Event, People, Institution That Shaped 13yrs Of Democracy

Yet Another Democracy Day is here- May 29.

This particular edition makes it 13th year of revamped self rule.

Societynowng.com takes a glance at Events, People and Institution that contributed on way or the other to the present state of the nation.

Nduka Obaigbena & ThisDay

Let’s be a little selfish here- we want to start from our door step, Journalism as it is.

Mr Nduka Obaigbena and his leaders and company, the publishers of ThisDay Newspaper tittles have redefined the way and manner the craft his practised in this part of the world.

Both in and outside of his trade- the stylish publisher represents what a successful newspaper man stands for.

He is an influential Nigerian- and has a powerful entity to his name.

ThisDay sets the tone in the manner of reportage- and let’s give the paper credit for this with a very obvious pointer.

The paper has taken and re branded celebrity reporting to the height such that traditional publications such as Guardian and Punch (regarded as masters of convention) now compete to utilise this ‘tool’ to uplift their publications.

Like or hate the man and his paper- one thing can not be taken from Mr Obaigbena- he is one of the factors that have shaped ‘this day’ (of Democracy) in our lives.

ThisDay constantly set political and economic agenda with it’s stories.

The power of the publication is such that, it’s employees are constantly lobbied for political appointments for inherent benefits by politicians.

Friends of Presidents (within and outside the country), confidante of ministers and state governors, on first name basis with business moguls and captains of industries and sought after adviser in life changing political and economic moment- Mr Obaigbena’s deft in managing in his relationships in such a manner to retain the autonomy of his Newspaper as made him a major force in creating thisday of 13th year Democracy day.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo & PDP

Yeah..they should be separated. After all the ruling party with ambition to rule till the leaders give up the ghost, People’s Democratic Party is an organisation that is far greater than one man.

But wait a minute, let’s ruminate over these posers… which leader forged the party into an election winner irrespective of the vibrancy and popularity of the opposition?

Which leader installed his successor and his successor’s successor in the face of teaming opposition?

Which leader turned the most powerful politician at his ascendary to power to just another office seeker- when he left office.

Take a brief pause- and ask yourself, the ‘major achievements’ of this ‘great party- in the last thirteen years- under whose watch were they recorded?

And the unpopular milestones associated with it?

Until recently, who stands accused of teleguiding the actions of even the present regime?

Of course the irrepressible identity Olusegun Obasanjo surfaces on the lips.

And under what platform did this elder state man operate, PDP.

13yrs of Democracy- still credited with fostering the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan on the nation using PDP.

And you say it is absolutely wrong to say PDP is another name for Obasanjo? Or the man and the party have not massively contributed to the present Democracy? Let’s move to another topic please.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye

When a man enjoy such level of faith that, head of financial institutions and captains of industries pool resources together and acquire a private jet for him, for them to enjoy divine immunisation from world wide economic recession- then such a beneficiary is an uncommon man, inspiring very rare faith.

That is the case of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God( RCCG).

From day one, till date of this 13years of Democracy, Daddy G.O has enjoyed a revered status in the nation.

Candidates, aspirants of all categories go to see him personally or flock his church to enjoy divine intervention in their ‘situation’.

It is widely reported and believe that decision makers- even of diverse faith- in major areas of national life seek his spiritual counsel before making their move.

Not given to undue attention- the spiritual leader of one of the most influential christian denomination around is one of the major factors that has helped nursed the present day Democracy.

Even former President Obasanjo- said not to care very much about men of God and their predictions- made it a point of duty to visit Pastor Adeboye during and after his( the politician’s) reign.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu & ACN

The Jargan Borgu is a political leader with multitudes of followers in the southwest. And he has every reason to bask in this credit.

He is the leader of the most vibrant opposition party in nigeria- the Action Congress of Nigeria.

It is no minor triumph to control the fate of not less than five states- and to a large extent, the southwest region as a whole.

Now addressed as Asiwaju of the Universe, the master politician, with his deft political moves, is gradually transforming what is viewed a sectional party to a national force.

With just Lagos state as his launch pad- the governor Emeritus has risen into the mould of a political giant, the federal government is left no choice but to deal with- if the federal structure is to be maintained.

Thanks to his continuing exploits with the political party ACN

Segun Runsewe

Otunba Segun Runsewe, the Director General of the National Tourism Development Corporation.

How does he fit in?

He was formerly at the National Orientation Agency. Then he took up the NTDC challenge.

Seen any similarities? He has been engulfed with changing the image of the country near and far- and he has taken this an extra step, creating a profitable venture out of the whole exercise.

A clear testimony of this is very easy to see.

The nation is now a permanent fixtures at major exhibitions in the country- not just for the attendance but show casing glimpses of different crafts and skills for export with this and that samples.

And secondly- the former just a compensatory appointment NTDC’s D.G job is now one of the most coveted position around- that even the minister of tourism and culture rely on to show he is performing!

James Onanafe Ibori

13yrs of Democracy has helped to highlight the fact that,the believe that ill gotten public fund once abroad, along with the betrayer of public trust is safe, is just a delusion.

James Ibori, the former governor of Delta state and one of the most powerful politician democracy threw up is in a London jail.

And he is not alone- same for his wife Nkoyo, Sister Christine, Mistress Udoamaka and Lawyer,Gohil.

They were jailed as collaborators in Ibori’s grand theft of public fund.

The move which earned the former governor a world record in infamy put paid delusion of escape of arrest once on foreign land by the nation’s corrupt public officials.

Ibori was jailed by a London court- based on diligent detective work by security operatives over there.

He was convicted of crimes he was cleared off by a Nigerian court!

Senator David Mark

It will be a crime, to talk of 13yrs of democracy without a mention of the man that has brought so much stability to the Senate- and transformed his office into a national emblem of authority- Senate President, David mark.

Since he assumed office in June 2007, the four term Senator from Benue state has brought an uplifted level of political credibility to the dealings of the upper legislative chamber- and uplifted to it to the height it should be perceived- a gathering of matured minds.

Presently one of the longest serving senator- and equally the longest serving senate president, Mr Mark is credited with bailing the nation out of major national upheaval and political logam at different corners of national development.

How true is this claim?

The records of the transformation of then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to acting president and later confirmation as president are part testimonies to this.

What about his role in the dark days of national protest spiralling into everyday riot over increase in pump price of petrol?.

Ok those are happenstances in the not too distant past.

Well hear this- it is confirmed that long before became Senate President, (since he assumed office as a senator on the first day of this 13yrs of Democracy) the strategic thinker has been a part and parcel of the Senate Leadership, behind the scene.

Boko Haram

The sectional islamic group founded by Muhammed Yusuf.

Fiercely anti secular organisation sparing no lives in striving to enforce a sharia state.

The organisation reputed to have ties with international terrorists organisation has taken militancy to a new height of extreme in the country.

Their operation has made nonsense of the performances of the Niger delta Militants and antics of eastern kidnappers in achieving organisational and selfish aims.

The sect which has continued to elude efforts by the nation’s intelligence to put a stop to it activities has achieved within thirteen years of democracy, what years of intellectual and fierce lobbying failed to effect – serious consideration for the continuation of the Nigerian state.

The sect with an operational base in kano- has so far restrained its activities, that has drove none indigenes out of the area, to the northern region.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Aaliko as fondly called by friends is the dream of every businessman. The Chairman of the Dangote group is the nation’s biggest employer of labour.

A tested and trusted business man- thirteen years of democracy has helped his empire to flourish to the height of consistently enjoying listing on world richest men ranking.

And the nation takes pride in this because, he proves that nigerians do create wealth out of honest labour.

An informal national economic adviser to presidents- particularly during the tenure of president Obasanjo- Alhaji Aliko’s insightful business moves and strategic position as president of the nigeria stock exchange commission, amongst other economic bodies, as one way or the other impacted on national economy

Kenny & D1

Today the entertainment industry is tagged one of the fastest rising sector in the country. And according to predictions, the income to be gotten will soon surpass that of the oil boom.

But let’s take a clinical look at the growing industry and search out the beacon of hope that heralded in the lights flooding the industry- and the names Kenny and D1 comes to mind.

No- they are not the founder. They can never lay claim to being the godfather of entertainment in the country.

But they did something many are massively benefiting from, they ‘reinvented’ entertainment.

Remember the days Ray power was the music station.

The days Kennis Music came to be.

The days the nation’s biggest export on the entertainment scene, 2face went solo.

That time all the A-list artistes abound were on just one platform, Kennis Music!

They brought the glamour, the glamour brought in the cash, the cash lure in the potentials and the potentials collaborated with the talents and today- the boom is catching. 13yrs of Democracy? It is certainly safe to say, the entertainment world is the better off for the environment, at least music wise.

Globacom & Adenuga

Telecommunication company, Globacom in the areas of corporate social responsibility is said to be a shining light.

The company that has influential money man Mike Adenuga has Chief Executive Officer is big on giving back to the society.

From supporting the entertainment industry, to entertainers personally, promoting sports and lending a hand in communal development- the indigenous but multinational investment is a torch in corporate social responsibility activities.

And the billionaire behind the entity, Dr Mike Adenuga is said to replicate this style in his private dealings as well.

Within the past 13yrs- Globacom and Adenuga are said to have done enough to comfortably occupy this spot.