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Lack Of Trust In African Govts Impeding Democracy -Lumumba
Pan-Africanist and human rights activist, Patrick Lumumba, has said that the deficit of trust in governance in many African countries is impeding democracy and development on the continent.
Lumumba, who is a Founding Trustee of the African Institute for Leaders and Leadership, stated this in a keynote address he delivered at the second edition of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue Series held at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board Tower Hall in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday.
The theme of this year’s dialogue was “Breaking New Grounds in the Democracy-Development Nexus in Africa”.
The former director of the defunct Kenyan anti-corruption commission pointed out that trust was one majority element lacking in African governments and democracies, adding that the time has come for Africa to examine what constituted democracy.
Lumumba, while commending the GJF for organising the democracy dialogue, said, “We are assembled here to remind ourselves that the reason why we lament about Africa is that it appears that the systems of governance that we inherited, and that we have been deploying for our benefit continue to put us at the foot of the ladder. We do not complain because there have been no changes or improvements in our circumstances.
“This continent of Africa, this continent that is divided into 54 countries, is it not the time that we must examine what constitutes democracy? Is there something in our tradition of governance that we can take and help how we govern? Is there something like that?
“That is the question I want us to consider. Is there a possibility that the elections we hold, that we do not understand, are the disrupters of our democracy in Africa? That we spend so much time in them? And that the only thing that is lacking in African governments is actually trust. Do we trust each each other?”
Speaking at the forum, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, described the theme as “most appropriate and timely” as the dialogue took place at a time when the avowed goal of entrenching democracy and sustainable peace in West Africa was being put to a stern test.
He said, “Unconstitutional change of government, which involves military coups d’etat and unconstitutional maintenance of power by incumbents, have been on the rise in the recent past in Africa generally, and in West Africa, in particular, military coups have heightened insecurity, stagnated growth, increased poverty, inequality and limited popular participation in governance.”
Touray, however, said that ECOWAS was delighted with the Democracy Dialogue as it would lead to concrete proposals to optimize the nexus between democracy and development in Africa.
In his remarks, former President Goodluck Jonathan stated that the GJF annual Democracy Dialogue was not aimed at bringing any nation down but rather a forum that brings together stakeholders across Africa to critically examine issues of democracy, interrogate the practice in Africa and make suggestions where necessary.
Jonathan, who is the Founder and Chairman of GJF, said the theme of the dialogue underscored the fact that “we need to see democracy beyond elections and critically look at the nature of our elections and what happens after elections by way of governance.”
He said, “The dialogue is not meant to bring any nation down; it does not target any particular country or group. The focus is mobilizing citizens through effective conversations with the mind of setting an agenda for the political development of the continent.
“Leadership should work towards ensuring that democracy translates into economic well-being of the citizens. We need to look at the gap in our democratic systems and seek to understand why democracy in many of our societies has been unable to guarantee peace and economic growth for the citizens.
“Democracy should be able to encourage development and help ensure social growth of the society. Democracy is about the people and should be able to uplift the social condition of the citizens. Democracy draws its strength from the people; we must work to ensure that its impact in the lives of the people is felt and appreciated.”
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Fubara Attends PDPGF Meeting In Asaba …..Back Court Verdict On National Secretary Position
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, last Friday, attended the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Rivers State Governor, who is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, attended the meeting, alongside 10 other Governors of the party’s controlled states across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The first PDPGF meeting in 2025, was held at the Government House in Asaba, at the end of which a seven-point resolution was reached.
Reading the communique at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum, and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to put every machinery in place to ensure a hitch-free NEC meeting on March 13, 2025.
The communique stated:
“The Forum, having examined all the notices required by law to be given to validly convoke NEC, advised NWC to reschedule NEC to the thirteenth (13Th) of March 2025.”
The Forum further noted the Court of Appeal judgment affirming Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the party, saying that as a party that believes in the rule of law, it will respect the position of the Appellate Court on the matter.
“The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.
“While commending the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and Security Agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country, the Forum viewed with deep concern, the resurgence of brazen non-state actors. It, therefore, calls for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.”
Governors in attendance include: H.E Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Bauchi State); H.E Sir Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State) – Vice Chairman; H.E Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State) – Host; H.E Dr. Agbu Kefas (Taraba State); H.E Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa State); and H.E Dr. Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State).
Others are H.E Senator Ademola Adeleke (Osun State); H.E Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa State); H.E Pastor Umo Eno Ph.D (Akwa Ibom State); H.E Dr. Peter Mbah (Enugu State); H.E Barr. Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State);
and H.E Bayo Lawal (Deputy Governor, Oyo State), who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.
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NGO Implants Free Pacemakers Into 22 Cardiac Patients In PH
A United States based Non Governmental Organisation, Cardiovascular Education Forum, in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), has successfully implanted free pacemakers into 22 patients with different cardiac cases in Port Harcourt.
This is in a bid to save lives and encourage patients with low heartbeats to live longer.
The implantable device, which costs $20,000 each, was inserted free of charge on the selected patients.
Speaking during a Special Hospital Ground Rounds at the UPTH with its Theme, “Recent Advances in Cardiac Pacing,” a cardiac Physiologist, Dr Neil Grub, said the NGO was in Nigeria to improve training and learning on cardiac issues and help patients with cardiac problems.
Accompanied by a team of experts comprising a cardiologist and cardiac device implanter, Dr Jagdeep Siagh, and UPTH interventional cardiologist, Dr Edafe Emmanuel, Dr Grubb said pacemakers were inserted on patients with low heartbeats to boost their heart rates.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, UPTH, Prof Henry Arinze Ugboma, said each of the implantable devices cost over $20,000.
Ugboma, represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, UPTH, Prof Datonye Alasia, said the partnership between UPTH and the foreign NGO was to build networks, and improve services in terms of healthcare delivery, training and learning.
According to him, there is now a ray of hope in terms of treatment of patients with cardiovascular cases in the hospital.
He said the UPTH started the collaboration with Cardiovascular Education Forum in 2018 to boost health, training and learning on cardiac health.
He assured that, “in coming years, the scale of our collaboration with the mission will be higher.”
Chinedu Wosu
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FG Unveils National Broadband Alliance To Drive Internet Access
The Federal Government has unveiled the National Broadband Alliance, a new initiative aimed at transforming the nation’s digital infrastructure and boosting connectivity across the country.
The initiative was unveiled yesterday in Lagos by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who was represented by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Aminu Maida.
In his address, Tijani stated that NBAN would significantly enhance broadband penetration, which has grown from just six per cent in 2015 to approximately 42 per cent as of October 2024.
To support this agenda, he said the government was leveraging a Special Purpose Vehicle to deploy 90,000 km of fibre backbone across the nation, connecting underserved and rural communities to high-speed internet.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises innovation, technology, and collaboration as key drivers of national prosperity.
Tijani stated that the expansion would not only improve access to reliable broadband but also empower Nigerians, particularly in rural areas.
“While the progress made in broadband penetration is commendable, we recognise that much more needs to be done to ensure every Nigerian can enjoy the benefits of reliable, high-speed internet,” Tijani said.
The minister also emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and other key stakeholders in achieving the goals set out in the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025).
He said these collaborations would be essential in overcoming infrastructure development challenges and making broadband affordable and accessible for all Nigerians.
“These targets reflect our unwavering commitment to ensuring that broadband is accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all Nigerians. However, we are also aware of the challenges ahead,” he added.
Tijani stressed that achieving the government’s targets—70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025, a minimum internet speed of 25 Mbps in urban areas, and broadband access for 80 per cent of the population by 2027—will require sustained efforts.
“Achieving these goals will require more than just the efforts of the private sector. It will require a holistic approach that includes strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and other key stakeholders in accelerating the rollout of critical infrastructure,” he said.
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