Opinion: Protecting the Civic Space and Promoting Democracy, By Udo Jude Ilo
We are confronted with a terrible level of insecurity. Global Rights reports that in 2019, newspapers in Nigeria reported 3,188 people killed in violent attacks. The expanding footprints of insurgency and the inadequate response of relevant authorities create an environment of fear and helplessness. In all of these, the tendency is to lower our guard and entrust our liberty to the whims of government, rather than the rule of law. Government has directly demanded this of us.
The current system of election management and constitutional framework is both unsustainable and contraindicative. You are presented an opportunity and the numbers to ensure that the vicious cycle of inchoate electoral reforms comes to an end this time. We need to codify the practices that hold solid promise for electoral integrity…The Supreme Court struck down the governorship election returns in Bayelsa State.
The same can be said of our Constitution. While it may not be practical to do a wholesale reset of the Constitution, the piecemeal process, which you have adopted, should invariably bear witness to your collective determination and influence. This process must come out with your DNA prominently stamped on it in a way that gives you a place of pride in the judgment of history. Opportunities like this come rarely. The country is yearning for leadership and direction.
In 2015, the Open Society Initiative for West and YIAGA conceived the programme to support young legislators to provide a different kind of legislative service to their constituencies and the country. The rationale behind this innovative engagement stemmed from our unflinching faith in the positive energy of young people and the need to provide a platform for an alternative and positive narrative from young people.
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