Besides, over-concentration of power in the hands of Governors is indeed a fallacy'
- Mahmud Jega
The above quote represents the mood at the public event organised by CDD to commemorate the 20th anniversary of democracy in Nigeria. The following were at the event:
*Prof. Bayo Olukoshi, Director, IDEA - Chairman
*Mahmud Jega, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Daily Trust newspapers - Keynote speaker
*Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor, Ekiti state - Speaker
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Conflict Transformation Expert - Participant
*Hafsat Abiola, Founder, KIND - Speaker
*Aisha Osori, Executive Director, OSIWA - Speaker
*Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Fmr. Minister - Speaker
The occasion was also in memory of two deceased champions of democratic ideals on the African continent - Dr. Tajudeen Abdulrahman (died 10 years ago) and Prof. Abubakar Momoh (died 2 years ago). The consensus was that 'If the battle of yesterday was to rid ourselves of Military rule, today's challenge is to regain our citizenship'.
It was noted that the representation of women in parliament and indeed politics in general, falls short of expectation and it is the lowest in Africa. The masochistic and 'masculinist' nature of Nigeria's politics needs to evolve into a milieu where women are allotted safe spaces to ensure their effective participation in politics. The June 12 saga shows that no matter how long a lie is brandished as the truth, the victim could be vindicated posthumously!
The nature of politics in Nigeria is essentially transactional. This needs to change. As far as the practice of democracy is concerned, we should never let the perfect be the enemy of the little progress we've made. Political parties remain limited liability companies of their founders. This needs to be interrogated in order to allow for internal Party democracy. There are three major areas where citizens need to engage their leaders - Democratic norms, local government issues and citizens' rights.
On the whole, it was realised that democracy is work in progress which we should never tire of fine-tuning...
Related Links
*Lessons from the history of democracy https://t.co/1ZyIzAHPJg
*20 proposals to strengthen democracy & resolve electoral conflicts by Ken Cloke https://lnkd.in/dj-DQJM
*Mo Ibrahim: Addressing Africa's governance issues https://www.thebanker.com/Reports/International-Meetings/View-from-IMF-World-Bank/Mo-Ibrahim-addressing-Africa-s-governance-issues?
*Lamentation for Nigeria @ 59 https://www.sunnewsonline.com/tears-sorrow-blood-lamentation-for-nigeria-at-59/
*Mo Ibrahim: Addressing Africa's governance issues https://www.thebanker.com/Reports/International-Meetings/View-from-IMF-World-Bank/Mo-Ibrahim-addressing-Africa-s-governance-issues?
*Lamentation for Nigeria @ 59 https://www.sunnewsonline.com/tears-sorrow-blood-lamentation-for-nigeria-at-59/
*Edo 2020: Blueprint for better elections in Nigeria https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/09/edo-2020-blueprint-for-better-elections-in-nigeria
*Religion & the consolidation of democracy in Mali: The dog that doesn't bark http://demanddevelopmentjournal.org/.../religion-consolidation-democracy-mali/
*Over 40 companies demonstrate IT solutions as INEC moves towards E-voting https://newsdiaryonline.com/over-40-companies-demonstrate-it-solutions-as-inec-moves-towards-e-voting
*Democracy works better when there is less of it ft.com/content/f68c13a4_1130
*Ideological convergence vs differentiation in Party ideology in Nigeria's 4th Republic https://www.ifra-nigeria.org/.../387online-workshop-14-convergence/
*Shielding elections from Presidential influence: Lessons from Cape Verde, Comoros & Madagascar issafrica.org/research/africa-report/shielding-elections-from-presidential-influence/
*Private gain must no longer be allowed to edge out the public good aeon.co/ideas/private-gain-must-no-longer-be-allowed-to-edge-out-the-public-good/
*Ideological convergence vs differentiation in Party ideology in Nigeria's 4th Republic https://www.ifra-nigeria.org/.../387online-workshop-14-convergence/
*Shielding elections from Presidential influence: Lessons from Cape Verde, Comoros & Madagascar issafrica.org/research/africa-report/shielding-elections-from-presidential-influence/
*Private gain must no longer be allowed to edge out the public good aeon.co/ideas/private-gain-must-no-longer-be-allowed-to-edge-out-the-public-good/
*Pursuing status quo or regime change? A critical analysis of external influence on Presidential term limits in Africa https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-
*Gambia opposition laments failure of bid to curb term limit https://www.reuters.com/...gambia-opposition-laments-failure-of-bid-to-curb-term-limit
*Nigeria: Cultural, economic & political undercurrents in Edo election, September 2020 by CDD https://www.cddwestafrica.org/.../edo-governorship-election #EdoElection #EdoLivesMatter #CDDAnalysisCentre
*Edo governorship election & the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria by Jibrin Ibrahim https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2020/09/25/edo-governorship election-consolidate-democracy/
*Information influence: Disinformation during Edo's 2020 gubernatorial election - The role of social media https://www.cddwestafrica.org/.../information-influence-disinformation/
*Edo poll voter turnout decline worrisome in spite of credible conduct - CDD https://www.vanguardngr.com.cdd.ampproject.org/.../amp/
*Nigeria: Mainstreaming Constituency needs into Legislative Agenda https://leadership.ng/.../mainstreaming-constituency-needs-agenda.../
*How democracies die by Steven Levitsky et al https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com>books>how-democracies-die...
*Africa needs to decolonise the democratic model to include responsive & afro-centric practices https://twitter.com/MatlosaKhabele
*Why good leaders make us feel safe ted.com/talks/simon-sinek-why-good-leaders-make-us-feel-safe/
*A new Eurafrica partnership by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Mo Ibrahim & Etienne Darignon https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/eu-africa-cooperation-jobs-migration-by-ellen-johnson-sirleaf-et-al-2019
*Democracy is damaged when people are afraid to speak out https://m.economictimes.com/opinion/interviews/democracy-is-damaged-when-people-are-afraid-to-speak-out-amartya-sen/
*Liberian lawmakers cut their salaries to save money for citizens in 2020 budget https://www.legit.ng/1266043-liberia-lawmakers-cut-salaries-by-30-cent-budget.html
*Can we can create an empathic alternative to the capitalist market? https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/empathy-capitalism
*Nigeria: Lessons from 8th NASS & need to improve legislative representation https://www.legit.ng/1266575-opinion-lessons-8th-assembly-improve-legislative-representation-by-moshood-isah.html
*Democracy is not for sale, INEC warns vote buyers https://www.thecable.ng/democract-is-not-for-sale-inec
*The facade of liberal democracy https://africasacountry.com/2019/10/the-facade-of-liberal-democracy/
*Need for progressive synergy between the executive and the legislative arms of government https://www.legit.ng/1268967-opinion-need-progressive-synergy-between-executive-legislative-arms-of-government/
*The history of riot shows the importance of democratic tumult by Antonia Malchik https://aeon.co/essays/the-history-of-riot-shows...
*The Executive Branch by Harry Truman https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/three-branches/executive-branch.../
*The future of democracy in Africa issafrica.org/research/papers/the-future-democracy-africa/
*Putting governance at the centre of Africa's development mo.ibrahim.foundation/
*We have advanced Nigeria's democracy - YIAGA Africa https://www.blueprint.ng/we-have-advanced-nigerias-democracy
*Infinity &beyond: Governance in fragile states chrisunderwoodsblog.com
*Democracy is damaged when people are afraid to speak out https://m.economictimes.com/opinion/interviews/democracy-is-damaged-when-people-afraid-speak-out/
*What Nigeria must do to avoid World Bank's 'worst case scenario' allafrica.com/stories/202001210002.html/
*West Africa's key polls in 2020: Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Togo https;//buff.ly/2RjTMwT
*Monarchies are gradually disappearing https://theweek.com/articles/889866/monarchies-are-fast-disappearing/
*Political Vigilante Groups in Ghana's democratic governance: Some policy options https://www.ssrc.org/publications/view/political-vigilante-groups-in-ghanas-democratic governance
*Nigeria: Political Parties' de-registration & next steps https://newsdiaryonline.com/political-parties-deregistration-next-steps/
*What's behind rising authoritarianism? https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/whats-behind-rising-authoritarianism/
*Why Foucault's work on 'power' is important aeon.co/essays/why-foucaults-work-on-power-is-important/
*Democracy must not become the silent victim of the CoV pandemic - Kofi Annan Foundation kofiannanfoundation.org/articles/open-letter-democracy-must-not-become-the-silent-victim-of-cov-pandemic/
*Policy on 'Conducting elections in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic' https://www.inecnigeria.org/wp-content/upoloads/2020/05/inec-policy-on-conducting-elections-in-covid-19.pdf
*INEC okays e-voting for 2021 https://t.co/90zawzdV6q?amp=1
*Why democracies do better at surviving pandemics chatamhouse.org/expert/comment/why-democracies-do-better-at-managing-pandemics/
*How democracies die by Steven Levitsky et al https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com>books>how-democracies-die...
*Africa needs to decolonise the democratic model to include responsive & afro-centric practices https://twitter.com/MatlosaKhabele
*Why good leaders make us feel safe ted.com/talks/simon-sinek-why-good-leaders-make-us-feel-safe/
*A new Eurafrica partnership by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Mo Ibrahim & Etienne Darignon https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/eu-africa-cooperation-jobs-migration-by-ellen-johnson-sirleaf-et-al-2019
*Democracy is damaged when people are afraid to speak out https://m.economictimes.com/opinion/interviews/democracy-is-damaged-when-people-are-afraid-to-speak-out-amartya-sen/
*Liberian lawmakers cut their salaries to save money for citizens in 2020 budget https://www.legit.ng/1266043-liberia-lawmakers-cut-salaries-by-30-cent-budget.html
*Can we can create an empathic alternative to the capitalist market? https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/empathy-capitalism
*Nigeria: Lessons from 8th NASS & need to improve legislative representation https://www.legit.ng/1266575-opinion-lessons-8th-assembly-improve-legislative-representation-by-moshood-isah.html
*Democracy is not for sale, INEC warns vote buyers https://www.thecable.ng/democract-is-not-for-sale-inec
*The facade of liberal democracy https://africasacountry.com/2019/10/the-facade-of-liberal-democracy/
*Need for progressive synergy between the executive and the legislative arms of government https://www.legit.ng/1268967-opinion-need-progressive-synergy-between-executive-legislative-arms-of-government/
*The history of riot shows the importance of democratic tumult by Antonia Malchik https://aeon.co/essays/the-history-of-riot-shows...
*The Executive Branch by Harry Truman https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/three-branches/executive-branch.../
*The future of democracy in Africa issafrica.org/research/papers/the-future-democracy-africa/
*Putting governance at the centre of Africa's development mo.ibrahim.foundation/
*We have advanced Nigeria's democracy - YIAGA Africa https://www.blueprint.ng/we-have-advanced-nigerias-democracy
*Infinity &beyond: Governance in fragile states chrisunderwoodsblog.com
*Democracy is damaged when people are afraid to speak out https://m.economictimes.com/opinion/interviews/democracy-is-damaged-when-people-afraid-speak-out/
*What Nigeria must do to avoid World Bank's 'worst case scenario' allafrica.com/stories/202001210002.html/
*West Africa's key polls in 2020: Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Togo https;//buff.ly/2RjTMwT
*Monarchies are gradually disappearing https://theweek.com/articles/889866/monarchies-are-fast-disappearing/
*Political Vigilante Groups in Ghana's democratic governance: Some policy options https://www.ssrc.org/publications/view/political-vigilante-groups-in-ghanas-democratic governance
*Nigeria: Political Parties' de-registration & next steps https://newsdiaryonline.com/political-parties-deregistration-next-steps/
*What's behind rising authoritarianism? https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/whats-behind-rising-authoritarianism/
*Why Foucault's work on 'power' is important aeon.co/essays/why-foucaults-work-on-power-is-important/
*Democracy must not become the silent victim of the CoV pandemic - Kofi Annan Foundation kofiannanfoundation.org/articles/open-letter-democracy-must-not-become-the-silent-victim-of-cov-pandemic/
*Policy on 'Conducting elections in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic' https://www.inecnigeria.org/wp-content/upoloads/2020/05/inec-policy-on-conducting-elections-in-covid-19.pdf
*INEC okays e-voting for 2021 https://t.co/90zawzdV6q?amp=1
*Why democracies do better at surviving pandemics chatamhouse.org/expert/comment/why-democracies-do-better-at-managing-pandemics/
*The role of CSOs in a democracy https://nickopoku.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-role-of-csos.html
*What is the Mali coup telling Africa? https://allafrica.com/stories/202008270717.html
*Political insecurity in West Africa: A call for democratic stability & peaceful elections https://www.wanep.org/wanep/index.php?opinion...political-insecurity-in-west-africa-call-for-democratic-stability-peaceful-elections
*Elections amid Covid-19 and public safety https://nextierspd.com/elections-amid-covid-19-public-safety
*Africa rising: Navigating the nexus between rhetoric & emerging reality https://lnkd.in/gpUxbce
*Mali: Lessons on elections for Nigeria & West Africa theafricareport.com
*3rd term for Presidents of Cote d'Ivoire & Guinea must be stopped https://issafrica.org/iss-today/third-terms-for-presidents-of-cotedivoire-guinea-must-be-topped/
*Good governance as the lynchpin for Africa's progress in the face of Covid-19 & climate threats https://news.trust.org/item/2020092.../
*Analysis: Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis throws US November 2020 election into chaos, threatens governing crisis https://cnn.it/3jCtOR
*US: Christianity, character & the Presidency https://link.medium.com/
*Nigeria: Ondo election: Police arrests many for electoral offences guardian.ng
*Ondo Gubernatorial election: Up to N600,000 allocated for vote buying per polling unit - CDD https://punch,ng.com/up-to-n600000-allocated-for-vote-buying-per-polling-booth #CDDAnalysisCentre #OndoDecides 2020
*Mali's transitional government: The danger of the junta clinging to power https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_malis_transitional_government.../
*Constitutional Review & the Restructuring of the Nigerian Federation by Friends of Democracy opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2020/10/14/constitutional-review-restructuring-nigerian-federation/
*It is not about dismantling SARS, it is about democratising Nigeria by Jibrin Ibrahim newsdiaryonline.com/its-not-about-dismantling-sars-its-about-democratising-nigeria/
*Violent reprisal of peaceful protests constitute dangerous assault on citizens' Constitutional rights - CDD https;//www.cddwestafrica.org/violent-reprisal-peaceful-protest-assault-on-constitutional-rights-of-citizens/
*Polls in peril: West Africa's 2020 elections - CDD cddwestafrica.org
*INEC's conduct of Ondo guber poll improvement on Edo poll - CDD https://m.guardian.ng/politics/inecs-conduct-ondo-polls-improvement-on-edo.../
*Power failure: Why have young people fallen out of love with democracy? theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/20/power-failure-why-young-people-dont-like-democracy/
*INEC, new normal & Nigeria's quest for credible elections guardian.ng/politics/inec-new-normal-nigerias-quest-credible-elections/
*Towards human rights approach to citizenship & nationality struggles in Africa demanddevelopmentjournal.org
*YIAGA Africa's memo submitted to the Nigerian Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters on the Bill for an Act on The Protection from Internet Falsehood & Manipulations & for other related matters https://www.yiaga.org/social-media-bill-not-reasonably-justifiable--in-a-democratic-society/
*Polls in peril: West Africa's 2020 elections cddelibrary.org
*The task ahead for the newly re-elected INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu https://leadership.ng/as-inec-boss-braces-up-for-task-ahead/
*INEC releases 2019 election report, recommends electronic voting premiumtimesng.com/news/424921-inec-releases-2019-election-report.../
*Higher stakes with the re-appointment of INEC boss https://www.legit.ng/1381507-opinion-higher-stakes.../
*Nigeria spending more on elections, but voter turn out keeps decreasing premiumtimesng.com
*Politics, dialogue & the evolution of democracy goodmediapress.com
*Imaging shows how the brain drives political divides webmd.com
*There's a crack in everything, that's how light gets in - Leonard Cohen on Democracy & its redemption https://www.brainspickings.org/2016/11/10/leonard-cohen-democracy/
*How to save democracy from technology www-foreignaffairs-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states-2020-11-24/fukuyama.../
*Africa watches Ghana's 'boring' Presidential race with envy: Relative lack of violence, vote rigging, etc ft.com
*Nigeria's 2023 elections: In pursuit of electoral reforms that serve the common good - Samson Itodo https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/.../nigerias-2023-elections.../
*Ghana's opposition candidate, Mahama, rejects election results punchng.com
*'Policy, dialogue & the evolution of democracy' by Ken Cloke https;//www.goodmediapress.com/product-page/politics-dialogue-the-evolution-of-democracy
*Why democracy thrives in some countries and not in others economist.com
*When we take democracy for granted https://www.linhedin.com/pulse/when-we-take-democracy-granted-arne-sorenson/
*America's lessons for African dictators mg.co.za/africa/2021-01.../ via mail&guardian
Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ the event
