General News
Election Tensions Raise Fear of Nigeria’s of Break-Up
As Nigeria approaches its most divisive and closely fought election since the end of military rule in 1999, its leaders are having to reassure voters that Africa’s most populous nation will remain in one piece, according to Reuters.
The Feb. 14 vote pitting President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian popular in his southern oil-producing Niger Delta region and in the east, against former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim favored in the north and religiously mixed southwest, is already proving violent, with the electorate in Africa’s biggest economy more polarized than for decades.
“Despite the much-vaunted fear that our nation may not survive the elections … I remain optimistic that we have … the maturity to rise above the challenges,” Senate President David Mark told parliament last week.
“Our nation will not disintegrate after the elections.”
Ever since 1914, when Britain carved Nigeria out of a swathe of West Africa that was home to diverse peoples speaking more than 500 languages, it has been dogged by the question of how viable it is as a unified nation state.
Reuters said that, most analysts say that even if serious bloodshed follows the election, as many expect, the worst-case scenario of a break-up of a country of 180 million people remains unlikely.
“Nigeria has an enormous capacity to absorb risk,” the International Crisis Group’s Africa director Comfort Ero said. “While there are significant concerns about the elections, we are not predicting break-up.”
However, she added that the republic was “in deep trouble, probably more than at any time since the end of military rule … or even the civil war.”
The last time a bit of Nigeria tried to secede, it triggered the 1960s Biafra civil war in which more than a million people died. After that it seemed Nigerians were better off together.
But as the election cycle has hotted up, some have floated the idea of division, and Boko Haram insurgents controlling territory the size of Belgium in the northeast are waging an increasingly bloody campaign for a breakaway Islamic state.
Separately, dozens of people die every month in ethnic violence in the Middle Belt, where the largely Christian south and mostly Muslim north meet across a patchwork of minority groups that are likely to be split between the two candidates.
“Nigeria is bursting at the seams with ethno-religious … problems waiting to explode,” columnist Bayo Oluwasanmi wrote in the African Herald Express, a local daily, last month.
“Competition in the coming 2015 presidential election could break the already tattered ties that keep Nigeria whole.”
That is probably hyperbole but there are signs the elections could trigger violence that may not be as easy to quell as in 2011, when Buhari’s loss to Jonathan triggered three days of riots in the north that killed 800 and displaced 65,000.
Besides regional and ethnic differences, Buhari is also a protest vote for many who say Jonathan has failed to tackle insecurity and corruption, Nigerians’ two biggest complaints, and who was seen as tough on both when he ruled in the 1980s.
The pair hugged as they signed a peace pact last week, but clashes between thugs from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Buhari’s opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) have marred campaign rallies, and the rhetoric remains poisonous and sometimes tinged with religion.
Last year the PDP accused the APC of a “devilish plot” to impose an “Islamic agenda” on Nigeria, a dangerous appeal to religious sentiment, while Jonathan has played up his Christian identity, forging ties with hardline evangelical pastors.
PDP state governor Ibrahim Shema had to retract a speech in November in which he described APC supporters as “cockroaches” and urged the crowd to “crush them”, a chilling echo of Hutu militia radio broadcasts during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
On the other side, APC governor Rotimi Amaechi said this month that if the poll was not fair, the opposition would set up a “parallel government”, as happened after a disputed election in Ivory Coast in 2010.
“If they deny Buhari victory, it could mean civil war because both sides are so dug in,” prominent northern opposition politician Mohammed Junaidu told Reuters.
The 2010 Ivory Coast election did spark a civil war but the country was already militarily divided, which Nigeria is not.
In Kenya in 2007, a disputed election triggered three weeks of ethnic bloodshed that killed 1,200, a toll that would be far higher in Nigeria where there are many more people and weapons.
Ultimately what makes these polls so dicey is that they are a genuine contest, said John Campbell, a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
By running in 2011 Jonathan broke an agreement with northern elites, in their minds at least, that it was the north’s ‘turn’ to field a president. Now such regional deals are in tatters.
“In the past there has been a kind of consensus among the people who run Nigeria … Elections at the presidential level were largely predetermined,” Campbell said. “What we are talking about now are real elections, with a polarized electorate.”
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Godswill Akpabio, Senate president, and Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the House of Representatives, “to immediately withdraw the oppressive bill which contains repressive provisions to jail any Nigerian of voting age for six months and/or impose a fine of N100,000 on them if they fail to vote in national and state elections.”
SERAP urged Akpabio and Abbas to instead “amend the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the Electoral Act 2022 to remove constitutional immunity for state governors and their deputies who commit electoral offences, including vote-buying, to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.”
SERAP also urged Akpabio and Abbas “to amend the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to explicitly prohibit the appointment of members of any political party as resident electoral commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
There is currently in the National Assembly a ‘Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make It Mandatory for All Nigerians of Majority Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters.’ The bill seeks to make voting compulsory and prescribes a six-month jail term or a fine of N100,000 or both for non-compliance.
In the letter signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP at the weekend, the organisation said: “Jailing eligible Nigerians for deciding not to vote would be entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
SERAP said, “Rather than proposing bills that would severely punish Nigerians who may decide not to exercise their right to vote, the National Assembly ought to propose bills to remove constitutional immunity for governors and their deputies who commit electoral offences and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.”
According to SERAP, “The most effective way to solve the perennial voter apathy is to create a safe and conducive environment, combat the impunity of high-ranking politicians who commit electoral offences, and generally improve the electoral process to encourage the citizens to come out to vote, and not to send them to jail.”
The letter, read in part: “Should the National Assembly fails to drop the bill prescribing a six-month jail term for eligible Nigerians who decide not to vote in national and state elections, and should any such bill be assented to by President Bola Tinubu, SERAP would consider appropriate legal action to challenge the legality of any such law and ensure they are never implemented.”
“The idea of compulsory voting and jailing citizens for not voting is impracticable, unnecessary and unlawful. The right to vote is part of citizens’ right to participate in their own government and the choice of whether to exercise it is personal.”
“The right to vote includes the right not to vote. If the right to participation is a right of the citizen, she/he must be free to decide whether or not to exercise it.”
“Because the notion of a democracy exists by virtue of the consent of the citizens, voters must get to choose how they exercise consent, not be forced to the polls like ‘cattle to the slaughter.’”
“The National Assembly ought to propose bills to reduce the influence of money in politics, and encourage and not compel the exercise of the right to participation.”
“The proposed bill is a blatant violation of the right to political participation, which is guaranteed under section 14(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution, article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”
“SERAP also urges you to amend the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to include explicit mandatory provisions on internet voter registration, and the use of modern technology, including in casting and counting, voter registration and systems for reporting results.”
“Amending the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to explicitly include the right of eligible Nigerians to vote and to vote securely would enhance the effective enjoyment of their right political participation and representative democracy.”
“It would rebuild public confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to effectively perform its constitutional responsibilities.”
“Any amendment of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act must include bills to address and punish governors and their deputies and their agents who commit electoral offences including voter suppression, voter intimidation and the destruction of polling units or theft of election materials.”
“It is important for the National Assembly to introduce and pass bills that would effectively rein politicians who continue to abuse the electoral rules to distort and undermine the right to participation with almost absolute impunity.”
“Removing constitutional immunity for governors and their deputies who commit electoral offences would address the brazen impunity for electoral and human rights crimes which frequently characterise the country’s elections.”
“The major problem facing the country’s democracy is the lack of respect for Nigerians’ right to participation and the concomitant lack of trust in election results. If citizens do not believe in the election process, then the entire system of democratic government becomes a questionable enterprise.”
“The crisis confronting Nigerian elections and lack of public trust and confidence in the electoral process can be addressed if the right of Nigerians to vote and to vote securely is explicitly recognized in the constitution as justiciable right.”
“Nigerians do not currently enjoy explicit right to vote and to vote securely. Although the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, “the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”, this is not recognized as legally enforceable human right.”
“Nigerian election laws ought to be such that would give effect to the electorate’s will and uphold the popular mandate through clean, fair, and honest elections. The right to vote in a democracy is important because so many other matters depend upon its exercise.”
Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has annunced plans to elevate Enugu Tech Festival (ETF), to a national event.
Enugu Tech Festival is scheduled for May this year,
The minister during a working visit to Enugu State, disclosed plans to personally attend the festival and ensure its expansion to attract tech professionals from across the country.
The Enugu Tech Festival would help to strengthen the ongoing collaboration between the state and the federal government in advancing technological innovation, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship in the southeast region.
Commending the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah, Tijani praised his vision for fostering innovation and technological development in Enugu.
He lauded the governor’s achievements in critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, and industry, highlighting how the advancements lay the foundation for a vibrant digital economy that will empower the state’s youth.
The minister outlined a series of groundbreaking initiatives aimed at further transforming Enugu’s technological landscape.
One of the most significant announcements was the launch of the Project 774 Connectivity Initiative, a project designed to bring internet access to all 17 local government secretariats across the state.
Powered by Galaxy Backbone and NIGCOMSAT, the initiative will ensure seamless connectivity for government offices and the public, facilitating efficient governance and service delivery.
The collaboration between Galaxy Backbone and Enugu State will lead to the establishment of a Digital Innovation Complex.
The complex will serve as a hub for technological growth, digital innovation, training, and entrepreneurial support.
It will also connect over 200 state-owned institutions, including schools, healthcare centers, and government offices, to reliable internet services, further enhancing the state’s digital infrastructure.
Tijani announced the federal government’s plan to extend internet access to underserved areas in the state through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).
“This effort will include the installation of a new base station and the laying of 15 kilometers of fiber optic cable to provide high-speed internet.
“As part of this initiative, computer laboratories will be set up in one secondary school and one tertiary institution in Enugu,” he said.
He also announced plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regional Centre at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
“This centre will become a focal point for AI research and development in the South East, offering state-of-the-art facilities to foster innovation in artificial intelligence”, he added.
“As part of this initiative, we plan to train 100 cybersecurity professionals in Enugu, boosting the state’s cybersecurity capabilities as part of a nationwide effort.
“The Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, will train 1.155 million Enugu residents in essential digital skills by 2027.
“This program will prioritise underserved groups, including artisans, market women, civil servants, and students, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to engage with the digital economy,” he said.
The minister also expressed satisfaction with the success of the 3MTT Programme in Enugu, which has already received over 14,000 applications, adding that the program aims to empower the youth by equipping them with the skills necessary to thrive in the digital economy, to train over 150,000 fellows in the state.
Other key projects unveiled included the establishment of a Tier III Data Centre, a Co-working Space for tech entrepreneurs and SMEs, and an Incubation Hub to support innovation and provide mentorship and funding to tech startups.
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to introduce an electronic declaration system to streamline and enhance compliance for travelers carrying cash into or out of Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Abdullahi Maiwada, NCS spokesperson, emphasized that the initiative aligns with efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework and reinforce financial regulations.
“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the deployment of an Electronic-Currency (E-Currency) declaration form as part of its anti-money laundering measures for travelers carrying cash into and out of Nigeria,” NAN reported. The system will require travelers carrying amounts exceeding the legal threshold to declare them before arrival or departure.
Maiwada further explained the process, stating, “We have developed a system where, even before leaving your point of origin, you can scan a QR code, access the form, fill it out, and we will be able to see it from here.”
He noted that the initiative, set for rollout soon, will enhance monitoring and facilitate information sharing with relevant authorities.
Under the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the NCS Act 2023, travelers carrying over $10,000 (about N15.4 million) or its equivalent in negotiable instruments must declare the funds to Customs authorities.
To boost awareness, the NCS is working with airline operators to inform travelers through onboard announcements and plans to reinstate signage at airports and border points in English and French.
The move comes as part of broader efforts to tighten financial controls following a recent case at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), where Customs officials seized $578,000 from a passenger attempting to evade currency declaration regulations.
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