The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced last week that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 15 other political parties taking part in the Edo State governorship election will sign a peace accord ahead of the exercise on September 12.
The same week, the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, decried the politics of bitterness and envy in the country.
These and three other stories we tracked dominated public discourse in the country last week.
1. Parties to sign peace accord in Edo
On August 29, the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said all the 16 political parties taking part in the Edo State governorship election would sign a peace accord ahead of the exercise on September 12.
The parties taking part in the election slated for September 16 are the Accord Party, Action Alliance, African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Others are Action Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Yakubu stated this at an extraordinary meeting with political parties on the election in Abuja.
He said: “You may notice that unlike the previous peace accords signed a few days before the election, INEC decided to do this early this time around.
“This is to enable the Peace Committee to monitor compliance with the code voluntarily signed by parties, candidates, and other critical players in the electoral process such as INEC and the security agencies during the remaining days of the election.”
Why it matters
The growing cases of violence recorded during election cycles in Nigeria have called into question the so-called peace accord initiated by the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee.
The cases of violence reported since preparations for the elections kicked off have heightened fears about the conduct of the exercise.
It thus confirms fears that the peace accord may be a ruse after all and that thuggery and intolerance remain deeply engrained in the country’s political space.
Beyond this jamboree, the time has come for the government to come up with additional measures to deter politicians from undermining the electoral process for their benefit.
2. El-Rufai decries ‘envy’ among Nigeria’s political class
The former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on August 31 decried what he termed as “envy” among Nigeria’s political class.
His comments come amid allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds during his eight-year tenure as governor of the state.
In a lengthy post on the X platform, the ex-governor dismissed the allegations and described envy as an “incurable disease” prevalent among the political class.
He expressed doubt that envy could be cured and stressed the need to confront and degrade it for Nigeria to achieve greatness.
The post read: “WEEKEND REFLECTION: “NONE of us has to fail for ALL of us to succeed. And in unity there is strength.” – @VP Kamala Harris, US Vice President (2021-2024) and Democratic Presidential Candidate at the Democratic National Convention.
“The quote above led me to reflect on the meaning and implications for our situation in Nigeria. Feelings of envy require that EVERYONE fails for ONE to succeed.
“Envy is quite prevalent amongst the key actors in our political system. Competence, capacity, and commitment are some personal leadership qualities that attract the envy of those lacking or deficient in these indices.”
Why it matters
The former governor’s remark shows many view politics, especially in Nigeria, as a “dirty game that is not meant for the decent.”
It is a game that requires you to harm yourself with the proverbial “long spoon” to dine with the “devils” in the country’s political space.
However, El-Rufai’s travails are an indication that he has fallen out of favour with President Bola Tinubu’s government and his party and only divine intervention will steady the ship in the months leading to the next general election.
3. Wike warns PDP governors to stay clear of Rivers affairs
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on August 31 warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors against interfering in the Rivers State political crisis
PDP governors during a meeting in Taraba State on August 23 reaffirmed their support for their Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, on the crisis in the oil-rich state.
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Wike, who spoke during the PDP state congress held at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt, vowed that he would not allow anyone to take over the party’s structure in Rivers State.
Wike said: “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody.
“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”
Why it matters
The latest remark highlights the former governor’s grip on the PDP political structure in Rivers State.
The situation in Rivers is particularly difficult to understand in the sense for the first time in Nigeria’s history an individual is holding two major political parties hostage on account of his past contributions.
While Wike is romancing the All Progressives Congress (APC), he is holding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the balls, putting the party’s leadership in a dilemma on what to do with him.
The development in Rivers has reinforced the call for a tougher approach to whip all contending forces into line and give the state a new lease of life after the rancor of the last 12 months.
4. Ex-Gov faults purchase of presidential jet
Donald Duke
A former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, on August 31 condemned the recent acquisition of a new presidential aircraft by the Federal Government.
Duke, who featured in a Channels Television’s programme, “Inside Sources,” urged President Bola Tinubu to view the Nigerian nation as his family.
He stressed that a leader’s priorities should align with the needs of the people.
He said: “Buying a new aircraft or yacht or living large is a failure. You can’t have kids who are hungry and you are living lavishly, going to parties and wearing the biggest agbada.
“If life is difficult, then I feel I have failed to provide for them or do the things I ought to have done. I would ask him (Tinubu) to see the Nigerian nation as his family. What is good for his family is good for the nation.”
Why it matters
Purchase of a new jet in the face of unprecedented hardship in the country is the height of leadership failure and the former governor’s remark resonated with Nigerians on their opinion about the current administration.
It highlights the culture of bad governance in Nigeria where the citizens have become more determined to hold their leaders accountable and end years of misrule that has brought the nation to its knees.
5. Boko Haram kills three in Yobe school
Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents on August 30 attacked the Faudiya Islamic boarding School in Geidam, Yobe State, and killed three students.
The spokesman for the state police command, Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the incident to journalists in Damaturu.
He said: “Yes, there was an attack on Faudiya Islamic School in Geidam the headquarters of Geidam local government area. The school belongs to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shi’ite)”
“When police received the distress call and rushed to the school, they discovered a total number of 3 students have been killed, while 1 was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment at Geidam Specialists Hospital.”
Why it matters
The latest incident again points to the fragile nature of the country’s security architecture, which is in dire need of rejig to prevent the country’s collapse into total anarchy.
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