I host an X (Twitter) space show every Monday night. It is called Opposition Unleashed and starts at 8pm. Let me share some of the interesting comments made by some of my recent guest speakers.
Zainab Buba Galadima who recently did something very unusual by dumping apc to join the adc
1. “I believed the coalition that became APC would bring real solutions because we’ve spent years in opposition and understand the struggles but in the end, I was deeply disappointed.”
2. ‘ “About 90% of APC members are unhappy!! I say this with full conviction because I’ve spent years listening to people and understanding how they feel.
3. ‘ “I was a dormant APC member for a long time and only reactivated my membership after they presented Tinubu as a master strategist with bold reforms and big promises.”
4. ‘ “In politics, even when you give your all and work tirelessly, recognition for sacrifice is never guaranteed especially in places where loyalty is not rewarded. Sadly, APC has become known for that.”
5. ‘ “Each day brings new policies that are anti-people, with little or no alternatives to cushion the hardship. What we once criticized in the PDP, we are now seeing amplified many times over.”
6. ‘ “In this Tinubu administration, there is a lack of proper communication and too many people around power who do not truly understand governance. When things go wrong, there is no clear guidance or informed advice to help correct the direction.”
7. ‘ “Tinubu’s administration has weakened key instruments of democracy. The judiciary appears inconsistent, and there is growing uncertainty about the assurance of justice.”
8. ‘ “No political party is made up of saints; every party is a mix of different people. But I want to belong where I can add real value, where I’m given a seat at the table to contribute meaningfully to change. I’m not someone who jumps from party to party, if I were, I would have left APC long ago, because in truth, my soul already did a long time ago.”
9. ‘ “We need to understand our power as a people. No leader owns the country. Leadership is temporary, and when a government fails, the people have the right to demand accountability and choose better through the ballot.”
10. ‘ “When we demand accountability and transparency, the system begins to fix itself and even shapes the people within it. No matter how flawed individuals are, a working system will always correct what matters most.”
Peter Akah, a popular advocate of electoral reform
1. “Democracy, when practised as it should be, works for the good of everyone. But when a handful of criminals hijack power, the system stops serving the people and becomes dysfunctional.”
2. ‘ “As long as INEC remains under the influence of political actors, it lacks the capacity to truly serve the people. The only way forward is for citizens to take charge and hold those in power accountable, ensuring the agency works for the people and upholds their mandate.”
3. ‘ “It is ironic that in Nigeria today, kidnappers and terrorists can communicate with victims’ families in real time from the most remote forests, yet with billions in funding, INEC still struggles to guarantee real-time transmission of results across 177,000 polling units.”
4. ‘ “When we continue to abdicate responsibility and replace it with only spiritual exercises, we lose direction as a nation. After 65 years of praying without accountability, we’ve seen rising poverty and insecurity. Prayer has its place but it can never replace personal responsibility.”
5. ‘ “If the 2027 elections are rigged, it won’t be because anyone is too powerful to be challenged, it will be because too many Nigerians gave up on the process before it even began.”
6. ‘ “Nigerians are understandably angry but anger is not a plan. Being dissatisfied with a broken system is not a strategy. You can remain angry for decades, but without the right decisions and actions, nothing will change.”
Last week on this page, I accused
President Tinubu of waging psychological warfare against voters who yearn for change, mentioned the terrible challenges that less privileged citizens face and asked Vanguard readers whether they shared my view that Kemi Badenoch, who heads the British Conservative Party could never have made it to the top of a Nigerian political party.
A gentleman who describes himself as Mike From Mushin (0816 111 4572) is one of my favourite readers because he often shares intelligent observations with me. This is what he had to say about the above issues:
You were spot on Donu, vis-a-vis, the psychologically damaging warfare launched against all incurable optimistic Nigerians. But no weapon fashioned against all good Nigerians shall prosper, IJN, Amen! The political environment at the moment is polluted and highly corrosive. But uneasy lies the head that desires displacing evil/ satanic vultures from power.
Your friend is unconsciously enjoying a grace and she won’t understand why those who Nigeria has happened to are eloping in droves! In Nigeria, male chauvinists dominate our politics; hence, Kemi Badenoch stands no chance of rising to the level she has risen to in Britain. Human beings are not interested in whether they are first, second or third class citizens. Their area of interest is their economic, security and social welfare comforts. In an ideal situation, good governments provide conducive atmospheres with minimal fuss, unlike what obtains in most African countries. Unfortunately, my beloved country- Nigeria-at the moment, is a big culprit. Shameful and pitiable! May God deliver Nigeria from all these undesirable elements and hand it over to the likes of Peter Obi. May Obi not end like Awo-the best president Nigeria never had, ijn! Amen.
Meanwhile, an anonymous reader (0705 028 7872) expressed the following view:
Kemi Badenoch, as things are, can’t smell political leadership in Naija because of corruption, tribalism and religious bigots, as exemplified by the recent travails of Senator Natasha at the National Assembly.
I have a YouTube channel. It’s called DONU’S WORLD. https://youtube.com/@donukogbara?si=bBm_IPdFZ_wUyKYq NIGERIA UNFILTERED – spicy commentaries on Naija issues – appears every Wednesday, while DONU’S WEEK appears on Fridays and is international as well as local and covers a mish-mash of soft and tough issues around my personal life, my work and my worldview.In this week’s Nigeria Unfiltered video, I congratulate ADC Opposition leaders for leading a morale-boosting protest march and successfully
hosting a convention, despite constant harassment from APC bullies. Please check out my Donu’s World library (dating back to early 2024) on YouTube, plus the new videos I produce every week. I would love to hear your opinions and any constructive criticisms you may have to offer. And I will be very grateful if you “like”, subscribe and share!
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