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GEJ Insist Problem of Africa, the Making of Leaders Who Fail to Respect Laws
GEJ Insist Problem of Africa, the Making of Leaders Who Fail to Respect Laws
By: Michael Mike
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has decried that the problems of Africa is the making of leaders who do not respect their nation’s laws, calling on the electorate to elect only leaders who will respect the laws of the land.
Jonathan, who is ECOWAS special envoy, made the call on Tuesday while officially opening the second annual retreat for special envoys and high officials representing Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on Constitutional Transitions and Unconstitutional Changes of Governments, organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in collaboration with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He said: “I believe that we need to elect leaders who will respect their laws. If our leaders – Presidents, Prime Ministers, the parliament and the judiciary – would respect our laws, I believe that 70 per cent of our problems would be solved.”
The former Nigerian President while commending the organisers of the summit, enjoined them to get leaders involved, stressing that: “I have always said that for us to move forward, key political leaders need to be involved.
“Sometimes, these conversations are very brilliant but how do we make sure it works? It is like the debate between having strong institutions and having a strong man. No matter how strong the institutions are, there are some kind of characters that trample on the institutions and nothing will happen.
“So, we need somebody who means well for the people, and who can make strong institutions work. There will be two forces jamming; the force of the president and the force of the head of an institution and the head of an institution can not stand the president, especially in African countries.”
He advised the organisers to bring African presidents and other leaders together to make key decisions on how to bring inclusivity to their governance process.
Jonathan while admitting that the theme of the event was timely given the pace of rising insecurity, mounting social tension, and the number of unconstitutional transitions and unconstitutional changes of governments in Africa, expressed optimism that concrete and actionable recommendations would be generated from the retreat to respond in a sustainable and inclusive manner to these complex situations.
The former ruler who emphasized the need to sustain democracy in Africa, said: “I have always said that there is a strong connection between democracy and development, hence the need to deepen democracy, make it more inclusive and strengthen the institutions of governance, towards building a stable and prosperous society.
“A dialogue on inclusivity should explore the process through which RECs and Special Envoys are responding to constitutional transitions and Unconstitutional changes of governments, and the need to strengthen structures for credible elections, peace mediations and good governance.”
Earlier in his remark, Secretary-General of International IDEA, Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, said the key finding emanating from the organisation’s signature publication, the Global State of Democracy Report which assesses democratic performance in 173 countries shows that this is the sixth consecutive year of democratic deterioration globally, the longest such sequence is witnessed since our records started in 1975.
He added that: “Over two-thirds of the world’s population now lives in non-democratic regimes or in countries where democracy is visibly retreating. Our report documents the considerable pressures faced by democratic governments everywhere: rising populism; declining trust in institutions; runaway polarization; unmet social expectations; pressing environmental challenges; and an increasingly toxic information environment.”
Casas-Zamora also said: “We document in our report the visible rise in unconstitutional changes of government, particularly in West Africa; the increase in violence in so many places in the continent, including, in tragical fashion, in Sudan; and the problematic presence everywhere of an increasingly naked geopolitical competition and of widespread dissatisfaction with the workings of democracy.”
In his keynote address, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdul-Fatau Musah noted the excuse of insecurity used by military juntas to overthrow democratically elected leaders was not tenable against the backdrop that insecurity has continued to grow under them.
He added that it become more untenable considering that it is the sector that is saddled with security that are putting up the claim, which in actual fact should be seen as their failure.
He said it has become imperative not to leave the transition position back to democratic rule in this hands of juntas, insisting that they should be made to vacate power and put in place a transition government made of civilians.
GEJ Insist Problem of Africa, the Making of Leaders Who Fail to Respect Laws
News
Primaries: Aspirants protest imposition of Reps candidates in Adamawa
Primaries: Aspirants protest imposition of Reps candidates in Adamawa
The Forum of House of Representatives Aspirants of Numan /Demsa/Lamurde Federal Constituency under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa has protested what it described as imposition of candidates in the just concluded primary elections in the state.
Speaking during the peaceful protest in Numan Local Government Area, Adamawa, Vrati Nzonzo, the spokesperson of the Forum said, the committee responsible for the conduct of the exercise and the party officials failed to abide by the rules of the game.
Nzonzo said the rules for electing candidates were through consensus or direct primaries but stressed that none of the rules were observed.
According to him, with what happened, their mandate was stolen and given to someone who did not deserve the candidacy.
“The election was supposed to be Consensus or Direct primaries but we opposed the consensus and there were no direct primaries across the Constituency”, he said.
PNzonzo called on the National Chairman APC and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to ensure justice and fairness for the victory of the party else they threatened that they won’t vote for the party at the general elections.
Justina Nkon another aspirant also condemned the conduct of the primary election across the constituency.
According to her, the electorate were at the venue of the primaries from 8:00a.m and no officials showed up until 2:00 p.m and later on they said they had conducted the election without seeing any election materials.
She urged Fintiri to live up to the promise he made at the time of his campaign that he would not betray the people in the state.
“It’s now under your watch as the leader of the party we are witnessing the undemocratic process of primary elections by enforcing candidates who have not been elected by the people in the Constituency”, she said.
According to her, the so-called primary elections are unconstitutional, hence the need to conduct a free, fair and credible primary elections.
Usoko ken-Supule, another aspirant, demanded justice and fairness for every aspirant and for the progress of the party in the constituency, state and the country at large.
“We want justice for the progress of the party and without fairness there is no progress, therefore we are respectful party loyalists.
“We are not happy in view of what happened and we are disappointed; we are calling on the party leadership and the state governor to consider the plight of the masses”, he said.
Primaries: Aspirants protest imposition of Reps candidates in Adamawa
News
Zulum Assures Immediate Relief Items, Dignified Resettlement of Displaced Persons in Monguno
Zulum Assures Immediate Relief Items, Dignified Resettlement of Displaced Persons in Monguno
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has assured displaced communities affected by insecurity that the government is working closely with the Nigerian military hierarchy to provide immediate humanitarian and long-term support.
Governor Zulum gave the assurance when he visited displaced persons in Monguno town on Sunday, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring dignified resettlement back to their ancestral communities.

While at the IDP camp, the governor interacted directly with displaced families as women, children and elderly residents gathered around him while he listened to their concerns.
“We have examined the situation critically alongside the hierarchy of the Nigerian military, and it has been concluded that we shall provide immediate humanitarian support to these displaced communities, especially in the areas of water, shelter, and sanitation,” Zulum stated.

“Apart from this, we shall also ensure that medium and longer-term sustainable solutions are being adopted, which is acceptable to this community and their ancestral home,” he said.
“We will improve the living conditions of the displaced persons; we will not allow our citizens to endure such hardship without urgent government intervention.”
He also urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and activities within their communities, noting that sustaining peace and security requires collective responsibility.
“Security is everybody’s business. Communities must continue to support security agencies with timely and useful information,” the governor stated.

Governor Zulum disclosed that there are over 50,000 returnees in Marte, stressing that plans were underway to facilitate the return of more displaced persons to the town as part of the medium and longer-term solution.
He immediately directed the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner for Local Government, the Commissioner for Internal Security, and the Chairman of Marte Local Government Area to work out the modalities for implementing the recommendations adopted.
The governor sympathized with the people affected by the recent insecurity and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting them.
As part of the visit, Governor Zulum also met with health workers at the Monguno Eye Hospital, commending them for continuing to provide medical services despite difficult working conditions and limited resources. He announced financial support to improve their welfare and encourage greater commitment to healthcare delivery in the area.
The governor also visited the Commanding Officer of Forward Operation Base (FOB) Mairari for a security brief.
Governor Zulum was accompanied by the Senator representing Borno North, Senator Mohanmed Tahir Monguno; Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, Member Representing Marte, Monguno, Nganzai, Hon. Bukar Talba, Secretary to the state government, Bukar Tijani, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Sugun Mai Mele, alongside other government officials.
Zulum Assures Immediate Relief Items, Dignified Resettlement of Displaced Persons in Monguno
News
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site in Rivers Forest
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site in Rivers Forest
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 103 Battalion operating under the Joint Task Force South-South Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) have discovered an illegal refining site in the Orashi National Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Military sources said the operation was conducted between 10:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on May 15, 2026, as part of ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region.
According to the sources, troops uncovered an illegal refining site containing one large drum oven, one reservoir, one large coolant, two receivers, two waste pits, and two galvanised pipes measuring about 50 metres each.
The site was suspected to have been used for the illegal processing of stolen crude oil and petroleum products.
The sources said the discovered items were handled in accordance with operational directives of Operation Delta Safe.
Security authorities reiterated their commitment to sustaining operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining activities and economic sabotage across the Niger Delta region.
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site in Rivers Forest
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