Reporting News and opinions
How Major Gideon Orkar's abortive putsch of 1990 handed Sani Abacha the power base that would ultimately devour IBB's grand design for permanent rule and why no dictator should ever be grateful to his own saviour.
In 1993, during the dark days following the military takeover that brought Sani Abacha to power, one Nigerian Army officer took an unusual step. Instead of consolidating his position within the new regime, he walked away.
The genius of constitutional democracy is not merely that elections are held. It is that power is divided. Every institution is expected to possess enough independence to say “no” when necessary.
The response by the President's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Cardinal John Onaiyekan's television interview reveals a troubling misunderstanding of constitutional democracy. It also exposes a growing tendency within this administration to confuse criticism with disloyalty and accountability with discourtesy.
FEC approvals typically involve Executive Council Memoranda (ECMs) submitted by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Here’s the structured workflow:
