Africa

FULL TEXT: President Tinubu’s speech on the state of democracy in Africa

Published

1 year ago

May 22, 2024

A KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, AT THE SUMMIT ON THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA AT THE SHEHU MUSA YAR’ADUA CENTRE, ABUJA, ON WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2024.

PROTOCOLS

It is a great honour and my pleasure to address this important gathering that seeks to reflect on the state of democracy in Africa.

First of all, I thank the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation, for convening this conference and for perpetuating the commitment of General Yar’Adua to the ideals of democracy.

During his lifetime, General Yar’adua was a soldier by vocation and a democrat by inclination.

After retiring from the army in 1979, with the distinction that the military government in which he served handed over to a civilian government, he went into business.

He returned after another military disruption of Nigeria’s politics to fight for the enthronement of democracy. He bore the pain of imprisonment and paid the ultimate price. I am happy that, through the work of this foundation, his memory and the values he upheld continue to illuminate our path.

The underlying theme of this conference indicates that we are not taking contemporary challenges confronting the continent with complacency.

Against the recent coups and counter coups in some African countries, Africa today faces the crisis of democracy, a crisis that ought not to be as the long held consensus was that democracy is the best form of government ever invented by man.

Until the wave of military interventions in politics in many countries in Africa, which started in the 1960s, we embraced democracy as the post-colonial form of government.

The constriction of the civic space, the emasculation of civil liberties by military authorities in many countries, most especially in West and Central Africa bred agitation by pro-democracy forces and civil society activists to demand for return of democratic leadership in the 90s.

Here in Nigeria, the military first aborted the transition to democracy in 1993, The transition started with the election of members of parliament at the state and federal levels and the election of governors.

But in July 1993, a free and fair presidential election held on 12 June of the same year was annulled, and the winner was incarcerated.

Elected people were all sacked by the military. This triggered a pro-democracy struggle, during which many activists and I escaped into exile.

We finally had a return to democracy in 1999 after 16 years of sometimes benevolent, most often brutal military dictatorship. We have since then recorded 25 years of unbroken democratic governance.

We have learnt through bitter experience that the worst form of democracy is far better than the best form of military autocracy. Specifically, in Nigeria, we have learnt that the cure for bad democratic governance is more democracy.

As one of our most profound intellectuals, the late Professor Claude Ake, once famously opined, ‘the people must learn to become their own political messiahs from bad governance’. This can only be done through the instrumentality of democracy.

In recent years, we have witnessed democratic reversals particularly in West Africa. We had two military coups in Mali. The first was in August 2020, and the second occurred in May 2021. In September of 2021, soldiers struck in Guinea Conakry overthrowing the civilian leadership. Burkina Faso recorded two coups in 2022. The first occurred in January, and the second coup was staged in September.

In Niger, where soldiers terminated the Presidency of Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, there was a failed coup earlier in March 2021.

We had an attempted coup in Sierra Leone last year and another attempted coup in Guinea Bissau in February 2022.

That same year, Gambia recorded an aborted coup. In Central Africa, we witnessed a military coup in Gabon last year.

In Senegal, we had an unfortunate situation where a former incumbent tried to elongate his tenure by shifting the election and handover date.

ECOWAS in January 2017 militarily intervened in The Gambia, in what was called ‘Operation Restore Democracy’ to ensure that the will of the people prevailed.

In that country, Adama Barrow defeated the incumbent Yahya Jammeh in the presidential election in 2016.

After the long serving president refused to concede defeat, West African leaders assembled a military force of 4,000 men to force the defeated president out of power.

The Gambian example was the first military intervention by ECOWAS to restore democracy in the region.

We have been unable to replicate this in defence of democracy anywhere else.

The military intervention in Gambia was in line with the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

As the current Chairman of the Heads of Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), I have had to invoke the protocol to rally the regional authority to take necessary action to restore democracy in the countries, where it had been overturned.

We imposed sanctions that we hoped would nudge these countries back to democratic path.

Unfortunately, we were handicapped by the fact that in those countries, large numbers of people had thronged the streets to welcome military officers, the democracy disruptors, who they perceived, nay wrongly, as liberators from their elected leaders.

ECOWAS had since lifted the sanctions imposed on the aberrant countries because it was the innocent majority of the citizens that were suffering the effects.

We shall continue to strive through persuasion, diplomacy and the power of our examples to encourage the military leaders in the affected countries to restore democratic governance.

We also have as a priority to do everything possible to encourage those who have misguidedly announced their exit from ECOWAS to return to the fold in the best interest of their people.

Amid the despair about democratic reversals most especially in West Africa, we are encouraged by the elections that have held successfully in countries such as Liberia, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Senegal and Nigeria. South Africa will hold its general elections on May 29.

I must emphasise that it is in the nature of democracy that elections conducted by fallible mortals cannot be perfect as we have, in recent times, also witnessed very rancorously contested elections, in some of the oldest and most mature democracies in the world.

I subscribe to the notion that there are basic standards of electoral transparency that every election must meet.

However, my submission is that it is only through continuous practice of democracy, through repeated elections, that such standards can be institutionalised.

Those of us in leadership positions through electoral processes have the responsibility to shine the light of good, responsive and productive governance to make democracy appealing and attractive to those parts of our continent that are still under military dictatorship.

We do not espouse the cause of democracy to sound politically correct or just for the fancy of it.

We do so because we believe that the ultimate purpose of democracy must be to provide good, honest, and responsible governance that will promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people.

Many times, such evils as corruption, nepotism, inefficiency, and socio-economic difficulties erode the trust and confidence of people in democracy and make military dictatorship attractive.

But the superior merit of democracy over authoritarian regimes is that it offers the mechanism for peaceful change through the ballot box.

It confers on the majority of the electorate, the power, and the right to legitimately dislodge from power a government that is perceived to fall below the desired standards of performance.

In contrast, for a government that comes to power through the barrel of the gun, the only mechanism for easing it out of power is through superior force.

It is the perfect recipe for the instability and needless barbarity that have been associated with despotic rule for much of Africa’s post-independence history.

This is why we must make the most of the opportunities this conference offers to rigorously interrogate the state of democracy in Africa.

This conference must think out ways by which we can roll back the resurgent waves of military autocracy.

The defunct OAU creditably played its role in coordinating and spearheading the liberation of our continent from the stranglehold of imperialism. That was a monumental achievement of the 20th century.

The focus of the succeeding African Union today is the institution of a new constitutional democratic order capable of guaranteeing stable and peaceful governance, protection of human rights, as well as the single-minded pursuit of economic integration and sustainable development in Africa.

The collective strength and efficacy of the AU as a continental organisation can only be a function of the effectiveness and efficiency of the sub-regional organisations to which its component member states belong.

This Summit must thus accord priority to constructive discussions on how the various sub-regional groupings in Africa can integrate their economies more closely, collaborate more productively to achieve greater regional security and collectively ensure adherence to the principles of constitutional and democratic governance within their respective boundaries.

Let me seize this opportunity to remind us that the Abuja Treaty of 1991, which came into force in 1994, provides for the African Economic Community (AEC) to be fully functional by 2028 following a gradual process of regional and continental integration. Time is not on our side. 2028 is around the corner.

The regional organisations which are the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), ECOWAS, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development IGAD), must be more focused and dedicated to the realisation of their objectives.

These sub-regional groupings, for instance, must seriously pursue the formation, proper funding and efficient administration of standby military outfits that will help contain military adventurers and the rampaging waves of terrorism and religious extremism in different parts of the continent.

But this must be supplementary to and not a substitute for their primary goals of promoting active trade, minimising trade barriers, encouraging sustainable and inclusive economic growth, promoting human capital development as well as promoting value addition in agriculture and agro-business development among others.

In the same vein, the immense potentials of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can only be maximally realised when there is concrete and proper economic integration and collaboration at the different sub-regional levels.

We must deliberate at this Summit on ways through which African sub-regional organisations can help foster better intra-African trade, achieve better food and energy security, promote higher rates of youth employment as well as alleviate poverty and realise greater prosperity for our people.

This Summit must discuss ways of making the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which is a key component of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), contribute to achieving good governance and democratic consolidation on the continent.

All too often, African leaders intend on staying in power by all means and at all costs have been the greatest stumbling blocks to good governance and democratic progress in their respective countries.

Those of us privileged to be in leadership positions must utilise the instrumentality of the African Peer Review Mechanism to call our aberrant colleagues to order.

We must set and demand from African leaders standards of democratic behaviour that uphold free, fair and credible elections, eliminate attempts to remove constitutionally stipulated term limits by incumbents and respect the autonomy and integrity of critical institutions such as the judiciary and the legislatures that are indispensable to good governance.

‘Every generation’, the great Walter Rodney declared over five decades ago, ‘must out of relative obscurity discover its mission and having done so, betray it or fulfill it’.

It is the historic responsibility of those of us who are alive and conscious adults in today’s Africa to work assiduously towards actualising the potential of this great continent.

Africa can no longer afford to be the doormat of the world; a continent of street beggar economies that perennially hold out begging bowls for loans or aid.

It is time for Africa to truly come of age and begin to fulfill her historic destiny for the good of her people and the benefit of humanity.

I wish you fruitful deliberations. And I thank you for listening.

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Africa

‘Misplaced Priority’: Peter Obi Blasts FG’s ₦142bn Bus Terminal Project

Published

11 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Precious Nwabuisi

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has slammed the Federal Government’s approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across Nigeria, describing it as a reckless misplacement of priorities.

Obi issued a statement on Friday, August 22, via his Official X formerly Twitter platform, warning that the project reflects poor leadership and lack of focus in managing Nigeria’s limited resources. He titled his statement, “₦142 Billion for Bus Terminals.”

According to him, the true test of leadership is how scarce resources are prioritized.

He stressed that investing such a huge amount in bus terminals while critical sectors like healthcare suffer shows a government that is out of touch with citizens’ realities.

Obi said: “The difference between success and failure in any nation is how leaders prioritise resources.

The decision to spend ₦142 billion on six bus terminals exposes a lack of competence and vision. It is a clear sign of poor leadership.”

The Federal Executive Council had recently approved the funds for the construction of one modern bus terminal in each of the six geopolitical zones.

The government described it as part of efforts to modernise transport infrastructure and improve mobility nationwide.

But Obi strongly disagreed. He compared the allocation to healthcare funding, pointing out that the combined budget for all teaching hospitals and federal psychiatric centres in Nigeria is less than ₦100 billion in the 2024 budget.

“This is disturbing,” Obi continued, “because health remains one of the most critical sectors of development. Yet it is underfunded and deteriorating rapidly.

The World Health Organization has reported that over 20 million Nigerians live with mental health conditions.

This is a tragic irony. How can the government ignore this crisis and focus on bus terminals?”

He argued that the health sector, alongside education and poverty reduction programs, deserves priority attention.

Obi insisted that until government spending reflects the real needs of Nigerians, the country will remain trapped in poor governance.

Many Nigerians have also taken to social media to express anger, echoing Obi’s concerns. Critics argue that the decision proves the Federal Government is disconnected from the economic struggles of ordinary citizens.

For Obi, the ₦142 billion project is not just a case of wrong timing.

He sees it as a clear example of governance failure and misplaced priorities.

Post Views: 67

Africa

Canada Announces Permanent Residence Lottery Results for Foreign Workers

Published

14 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Precious Nwabuisi

Canada has carried out a new Express Entry lottery, inviting thousands of skilled workers to apply for permanent residency.

Financial Express report that the Announcement which came on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, marks one of the most significant rounds this year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 4,200 candidates in the latest Express Entry draw.

The invitations were sent under the no-program-specified category, which means candidates from all economic immigration programs were considered.

To qualify, candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 507 points.

This cut-off is higher than several recent rounds, showing rising competition in Canada’s immigration pool.

Breakdown of Recent Express Entry Draws

The August 20 general draw came just a week after Canada held two smaller, targeted draws.

On August 14, 2025, IRCC issued 1,500 invitations in a Healthcare category-based draw, with a minimum CRS of 430.

On August 13, 2025, another STEM occupation draw invited 1,000 candidates, with a CRS cut-off of 481.

This means Canada has invited more than 6,700 candidates in August alone, highlighting its steady demand for skilled workers.

Why Express Entry Remains Key

The Express Entry system is Canada’s main pathway for skilled migration. It manages applications for three major programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Through this system, candidates are ranked by CRS points based on age, education, work experience, language skills, and adaptability. Higher scores improve the chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Impact of the Rising CRS

The 507-point cut-off has sparked concern among applicants.

Many worry that higher thresholds make it harder to qualify unless they boost their profiles with stronger English or French test results, higher education, or Canadian job offers.

Immigration experts note that Canada is prioritizing candidates who are more likely to integrate quickly into the economy.

With rising competition, applicants may need to explore provincial nomination programs (PNPs), which can add up to 600 extra CRS points.

Canada’s Immigration Targets

Despite higher CRS cut-offs, Canada’s immigration outlook remains ambitious.

The government has pledged to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.

Skilled workers make up a large share of this intake.

With labor shortages in sectors like healthcare, technology, and construction, Canada continues to use Express Entry to attract foreign talent.

What Applicants Should Do

Experts recommend that prospective migrants keep their profiles updated and monitor both general and category-based draws.

Targeted draws for healthcare, STEM, and trades occupations often have lower CRS cut-offs, giving candidates more opportunities.

For those struggling to meet the high CRS threshold, exploring study routes in Canada, provincial nominations, or job offers may increase chances.

The August 20 Express Entry draw shows Canada’s ongoing commitment to skilled immigration.

With over 4,200 invitations issued and CRS cut-offs climbing, the competition is intense.

However, the system continues to provide multiple entry points for determined applicants worldwide.

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Africa

Japan Designates City as Hometown for Nigerians

Published

15 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Precious Nwabuisi

The Japanese government has officially designated the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians, marking a major step in strengthening cultural diplomacy and workforce collaboration between both nations.

The announcement was made during the ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) and confirmed by the Director of Information at Nigeria’s State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye.

According to the agreement, the Japanese government will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled and innovative young Nigerians who are willing to relocate to Kisarazu to live and work.

This initiative also extends to artisans and blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill and contribute to Japan’s economy.

At the same event, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) designated three other cities as hometowns for African nations:

Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture for Tanzania,

Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambique.

These hometown designations aim to foster manpower development, cultural exchanges, and economic partnerships that will benefit both Japan and the participating African countries.

Nigeria-Japan Partnership

Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, received the certificate on behalf of Nigeria alongside Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu.

The ceremony highlighted the city’s longstanding relationship with Nigeria, as Kisarazu was the official host town for the Nigerian contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where athletes trained and acclimatised before moving to the Olympic village.

Local Japanese authorities hope that designating Kisarazu as Nigerians’ hometown will boost the city’s population, enhance regional revitalisation, and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Japan’s Vision for Africa

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in his address at TICAD9, announced $5.5 billion in new investments across Africa.

He stressed the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative development, focusing on three key areas:

Private sector-led sustainable growth,

Youth and women empowerment.

Prime Minister Ishiba also acknowledged Japan’s challenges with an ageing population and shrinking agricultural land, calling on African nations to support Japan while benefiting from expanded cultural and economic opportunities.

What This Means for Nigerians

For Nigerians, the recognition of Kisarazu as their official hometown in Japan provides more than symbolic value.

It creates new employment opportunities, encourages skills transfer, and opens a pathway for closer cultural integration between both nations.

This strategic move underscores Japan’s commitment to forging deeper ties with Africa, while offering Nigerians a platform to thrive abroad

Post Views: 99

Africa

Kenyan Police Exhume Five More Bodies Linked to Starvation Cult

Published

16 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Precious Nwabuisi

At least five more bodies, including two children, have been exhumed in coastal Kenya in connection with the country’s most infamous starvation cult.

Police confirmed on Friday, August 22, 2025, that the discovery is linked to the “Shakahola Forest Massacre,” a tragedy that shocked the world in 2023.

The fresh graves were found near Binzaro village in Kilifi County’s Chakama area, according to Robert Kiinge of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

He revealed that officers had excavated at least 27 sites spread across a five-acre plot.

“We retrieved five bodies,” Kiinge confirmed.

He explained that most of the remains were in advanced stages of decomposition, suggesting they had been buried more than a year ago.

However, one of the victims may have been buried as recently as seven to eight months ago.

Tragically, two of the bodies were those of children, estimated to be between five and seven years old.

Kiinge added that the evidence strongly pointed to a link with the original Shakahola massacre, where more than 400 victims of a starvation cult were discovered in 2023.

The cult was led by self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie, who is currently on trial in Mombasa for multiple counts of manslaughter. Mackenzie has denied all charges, but his followers have continued to draw scrutiny from investigators.

So far, 11 people have been taken into custody in connection with the new graves.

Three of them, however, are being treated as victims rather than suspects.

“The people we have in custody today are followers of Mackenzie,” Kiinge told reporters, stressing that investigations remain ongoing.

Post-mortem examinations are expected in the coming days to determine the exact cause of death.

Until then, police have avoided speculation.

The renewed discoveries come just weeks after a Mombasa court adjourned Mackenzie’s trial due to new evidence.

The case has reignited national debate about the regulation of fringe religious movements in Kenya.

Following the Shakahola tragedy, the Kenyan government introduced stricter oversight measures for religious organizations.

However, these proposals have been met with resistance from some groups, who argue that tighter controls infringe on constitutional protections separating church and state.

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Africa

UK Dominates Nigeria’s Q1 2025 Capital Inflows With N5.5tn — NBS

Published

22 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Precious Nwabuisi

The United Kingdom has once again cemented its position as Nigeria’s leading source of foreign capital, accounting for more than N5.5 trillion in inflows during the first quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Figures from the Capital Importation Report show that capital from the UK rose to $3.68bn (N5.52tn) in Q1 2025, representing 65.26% of Nigeria’s total $5.64bn inflows for the quarter.

This marked a 29.2% rise from the $2.85bn recorded in Q4 2024 and more than double the $1.81bn inflows seen in Q1 2024.

This underscores Britain’s dominance in Nigeria’s external financing profile and highlights the strong bilateral financial ties between both nations.

Breakdown of Q1 2025 Capital Inflows by Country

United Kingdom: $3.68bn (65.26%)

South Africa: $501.29m (8.88%)

Mauritius: $394.51m (6.99%)

United States: $368.92m (6.54%)

United Arab Emirates: $301.72m (5.35%)

Together, these top five countries accounted for over 92% of Nigeria’s capital inflows, reflecting both the concentration of Nigeria’s foreign investments and the risks of over-dependence on limited markets.

Other contributors included:

Cayman Islands: $114.76m (up sharply from $0.64m in Q4 2024)

Belgium: $70.54m

France: $47.33m

Netherlands: $42.68m (down significantly from $425.61m in Q4 2024)

Singapore: $36.79m

Overall, capital importation into Nigeria stood at $5.64bn in Q1 2025, up 10.9% from Q4 2024’s $5.09bn, and a remarkable 67.1% higher than the $3.38bn recorded in Q1 2024.

The NBS noted:

“Capital Importation during the reference period originated largely from the United Kingdom with $3,681.96m, showing 65.26 per cent of the total capital imported.”

A separate survey by Strategy Management Partners (UK) reveals that British companies are increasingly targeting Africa as a strategic growth frontier.

50% of UK firms with annual turnover above £20m are already operational in Africa and planning expansions.

Another 28% of executives said they are interested but remain cautious about entry strategies.

Africa’s appeal lies in its resource wealth and demographic potential:

30% of the world’s mineral reserves

8% of natural gas reserves

12% of oil reserves

65% of the world’s arable land

Projected to host 25% of the global workforce by 2035

Seven key sectors remain magnets for foreign capital inflows into Nigeria and Africa at large:

1. Technology

2. Oil & Gas

3. Power and Renewable Energy

4. Agriculture

5. Manufacturing

6. Infrastructure

7. Strategic Minerals

Analysts warn that while Nigeria’s reliance on UK-driven inflows reflects strong global confidence, the concentration of sources exposes the economy to external shocks if investor sentiment shifts in these countries.

Diversification of investment partnerships particularly within Asi

a, the Americas, and intra-African trade will be crucial to ensuring long-term resilience in capital inflows.

Post Views: 73