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Friday, April 23, 2021

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Martin Luther King Jr. (Civil Rights Activist)

Dear Active Citizen,

Remember our promise to always stay on course even when the "noise" has died?

Wednesday, April 20, 2021, marked six months after the #LekkiMassacre, yet no one has been held accountable.

We must stay demanding to ensure justice is served!

The race to #EndSARS and seek justice for the fallen heroes at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020, is not a sprint, it is a marathon.

Use your voice!

Sọ̀rọ̀ Sókè!!!

They are in government to serve us and we deserve better!

Mallam Isa Pantami,

the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy has been

accused of having extremist Islamic views in some of his teachings

before becoming a Minister. 

The

Department of State Security (DSS) and the Senate,

failed in their duty back in 2015 to detect the widely reported case of former Finance Minister,

Kemi Adeosun's NYSC certificate forgery.

They failed again during the 2019 ministerial screening, to detect the Minister of Defense,

Major-General Bashir Magashi (Rtd)’s

reported accusation of looting $550,000

while in service during the General Sani Abacha regime. Now they have failed yet again in detecting the case of Patanmi’s extremist Islamic views in some of his teachings.

While other clerics share Mallam Pantami's views,

no one in public office in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Nigeria should hold such views.

We call on Mallam Pantami to resign honourably or be sacked.

#ThursdayTalks for the month is just around the corner. However, this one would be special. With grief in our hearts, we would be paying tribute to Innocent Chukwuma (1965 - 2021), a civil society leader and founder of CLEEN Foundation, who passed away on Saturday, April 3rd.Join us on Thursday, April 29th at 5:30 pm on Zoom, as we celebrate the impact of a man who certainly left his footprints in the sands of time. Register here.

Better Late than Never!

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has finally agreed to implement autonomy for the State Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary. Recall that the 2017 Constitutional Amendment granted autonomy to State Houses of Assembly and the State Judiciary, but Mr President had to sign the Executive Order on May 22, 2020, for a first-line charge to ensure it becomes operational.The implementation of the agreement will reduce the interference by the executive in the affairs of the state legislature & judiciary.

INEC Threatens to Blacklist Some Parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened to blacklist political parties that conduct violent congresses and conventions. The Commission will not give them materials for their activities in the future. The Commission may also withdraw its staff from monitoring such violent political party meetings, with the resultant non-recognition of their outcomes. The internal democracy of political parties is key in our electoral process. We urge INEC to implement this initiative.

The diaspora is known for remittances, but is that all?Join this three-day conversation around media & entertainment; technology; church and 6 other panels to discuss how those in the diaspora can be part of national development.

If you missed the 7th Anniversary Global Event, you can watch it here.

Have a great weekend!The EiE Nigeria Team