A Festival of Ideas

Aside the claim that the Boko Haram insurgency and the ‘Chibok girls’ abduction crisis were ‘psychologically programed’ to bring down his government and recounting how and why he made the famous telephone call to Muhammadu Buhari shortly before all the 2015 presidential election results were tallied, President Goodluck Jonathan provided little insight about his stewardship in the book, ‘My Transition Hours’. But there are two profound paragraphs about power and its holders, especially within the context of Nigeria that should resonate. “There is nothing wrong in seeking power. I have learnt from political ascendancy in the sixteen years that I served from Deputy Governor to President that power is a shield, for those who wields it and for the people it serves,” Jonathan wrote. “I understand that power will protect you and enable you protect your charges. It will provide a shade from the blistering heat of the sun. When it is raining you can use it as an umbrella to protect yourself and the people you are meant to serve. And when you come to a river, you can convert it to a vessel that will help you and those who you lead to cross.” 

Going by the current situation in Nigeria, one can easily conclude that power has been turned into a shield only for those who wield it and members of their family. That is the meaning of what we have seen in the past few weeks in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and in other fringe parties. With our country challenged on practically all fronts, what is on display is a desperation for power that are not necessarily in pursuit of public good.   

However, as a newspaper committed to the quest for a better society, we cannot surrender to pessimism. We need ideas on how to tackle our myriads of problems. With the emergence of presidential candidates for the leading and fringe political parties, we must begin to engage them on policies and programmes. To that end, THISDAY editorial Board comprising 19 men and women from diverse backgrounds has decided on a special intervention today. 

Ordinarily THISDAY editorial members bring their wide-ranging areas of expertise to bear in taking collective positions on critical issues of the day. But as we mark another ‘Democracy Day’, and the last lap of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, we have decided to continue the tradition we started on 1st October 2011 when we presented to readers the diversity of voices that disappear in the anonymity of editorial opinions published on the pages of THISDAY, Sunday to Friday. 

OKEY IKECHUKWU goes down memory lane to reflect on what happened on June 12, 1993, and the fallouts not only for the country but also for certain individuals. WAZIRI ADIO reminds Nigerians and our leaders of the subsidy question that we have refused to answer. MAHMUD JEGA reports on the intrigues that played out in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the nomination of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential candidate while posing 12 questions. PAUL NWABUIKWU’s disquisition is on the lack of ideology in our politics, and the implications for governance in the country. GIMBA KAKANDA reflects on the challenge once thrown to Nigerians by the late Mr Tony Momoh, throwing stones in the process. BENNETH OGHIFO raises critical questions about climate change that should begin to agitate the minds of Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Mr Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) and other presidential contenders. BOLAJI ADEBIYI x-rays the seven years in power of President Buhari with damning conclusions on the promised ‘Change’. SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE makes a strong case for financial inclusion in the country, and where presidential hopefuls should direct their attention. KAYODE KOMOLAFE laments that “moral capital is a vanishing virtue” in today’s Nigeria. JOHNSON OLAWUMI, a retired Major General, brings his professional experience to bear in looking at security and the 2023 general election. CHIDI AMUTA examines the foibles of our current democratic experiment. SANYADE OKOLI argues that “for Nigeria to enjoy positive outcomes, its people must first act differently”. The intervention of MONDAY EKPE is on young Nigerians, once charaterised as ‘lazy youth’ by President Buhari, but who continue to show resilience. AISHA SHUAIBU examines sports development in Nigeria and the opportunities being missed. NDUBUISI FRANCIS is concerned about the killings in the Southeast and offers ideas on the way out. And finally, I recall a piece first published 21 years ago on the role of journalists and that of the people in a democracy. While journalists must report, the ultimate decision about who is elected to various office is with the voters. 

Meanwhile, in the first special edition of this festival of ideas 11 years ago, I shared an anecdote about Michael Gartner who in 1997 won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing and wrote the book, ‘Outrage, Passion and Uncommon Sense’. Gartner reportedly told an interviewer “You’ve got to believe in something. There are a lot of things I believe in and strongly. And you’ve got to care about what you’re writing or,” he then added in laughter, “it reads like an editorial.” 

Well, what we offer you today are a window into the minds whose contributions shape the positions we take on diverse issues as we continue the quest for a Nigeria that works for all. We hope you enjoy them.

– OLUSEGUN ADENIYI