All over the world, democracy is adjudged the best form of government that promotes development. This is, perhaps, due to how democracy is structured to cater for the welfare of the people who, in turn, demand certain dividends, such as good governance, equality, freedom, social justice and equalisation of opportunities, observance of the rule of law, reliable and functional institutions and accelerated development, among others.
To quite a reasonable degree, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has conformed to some key tenets of democracy, namely, the rule of law, free press, political freedom, independent judiciary and due process and, thereby, ensured an all-inclusive and people-oriented government, which are prerequisites for development.
Thus, it pleasing to hear that as President Buhari prepares to leave office upon the conclusion of his constitutional two terms tenure in May this year, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it has made arrangements to honour him with an award in recognition of his achievements in the defence and promotion of democracy as a system of government throughout the subregion.
The news of the honour soon to be bestowed on the President was made known by the ECOWAS Chairman, Guinea Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco Embalo, during a bilateral meeting with President Buhari on the sidelines of the ongoing 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries in Doha, Qatar.
According to Embalo, President Buhari has done more than any other to support democratic governments in West Africa and wages battles against the emergence non-democratic regimes.
For these reasons, and many others, the ECOWAS Chairman said that President Buhari will have his name on the Roll of Honour in the community’s new headquarters building upon its completion in Abuja, so that future generations of West African citizens will know about the greatness he achieved and emulate his laudable examples.
However, while the award to be conferred on President Buhari can, in many ways, be justified, in reality, Africa and its leaders have plenty to do to entrench, practice and promote democracy.
In fact, in practice, many African leaders do not, yet, understand the challenges posed by democratic leadership which requires all individuals to evolve beyond pure self-gratification and short-term thinking into awareness and understanding that harm to one will, eventually, cause harm to all.
Democracy invites the individual to become conscious of the absolute inter-connectedness and inter-dependence of all things, which creates a precedent condition of one.
With the widespread poverty, illiteracy and lack of healthcare in the continent, it is clear that African leaders have not become aware that allowing poverty to exist is harmful to all, including the wealthy.
Agreed, the long years of military rule affect the way many African countries, leaders and people, including those who pose as democrats, think. Many leaders who toppled civilian governments in Africa, suspended the constitution, promulgated draconian decrees, abolished all known democratic institutions and swept the press under the carpet, today pose as democratic leaders in Africa.
Incidentally, something does not come from nothing. Regrettably, this situation is, partly, responsible for frequent abuse of human rights and clueless administration in the continent. Many of our leaders have yet to really embrace democratic norms and ways and, thus, can hardly function in a system where democracy flourishes.
Democracy appears successful when a leader, as President Buhari tries to do in Nigeria, promotes mindset of all-inclusiveness, people-oriented government and sustainable development in all spheres.
The Buhari-led administration, no doubt, has shown concern to conform to the key tenets of democracy. Many Nigerians, in spite of political party leaning, religious and ethnic affiliations, rate the administration high for its compliance with democratic norms, especially periodic elections.
In a nutshell, under the Buhari-led administration and to the pride of Nigeria, there is a thriving democracy in place that can engender development and encourages robust political participation and free press systems.
After all, wherever the press is not allowed unhindered access to useful information through contrived institutional distortion, obstruction or hindrances on the way and manner of gathering news, reporting of news items, such a situation portends danger to democracy.
Thankfully, Buhari’s administration is stopping at nothing to encourage the media houses to monitor and report government policies and activities and inform the people about them.
As for his upcoming award, President Buhari welcomed the proposition, stressing that democracy is the best pathway to bringing together diverse people together and a dependable vehicle for the achievement of national cohesion and development.
VP Yemi Osinbajo turns 66
President Muhammadu Buhari, this week, rejoiced with Vice President Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo on the occasion of his 66th birthday.
Specifically, the Vice President celebrated his birthday albeit a special way on March 8, 2023, at the North East Children’s Trust and the Learning Centre in Borno State.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President Mr Laolu Akande said in a statement in Abuja that Osinbajo marked his 66th birthday in Borno state, the country’s bastion of Boko Haram insurgency, in the company of “Insurgency Orphans,” who called him daddy.
The North East Children’s Trust is a private sector-led charity and social engineering initiative incorporated in 2017 with a mission to create innovative, transformational sustainable learning ecosystems that will nurture, renew and empower vulnerable children between ages 5 and 18 years who have become orphans as a result of the insurgency in North-East Nigeria.
Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo was born on March 8, 1957, at the Creek Hospital in Lagos. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo (née Soyode), a granddaughter of the Sage Obafemi Awolowo and the marriage is blessed with three children.
He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), professor of law and, until his inauguration as a Vice President, a senior partner with SimmonsCooper Partners, a commercial law firm and a leading global legal practice and business solutions provider.
Yemi Osinbajo was educated at Corona Primary School in Lagos. Between1969 and 1975, he attended Igbobi College Yaba, Lagos. From 1975 to 1978, he studied for his undergraduate degree in law at the University of Lagos. From 1979 to 1980, he attended Nigerian Law School. In 1981, he was awarded a Master of Laws after attending the London School of Economics.
In 1981, he was employed as a law lecturer at the University of Lagos. From 1983 to 1986, he was senior lecturer of law at the University of Lagos and from 1988 to 1992; he was an Adviser (legal advice and litigation) to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola.
From 1997 to 1999, he was a professor of law and head of Department of Public Law, University of Lagos. From 1999 to 2007, Osinbajo was a member of cabinet, Lagos State, where he served as an attorney-general and commissioner for justice.
After the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was tasked alongside other notable Nigerians, to design and produce a manifesto for the new political party.
On December 17, 2014, Muhammadu Buhari, announced Osinbajo as his running mate and Vice Presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections.
Osinbajo, was a pastor-in-charge of Lagos Province 48, Olive Tree Provincial Headquarter Parish, Ikoyi, and insists that he remains the pastor-in-charge of the said province, stressing that he is only on loan to the Federal Government.
In his words: “We are on loan. I am still the pastor-in-charge of Province 48, Lagos, and my wife remains the wife of the pastor-in-charge.”
Therefore, it is with little or no wonder that President Buhari lauded the sterling service the Osinbajo has provided to the country, as an academic, attorney-general and the deft way the pastor has combined scholarship with governance, and pastoral work.
Consequently, the President felicitated with the entire Osinbajo family, wishing them many happy returns, as their son, husband and father turns another year in good health and sound mind. He wished the Vice President and his family joyful celebrations and greater grace ahead.
Naturally, there could not have been a better time than now for the President to celebrate a leader like Osinbajo, especially in a world such as ours that is tinted by injustice, selfishness and inhumanity. Indeed, such a gesture from the President is worth the effort.
To the birthday celebrant, it can only be said, that he was born to lead and it shows. Little wonder, he makes a great leader.