State of the Nation: New party may emerge from PDP

Top stakeholders across the country spent the greater part of last week networking North to South on how to save the country, in the light of security and political challenges besetting the nation. It was gathered that arrowheads of the initiative were reaching out to former presidents and heads of state, prominent retired military chiefs,... Read More

democracy, Goodluck Jonathan, nigeria, north, olusegun obasanjo, PDP, south

June 12, 2013

Hafsat Abiola-Costello: June 12 – Twenty years after the people’s movement

by Hafsat Abiola-Costello But today is not a day for sorrow. No, not even when the main beneficiaries of his sacrifice fail to honor the ideals for which these true democrats laid down their lives; not even when the national leadership since 1999 has sought to wipe MKO’s name out of our living memory. Twenty... Read More

Chief MKO Abiola, democracy, elections, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, Ibrahim Babangida, june 12, MDGs, nigeria

June 12, 2013

Bola Ahmed Tinubu: June 12 is our beacon in the dark

by Bola Ahmed Tinubu In the end, there is no end. That is the essential lesson of June 12. A nation never keeps democracy except it continually fights for it. To slumber is to lose. These words from Charles Dickens befit the 20th anniversary of the most bittersweet event in the history of Nigerian electoral... Read More

APC, democracy, development, election, Goodluck Jonathan, Governance, INEC, june 12, mko Abiola, nigeria

June 2, 2013

Tatalo Alamu: Nigeria’s democracy is merely a political roadshow

by Tatalo Alamu Whenever democracy becomes this routinised and ritualised, you can be sure that it has been emptied of all its formal content. The vastly urbanised and cosmopolitan Yoruba people of Nigeria have a sub-genre embedded in their prodigious dramatic repertoire. It is known as Alarinjo or Travelling Theatre. It is mobile and instant... Read More

Alarinjo, democracy, Gooluck Jonathan, olusegun obasanjo, Sani Abacha, Tatalo Alamu, Travelling Theatre

May 30, 2013

Democracy, democracy – & more in today’s round-up with Cheta Nwanze

by Chxta ….Our own job in this arrangement, is to make sure that the government do their jobs, which is why we must be vigilant Yesterday was democracy day, 14 years of sticking to “government by the people”. Has it worked for Nigeria? Is Nigeria now indivisible as our Prez and lead Gavel would have us believe? Away from all the... Read More

democracy, embarrassing politicians, government by the people, Militants, Nasarawa, opinion

May 24, 2013

NGF election: “Today our democracy was tested and proven” – Amaechi gives acceptance speech; Akpabio rejects outcome

by Isi Esene In a curious twist to the conclusion of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum election of which the governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Chibuike Anaechi was announced winner, the governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio and a few other PDP governors have described the election was a sham. Briefing newsmen after the election,... Read More

democracy, Goodluck Jonathan, Jonah Jang, NGF, nigeria, Rivers, Rotimi Amaechi

May 17, 2013

Opinion: How our legal system in Nigeria become the bastard child

by Ayo Sogunro Don’t get fooled by the litigious nature of today’s topic. Frankly, we don’t like lawyers much. They tend to be an overbearing, cagey, self-infatuated, narrow-minded, briefcase slinging lot with an overblown estimation of their own relevance. Today’s post is not a free advert for lawyers, so don’t punch a hole through your... Read More

bastard, democracy, Kirikiri, lawyer, legal system

May 15, 2013

Bola Tinubu: State of emergency – President Jonathan’s ploy to subvert constitutional democracy

by Bola Tinubu If development is about the people, all measures put in place for the sustenance and maintenance of the super-structure of the society must take into cognisance local contents. It is now abundantly clear that President Jonathan has finally bared his fangs confirming what was widely speculated. By declaring a state of emergency... Read More

acn, adamawa, APC, boko haram, bola tinubu, Borno, democracy, Goodluck Jonathan, PDP, Politics, State of emergency, yobe

March 28, 2013

Opinion: Democracy has enshrined bad leadership in Nigeria

by Simon Sylvester Shanum Fast forward fourteen years later and we are still searching for one key ingredient needed for development and nation build – quality leadership. The expectations of citizens for good governance were quite high when Nigeria returned to the democratic system of government in 1999. Nigerians were looking forward to reaping the dividends... Read More

democracy, Leadership, nigeria, Simon Shanum

February 28, 2013

Opinion: The evolution of our democracy – A few thoughts

by Tunde Leye The PDP’s early dominance, the fragmented and often individualistic opposition, the patronage system in politics, the more formidable opposition that is emerging and the events that will unfold as this plays out are part of this evolution. It is often a tempting fantasy to assume that our experiences as a nation are... Read More

acn, democracy, Evolution, PDP, thoughts, Tunde Leye

February 27, 2013

Opinion: Influencing policy: Where is our organised lobby?

by Chijioke Kaduru Lobbying has internationally become acclaimed as a part of representative democracy and like other democratic institutions, lobbying has its own best practices, which include understanding clients and government work, obeying laws, disclosing processes and building strong relations and connections. In a country with 109 senators and 360 members of the house of... Read More

democracy, House of Representatives, Lobby, Lobbying, Lobbyists, nigeria

February 4, 2013

Cheta Nwanze: On freedom of expression (Y! FrontPage)

To my knowledge, Mr. Uzochukwu’s article has been removed from this site after he made a request to its editor. That, dear reader, is where we are on a slippery slope. Just before he died in 1543, Nikolaus Kopernikus published a book titled “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium” (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres). Its... Read More

Cheta Nwanze, democracy, freedom of expression, Giovanni Tolosani, nigeria, Nikolaus Kopernikus, Y! Frontpage

February 3, 2013

Opinion: ‘Speak and let others speak’ – The cost of freedom of speech

by Myar Kalsaki-Kamag There must be a renewed vigor in elevated levels of maturity that allow us to come to terms with the responsibility we all have in creating a platform and network capable of influencing and enacting positive change. To be or not to be… this is the ultimate question, a question that spurs... Read More

democracy, freedom, Kerry Brock, Religion, Speech

November 21, 2012

Japheth Omojuwa: Activists and active citizens: A new order (YNaija FrontPage)

When I get referred to as an activist and I remember the stories of the real heroes of our democracy, I apologize to their memory because I am not worthy of lacing their shoes in the park of activism. You would think it was all about the progress of our land and the enrichment of... Read More

activist, civil rule, democracy, government, japheth omojuwa, nigeria, YNaija Frontpage

November 17, 2012

Temie Giwa: On self government (YNaija FrontPage)

America has its problems, many of them major and possibly fatal, however its democracy seems to work most of the time and when it doesn’t, it self corrects. So why is Nigeria so different? Would you consider that you are as responsible for the state of this country as anyone else is? Or does that... Read More

America, democracy, nigeria, nuhu ribadu, self-government, Temie Giwa-Tubosun, YNaija Frontpage

November 11, 2012

Hauwa Gambo: All I want to say is, thank you, America (YNaija Frontpage)

Whether the rest of the world hates America’s guts or not, they have to admit those guys know how to run a democracy! On Wednesday, the Olympics of politics finally drew to an end as Barack Obama, candidate of the Democratic Party for the United States Presidential election retained his place as his country’s 44th... Read More

babatunde Fashola, barack obama, democracy, frontpage, Hauwa Gambo, lagos, Mitt Romney, okada, US elections, US Presidential Elections, ynaija, YNaija Frontpage

September 19, 2012

UNILAG or MAULAG? Bill seeking name-change passes second reading

by Isi Esene Students and Alumni of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) continue to wallow in suspense as the bill seeking the institution’s name change to the Moshood Abiola University of Lagos (MAUL) passes second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives. President Goodluck Jonathan had in a nationwide broadcast announced the name... Read More

Alumni, democracy, Goodluck Jonathan, House of Representatives, maul, Moshood Abiola, senate, students, UNILAG, University

September 15, 2012

Temie Giwa: A silent National Assembly (YNaija FrontPage)

How can a multi millionaire understand the pressing plight of the average Nigerian when his or her life is so far removed from their reality? The uselessness of the federal legislative body is best explained by the fact that most people don’t even bother to write about it. It enjoys the incredible gift of being... Read More

democracy, emie Giwa, legislature, national assembly, senators

September 12, 2012

Opinion: Between youth and violence

by Emmanuel Onwubiko and Nneka Okonkwo From all indication, youth unemployment is a menace in Nigeria and constitutes a real danger and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. IN Nigeria, democracy has been restored over a decade ago, with so much hope and expectations by the people. For instance, it is assumed that with democracy, people... Read More

democracy, Emmanuel Onwubiko, government, Leadership, Nneka Okonkwo, unemployment, youth

July 31, 2012

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji: Between patriotism and truthfulness (YNaija FrontPage)

Step on their necks till they can’t breathe Claim they five stars but sell you dreams – Pusha-T (The New God Flow) I have a small circle of foreigner friends who unfortunately think of me as a trusted source of information about the validity of business opportunities in Nigeria.... Read More

democracy, iyinoluwa aboyeji, nigeria

July 27, 2012

Opinion: The bad example from the Nigerian Bar Association

by Azuka Onwuka Lawyers call themselves learned men. They take pride in that. Other professions don’t like that self-proclaimed laurel, but there is nothing they can do about it. During the dark days of military dictatorship in Nigeria, the most vociferous advocates of democracy and human rights in the country had, predictably, been the lawyers.... Read More

Azuka Onwuka, democracy, independence, lawyers, Nigerian Bar Association

July 24, 2012

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji: The language of change (YNaija FrontPage)

“Make over offices/Then take over all of it” – Jay Z (Corporate Takeover) I am usually not skeptic about ambitious projects, especially when undertaken by young, passionate individuals. As a young person myself, I know that ignorance informed by lack of experience is our greatest weapon in changing the... Read More

democracy, iyinoluwa aboyeji, nigeria

July 18, 2012

“Without PDP, the Republic will collapse” – President Jonathan

by Adeniyi Abdul Nigerians don’t appreciate the Peoples Democratic Party enough; if President Jonathan’s latest words are anything to go by. But he doesn’t mind, as, in his opinion, it’s only a testament to how “robust” the party is. Speaking at the 60th National Executive Committee, NEC meeting of the PDP in Abuja, President Goodluck... Read More

democracy, Goodluck Jonathan, nigeria, PDP

June 21, 2012

Funke Aboyade: Are we really ready for democracy?

Frankly, we are only proving true the axiom that Nigerians have short memories. How else can one explain our reckless and irresponsible actions as a nation since 1999, The unfolding scandal of the past week and a half is yet another in a long series of corruption scandals involving key government actors, particularly at... Read More

democracy, farouk lawan, Femi Otedola, Funke Aboyade, occupy nigeria

June 9, 2012

Dele Momodu: The MKO Abiola name has elevated the Unilag brand

by Dele Momodu Fellow Nigerians, please, let me say it the way it is said in African traditional societies, Chief Moshood Abiola’s head is not sleeping in heaven. The man is as mentally alert as he was on earth. He has refused to let go his mandate which was hijacked in a classic case of... Read More

Abiola, democracy, jonathan, june 12

May 29, 2012

YNaija Editorial: Who says this is not a democracy?

In the seemingly endless battle for the soul of Nigeria (whatever and wherever that is), both sides – or all the different sides – seem to have settled upon an unwritten consensus; that untruths and exaggeration are legitimate tools for engagement. We’ll take you on an uncomfortable journey through a few of them. It is... Read More

democracy, freedom, government, governors, jonathan, opposition