Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has expressed the need for reflections on the recent wave of attacks on democracy by Coup plotters on the African continent, which are becoming a threat to the growth of egalitarian society in the region.
Vice President Osinbajo stated this at the 52nd annual conference of Law teachers held at the Bayero University, Kano State north west Nigeria with the theme: law, democracy and the electoral process.
He said since 2017 there have been 12 military coups in Africa, half of them have occurred since 2020, stressing that only last month, the democratically elected government of Burkina Faso was overthrown, earlier Guinea and Mali have suffered the same faith. While only last week there was an attempted coup in Guinea Bissau but was repelled.
“The recent spate of attacks or extra constitutional disruption of democratic governance in our region lend an added urgency and poignancy to our reflection on law, democracy and the electoral process, . ..the events happening across our border pose a burden on us,” said the Vice President.
He said In keeping with Nigeria’s foreign policy tradition, the nation has always promoted democracy and has been resolute in condemning extra constitutional seizure of power on the continent, reflecting on the nation’s interventions in Liberia, Sierra lone and the Gambia
He commended Nigerians, especially the military, Civil societies and youths for the 22 years of unbroken democracy, though young but must be guided to maturity.
“Democracy itself has become our national exceptionalism, our gallant Armed forces are totally subordinated to civilian command and authority and fully committed to defending our constitution against internal and external threats,” said Osinbajo.
He said the law teachers’ conference is apt as it will give room for reflection on problems with boldness and greater innovation, since the participants are regarded as thinkers of Nigeria’s system of law and justice.
Reflecting on some court judgments, Vice President Osinbajo was quick to caution lawyers to work for the success of the outcomes of democratic process as such “ legal and electoral, processes must enhance democracy and social justice and not defeat democracy.”
Kano state Governor Dr. U mar Ganduje said that the country needed strong institutions for the sustenance of democracy.
“There is no doubt, election and electoral processes in sustenance of democracy, we need strong institutions. They must play their roles effectively to have sustainable democracy,” he said
The Vice President later paid condolence to the parents of five years Baby Hanifa murdered by her school teacher at DaKata quarters of the ancient city of Kano where he vowed that “the killers will not go Scot free“, before departing for Abuja the nation’s capital.
