Several eminent Nigerians, former governors and past public office holders expressed fears on Monday over the falling standards of democracy in Nigeria, arguing that it left much to be desired.

They voiced their fears at a colloquium held at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel to mark the 60th birthday celebration of former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, which was chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Also in attendance were former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and the immediate past Governor of Katsina, Aminu Masari.

In his keynote address titled ‘Is Democracy Failing in Africa?’ Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, lamented that it seemed like Nigeria’s democracy only worked for a few selected persons.

The cleric also noted that such feeling had fuelled a debate on the suitability of the Nigerian Constitution, which had constantly put pressure on the judiciary.

He said, “We as Africans inherited a system that is not ours, but we can’t say it is not relevant to us. There are differences between democracy in Asia and that of Africa. I feel sorry for judges. At the last election, even small me, I had people calling me, complaining, talk to this, talk to that.

“There was pressure on judges to deliver justice. I agree that there’s an urgent need to clean up the mess. Democracy is about everything, and it’s about justice. Democracy and its principles are endless contestations. There are certain things God has given us which people can’t control.”

Kukah urged politicians to borrow a leaf from the cat-and-mouse relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku, which he said also helped to deepen democracy.

“The relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku is like a Catholic marriage. You will quarrel without breaking up. No constitution will be better than the Bible and Koran. Yet, we are still living in sin. The weaponisation of religion is a big problem in Nigeria.

“Democracy is a work in progress. God doesn’t discriminate against either Christian or Muslim prayers. If we are not treating each other rightly, one must be a bastard.”

But Obi disagreed with Kukah’s assertion that Nigeria’s democracy was a work in progress.

According to him, many progressive minded leaders from 1999 have been striving to raise the bar of the country’s democracy to an enviable height.

“They started in 199, and laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to the decking while others were trying to raise it to the first floor. And then, some people came and knocked everything down.

“That is the situation we are now. Everything has been knocked down. Nothing works. I am somebody who can say this exemplarily. I became a governor through the court when President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar were in government.

“I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my office and the court declared me the winner when the governor was hosting them. It can’t happen in Nigeria today,” he bemoaned.

To buttress how low the country had gone, Obi recalled the incident that transpired during his impeachment as Anambra governor, saying he was surprised to see the emissaries former President Obasanjo sent to intervene on his behalf.

The former LP presidential candidate noted that the likes of Ken Nnamani, a former Senate President, came pleading profusely with the state House of Assembly members not to impeach him.

He said, “Today, the President will impeach the person. So, it has collapsed and failed. These people were begging the House of Assembly not to impeach me. They were in PDP and I was in APGA. President Obasanjo was calling me, asking ‘Peter, are you okay?’ Even when I was impeached, Obasanjo called me and said ‘Are you safe?’

“When the court eventually declared me winner, President Yar’ Adua called me while I was in London and said, ‘congratulations.’ I said, ‘Mr President, I can’t come back. He said, ‘tell me the flight you are coming back with.’ I told him. When I came back, the military came to receive me at the airport. I couldn’t believe it.

“They took me straight to him (Yar’ Adua). Now, the President would ask me not to come back here again. So, democracy has failed. Let’s talk about how to rebuild it because it is collapsing.”

On his part, Obasanjo said what Africawas practising today was a mere reflection of ‘representative democracy.’

“Abraham Lincoln describes it as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But what do we have today? The Greek democracy affects everyone. Democracy has now become representative democracy and it hasn’t taken care of everyone.

“Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it didn’t have our culture and way of lives. You will say, ‘go to court’ when you know that you can’t get justice. Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa,” Obasanjo said.

Speaking at the event, Atiku reflected on the price many leaders paid for the realisation of democratic rule.

“In my case, I ran into exile because Abacha was very hostile,” he said.

The former Vice President, however, praised Ihedioha for remaining loyal despite belonging to different political platforms.

“Emeka and I have kept this relationship and till today I have found him extremely loyal, dedicated and focused even though sometimes we found ourselves on different political divides but we kept our relationship and I think that testifies with the kind of person Emeka is,” he said.

Former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal believes Nigerians can make democracy thrive as long as everybody is willing to play their roles.

An emotional Tambuwal, who condemned the recent state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, criticised the National Assembly for the unconstitutional manner it approved it.

He said, “Democracy will work if the actors play by the rules. It’s work in progress. Under OBJ (Obasanjo), state of emergency was declared. The NASS worked together to ensure that 2/3 majority passed the emergency. Each member had to vote.

“In this same NASS we have same constitution. What happened in the last one? We need to chase out the bad operators in democracy.”

Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, however, said it was high time Nigeria reviewed the 1999 Constitution to address the plethora of problems plaguing its structure.

According to him, the country cannot afford to lose its enviable status in the international community.

“As Commonwealth Secretary-General, I helped members to transit to multi-party democracy. We need a new constitution to address many challenges. True federalism is the answer to the management of national issues. The recent coups in Mali and Niger tend to take us back.

“The nature of our politics and the conduct of our politicians is another problem of our democracy. They have become instruments of capturing political power. It’s only true, stable democratic governance that can rid our country of the crises which impede development.

“I believe that Nigeria can change this Eurocentric narrative. We in Africa and Nigeria have a responsibility to get a stable democracy and change the Eurocentric narrative,” he stated.

However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, holds a contrary view.

While acknowledging Nigeria is plagued by significant challenges, Abbas emphasised that the country was making steady progress.

He said, “For me, it depends on what we make of democracy in Africa. Only by understanding that, and deeply reflecting on it, can we be in a position to say if democracy has added value to development and growth in the continent or not.

“For me and the 10th House of Representatives, democracy has come to stay in Africa and indeed Nigeria. It is a process which over the past two decades has crystalised into an acceptable model of leadership and it is being consolidated in our nation. Nigeria is making steady progress despite varying challenges characteristic of a developing nation.

“One of the basic features of democracy is the periodic conduct of elections to choose leaders. This is the essence of democracy.”

ormer Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has disclosed how ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo suggested Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, and ex-Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019.

Atiku said despite settling for Obi and ignoring the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, he was accused of not consulting widely for taking his decision.

He disclosed this in an interview with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie and published by Daily Trust on Wednesday.

According to Atiku: “In 2019, when I won the ticket in Port Harcourt, I came back here and then went straight to Abeokuta to meet my boss, President Obasanjo, and told him, ‘Mr. President, I have got the ticket.’

“So he asked me, he said, ‘Okay, from where is your running mate going to come from?’ I said, of course, it’s either South-east or South-west. He said, ‘No, leave South-west because I was there for eight years. Go to the South-east.’ I said, ‘Okay, sir.’

“So I told him Ngozi was not a member of our party. I believe if I forward the name to the party, they will reject it. He said, ‘Okay. What about Soludo?’ I said Soludo too was not a member of our party, so they will not accept.

“And he said, ‘What about Peter Obi?’ I said Peter Obi is a member of the party. So that was it. So I came back here in this very same building, very same room, and it was a morning meeting of the party leaders—Uche Secondus and others, including Wike himself and Tambuwal.

“I remember there were about seven of them. I said, ‘Look, I have been to my boss, and this is what he said. Do you have any objection? You are leaders of the party and also leaders of the governors’ forum.”

Atiku said after they assured him that they had no objection, he asked them to announce Obi as his running mate.

“They said I did not consult with the party enough. So in 2023, I threw the whole thing to the party. I said, ‘Okay, set up a committee and recommend three people for me to pick as running mate,” he added.

The founding fathers and faithful leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been urged to rally round and save the party from imminent implosion and total collapse.

The former attorney general and commissioner for Justice in Ekiti state, Mr Owoseni Ajayi who stated this said some dissidents are bent on destroying the party with their anti-party activities.

Ajayi, who was a Commissioner under former governor, Ayodele Fayose administration while speaking with LEADERSHIP in Ado Ekiti, said stakeholders who were there when the party was formed and have benefitted immensely from the party structure must take action to end the crisis within PDP.

“People like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator David Mark, Chief Bode George, Senator CK Awoyelu, Senator Sule Lamido, Senator Bukola Saraki and other leaders of the party, all of them should come together to save and rescue the party from its present crisis,so that Nigeria will not become a one party state”.

He posited that some forces, who claimed to be leaders of the PDP in Abuja are allegedly hobnobbing with the ruling APC and have been running the party as a branch of APC.

“The crisis in the PDP is a crisis of ego of the personalities in the party. Because the structure of the party is under the dissidents, there are no people to challenge them, so the issue of disciplining them does not arise.

“The publicity secretary of PDP, the national legal adviser, have been taking steps in order to correct the bad image the party is having , but some leaders don’t subscribe to having peace in the party.

“In Ekiti state here, the party will want to conduct a congress, in compliance with the constitution of the party, but the former governor will now go to court using his cronies to institute legal action to stop the party from conducting congress and to the PDP, he is with the ruling party.”

Ajayi alleged that they are using the resources of the federal government to fight and destabilise the opposition party where they claim to be members.

“Using the resources of the federal government to install stooge… across all the structures of the PDP in the country.”

The senior lawyer counselled President Bola Tinubu to be wary of the people who are ground standing, claiming they want him to have a seamless second term.

“They shouldn’t allow them to truncate democracy, because if there is no viable opposition in any nation’s democracy, people will turn somewhere else which may not augur well for our democracy.

“When you stifle and clip the hope of people in the opposition, and come to the conclusion of no hope in democracy for them, it will not be in the interest of democracy in Nigeria.”

He added that what is going on in all APC controlled states suggests that the country is moving towards one party state and the ongoing crisis in Rivers, Osun and other states not controlled by APC points to that fact.

President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, southern governors, northern governors and the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, led the avalanche of tributes for elder statesman, Edwin Clark, who died on Monday, aged 97 years.

Clark’s demise was announced in a statement released by his family on Tuesday morning.

The statement read, “The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce the passing of Chief (Dr.) Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON on Monday 17th February 2025.

“Born in Kiagbodo, in the Ijaw area of what is now Delta State, late Clark attended primary and secondary schools at Effurun, Okrika and Afugbene before completing further studies at the Government Teacher Training College, which later became Delta State University, Abraka. Thereafter, he worked briefly as a school teacher before travelling abroad to earn a law degree.

“He worked with the administrations of military governor Samuel Ogbemudia and head of state, General Yakubu Gowon between 1966 and 1975. In 1966, he was a member of an advisory committee to the military governor of the Mid-Western Region province, David Ejoor and was appointed Federal Commissioner of Information in 1975.

“May his soul rest in peace, Amen.”

FG, others render tributes

Leading the tributes, President Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, mourned the transition to the great beyond of a real patriot.

The President noted that Clark was a courageous leader who stood for what he believed in and was never afraid to stand alone in the face of injustice.

“Chief Clark spoke for the Niger Delta. He spoke for the nation. His views and interventions on national issues were distinct and patriotic,” Tinubu said.

“As an astute politician, Clark’s political opponents never doubted his words’ weight, confidence, and conviction when he spoke.

“History will remember him as a man who fought gallantly for the rights of the people of the Niger Delta, unity in diversity, and true federalism.

“I know many generations will remain proud of how his efforts contributed to national prosperity and stability.”

In the same vein, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described Clark as a distinguished patriot and a relentless advocate for justice and equity.

Idris added that Clark’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic growth and development, particularly through his roles as a politician, nationalist, and elder statesman, left a significant impact on the country’s governance and unity.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio described the death of elder statement, Edwin Clark as a monumental loss to the nation.

In a statement he signed, Akpabio noted that Clark lived a life of service, conviction and dedication to justice.

“Pa Clark’s remarkable life was marked by strength and an undying commitment to the unity of this country. His voice, though now silenced, will echo in the annals of our history, urging us always toward justice, fairness, and national cohesion,” Akpabio said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas said Clark served Nigeria diligently until the end.

A statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, described Clark as an elder statesman who fought for the interests of the oil-rich Niger Delta region all his life.

Rendering his tribute, Obasanjo bemoaned the depleting ranks of the nation’s patriotic leaders, particularly at this crucial state of the country when their wise counsel and rich experience were greatly needed.

Obasanjo lamented that it was unfortunate that Clark’s death came barely four days after the demise of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the foremost Yoruba leader and Chairman of Afenifere.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi on Tuesday, Obasanjo noted that, over the years, Clark has been imbued with an undying love for his people and remained one of the more articulate and vocal champions of improved conditions for the oil-bearing states.

Govs mourn

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum in a statement personally signed by its Chairman, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, mourned the death of the two nationalists who recently passed away.

“The deaths of the nonagenarians are a huge depletion in the ranks of outstanding voices who were never afraid to offer their views on issues of national importance.

“The Forum recalls that the duo played critical roles in the evolution of the country’s democracy, constitutional development, and the discourse around its federal system vis-a-vis topical issues of resource control and the rights of ethnic minorities,” AbdulRazaq said.

Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Dapo Abiodun, said the nation lost arguably the most engaging voice seeking redress of decades of exploitation and marginalisation of the Niger Delta peoples.

He said: “The exit of Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark at 97 marks a watershed in Nigerian history. As a man who lived through the struggles and triumphs of the colonial, Independence, and post-independence eras with all the twists and turns, Chief Clark was simply a personification of Nigerian history.

“He served with distinction for about seven decades and was one of the most accomplished voices of courage and progressivism that Nigeria has ever witnessed.”

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Yahaya, also noted that Clark was an upright and relentless advocate for fairness, and whose contributions to governance, democracy, and national discourse earned him admiration and respect.

“Chief Edwin Clark was an advocate for the rights of the downtrodden and a steadfast voice for the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole. His commitment to justice and good governance distinguished him as a statesman of great repute. His demise is a profound loss, not just to the South-South but to the entire country,” the statement partly read.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, through his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, said Clark lived as a beacon of hope and conscience to leaders in government.

“He has left indelible footprints as a nationalist for the inspiring roles he played in the Middle-Belt Leaders Forum and as leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum,” Fubara said.

Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, lauded Clark as an unpretentious federalist, who gave his all in service to God, country, and humanity at large.

Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, said the nation has lost one of the ‘last icons of a generation’ in Nigeria’s history.

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, through his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, noted that Clark was a distinguished nationalist, an unwavering advocate for justice, and a pillar of wisdom whose immense contributions to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development will never be forgotten.

“Throughout his life, Chief Clark remained a voice of reason, a defender of equity, and a symbol of integrity in public service. His steadfast commitment to the unity and progress of Nigeria inspired generations, and his legacy as an elder statesman will continue to guide us in the pursuit of national harmony and development,” Mohammed said.

Speaking, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, said the Ijaw nation has lost a father figure and an irrepressible voice.

The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, called on leaders to emulate Clark’s qualities of fighting for fairness, justice and “a new Nigeria that is possible.”

Obi, who made the statement at the residence of the late Chief Clark after signing the condolence register, said the elder statesman consistently fought for a better Nigeria, adding that the country was fast losing voices who fought for justice at the expense of their own lives.

“We are fast losing the voices, strong voices that were able to fight even at the risk of their lives, at the risk of losing everything, they refused to be compromised in speaking the truth, speaking for justice, and for us, it is now becoming imperative that we have to live their life if we want a better Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, called on Nigerians to emulate Clark’s belief in Nigeria, noting that Clark had supported him in pursuing amnesty in the Niger Delta.

PANDEF, Afenifere, others salute

The PANDEF also mourned the passing away of a national patriarch.

A statement by the National Chairman of PANDEF, Dr Godknows Igali, stressed that Nigeria had lost a tireless advocate for justice, equality and human rights, a passionate champion of the people, a brilliant mind, whose generous spirit will continue to inspire all Nigerians to work more towards a more just, equitable, and compassionate society.

The President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof Benjamin Okaba, said Clark’s death has left a major vacuum.

“He played a leading role in the reunification of the South-South and the Middle East. He is that voice, that irrepressible voice, of not only the Ijaw people but also the Niger Delta and the minorities across West Africa. The issue of integrity, courage, the capacity to speak truth to power, the capacity to speak undiluted truth to power; these are qualities that are very, very difficult to be replicated in anybody at all.

“Clark died, leaving a major vacuum. But we have this belief in God that in the same manner that Clark was raised, was raised and prepared for leadership, there is no vacuum in politics, in life at all. So we also believe that the national process will follow, in bringing up a leader that will take over from him,” Okaba said.

The Afenifere, through its National Publicity Secretary, acknowledged Clark’s passion for a better Nigeria, like the late Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, held that Clark’s public service records spanning pre-colonial and post-colonial Nigeria were legendary and a manifestation of his unwavering commitment and dedication to nation-building.

On its part, The Patriots, under the chairmanship of Chief Emeka Anyaoku, expressed sadness at the demise of Clark particularly coming a few days after the death of Afenifere chieftain Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

A statement by the general secretary, The Patriots, Olawale Okunniyi, lamented that the nation lost patriots who made courageous and forthright interventions on national issues.

The Patriots noted that Clark stood out as an inspiring and formidable voice committed to a new people’s constitution, the return of the country to true democratic federalism to be negotiated by the constituent assembly of Nigerians.

In his tribute, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi recalled that Clark was noted for promptness, pointing to the fact that during the 2014 National Conference, the PANDEF leader was never late for any session throughout the conference.

The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, noted that Clark stood out as a powerful voice for the Niger Delta, advocating for better resource control, environmental protection, and economic development for the region.

“We have lost yet another strong voice in the country. The late Edwin Clark was a big influence in Nigeria. He led the Southern Nigeria People’s Assembly and fought with his last breath to ensure that Nigeria was restructured. He also led the Pre-National Conference in Asaba, Uyo, Calabar, Lagos and he also ensured that the Southern delegates had a common voice,” Adams said.

President, Middle Belt Forum, Bitrus Pogu pointed to Clark’s deep investment in the welfare of the Middle Belt region, noting that he dedicated his entire life to serving Nigeria, advocating tirelessly for justice, peace, and the protection of marginalized ethnic groups.

“His commitment to fairness and national unity was unparalleled. He was an irreplaceable leader who served as a pivotal rallying point for those advocating for an inclusive Nigeria,” Pogu said.

The National Secretary of the CUPP, Peter Ameh, said Clark left an indelible mark in his unwavering commitment to unity, diversity, and truth.