba Igwe, who received treatment for malaria, described the initiative as a “life-saving intervention.”
“With the way things are in the country now, I couldn’t afford hospital bills or medication,” she said.
“This free treatment is a big relief. Many people here share the same feeling.”
READ ALSO: Seadogs Pyrates Provide Free Medical Services To Benin Residents
Another resident, Mrs Mmesoma Njoku, received medicated glasses after undergoing an eye test.
“I’ve been struggling with my sight for a while, but couldn’t go to the hospital because of money. Today, I not only got tested, but they gave me glasses that now help me read tiny print. I am truly grateful,” she said.
NAS Medical Pyrate, Dr Chiazor Odoemene, confirmed that over 800 residents were treated during the outreach, with critical cases referred to public hospitals for further management.
Beyond healthcare, the association also launched an arts exhibition aimed at promoting awareness around good governance, security, poverty alleviation, and Nigeria’s path to a more prosperous future.
The medical outreach has been lauded as a meaningful complement to the efforts of the Imo State Government in improving healthcare access and delivery, particularly in underserved areas.
News
2027: Otuaro Urges N’Delta Youth To Resist Politicians’ Ploy To Destabilise Region
Published
3 hours agoon
August 3, 2025By
Editor
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has warned ex-agitators in the Niger Delta to resist being manipulated by desperate politicians plotting to destabilise peace in the Niger Delta, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of a three-day strategic Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation training organised by the PAP in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, Otuaro expressed concern over the recent rise in politically-charged rhetoric and some politicians’ coordinated attempt to pit ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the programme against the Federal Government.
In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Igoniko Oduma, on Sunday, he added that such moves were “reckless and unnecessary,” especially in light of President Bola Tinubu’s demonstrable commitment to the region.
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“There is no basis for anyone to cause destabilisation. We can all see the commitment of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Ex-agitators and beneficiaries in general should not be deceived and distracted by some politicians,” Otuaro told the ex-agitators and stakeholders.
He cautioned that any calls for confrontation or disaffection at this time were “not only misplaced but also harmful to the gains we have recorded,” urging stakeholders to focus on peace, stability, and progress in the region.
According to Otuaro, the Tinubu administration has backed its support with tangible action.
“Be assured that nobody will do it better than President Tinubu. As Niger Delta people, we have to thank the President for his genuine love for the Presidential Amnesty Programme and our region as a whole.
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“The President has expanded the budget of the programme, allowing us to reach more beneficiaries and strengthen our reintegration and rehabilitation initiatives,” he stated.
He also pointed out that the inclusion of Niger Delta citizens in key federal positions was further evidence of Tinubu’s goodwill.
“Furthermore, Niger Deltans have been appointed to strategic positions in key ministries and agencies. This level of inclusion is unprecedented and deserves acknowledgement. All we need to do is to be united for the President,” Otuaro declared.
The PAP boss, who presented certificates to participants of the training and later hosted them at a reception at the PAP headquarters, reiterated his commitment to sustaining peace and building human capital in the region.
He further called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to keep sensitising the youth to reject political manipulation, stating that “Lasting progress can only be achieved through cooperation, not conflict.”
News
Afenifere Hails UN For Declaring July 7 World Amotekun Day
Published
3 hours agoon
August 3, 2025By
Editor
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Sunday, commended the United Nations following its declaration of July 7 of every year as “World Amotekun Day.”
Afenifere’s position was contained in a statement released by its national publicity secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
It would be recalled that Amotekun’s formal recognition by the UN was made public last week by the President of the World Peace, Ambassador Peer Stafsen, while presenting the certificate of affiliation to the Commandant of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, in Akure, the state capital.
Represented by the Director of Information and Communications of the association, Ambassador Markwili Mgbara, Stafsen said the recognition was due to the activities of Amotekun corps in “promoting safety and protecting lives and property across Nigeria’s South-West region.”
The affiliation certificate was issued under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the International Association of World Peace Advocacy.
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Afenifere’s statement said the recognition of Amotekun by the UN was unprecedented in this part of the globe.
“Amotekun’s invitation to attend meetings of the body’s affiliates on security and human rights is a big morale booster.
“It is also a testament that those who brought it about and have been sustaining it were exemplary, as further attested to by some states in Nigeria who have shown interest in replicating the concept in their respective areas.
“The World Peace is part of the global body, the UN. Ondo State is significant on the issue of Amotekun as its former Governor, late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), was pivotal in the establishment of the corps.
READ ALSO: Amotekun Arrests Suspected Drug Kingpin In Ogun
“With this recognition, the South-West Security Network (Amotekun) will now be officially attending the United Nations’ annual general meeting starting with the one coming up in New York, United States of America, on September 22, 2025, which will mark the 80th anniversary of the global body,” the statement partly read.
Afenifere said the certification of the security outfit confirmed the affiliation of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps as a trained security unit recognised by the UN.
Ajayi also lauded the late former Governor Akeredolu, who, along with his fellow governors in the South-West, then were steadfast in ensuring that the security outfit took off and was sustained, in spite of the obstacles placed on its ways in various guises.
“Amotekun was launched on January 9, 2020, in Ibadan, Oyo State, by the governors of the South West, i.e. Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States.
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“The establishment of the security outfit emanated from the regional security summit that took place in Ibadan in June 2019 under the auspices of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission,” Ajayi stated.
Afenifere’s spokesperson submitted that the formal invitation to attend annual security meeting is a clear indication that the establishment of the outfit was a very good step to take.
He recalled that Amotekun, in its early formation, faced a lot of avoidable challenges, especially from the Federal Government then led by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
READ ALSO:Protest In Osun Over Alleged Amotekun’s Arrest, Detention Of Community Chiefs
Ajayi praised the governors in the region for not succumbing to intimidation then.
In his words, “Their not succumbing to intimidation has helped greatly in checking crimes in the region and in reducing the menace of armed bandits, including unscrupulous Fulani herders who are making going to farms perilous.”
The national publicity secretary then called on the governments of the southwestern states to leverage on the latest international recognition.
“We seize this opportunity to also call for an expeditious action on the establishment of state police and the provision of all that is needed to ensure that crime and banditry are reduced to the barest minimum,” he added.
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