…Second African to lead the global membership organization will focus on peacebuilding, lasting peace

From Adeko Ukpa

A Nigerian, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, will on Wednesday take office as the President of the Rotary International.

He is the second African to lead the global membership organization.

He is a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi in Nigeria.
A statement by Rotary International said during his one-year term, Babalola will focus on strengthening Rotary’s contribution to peacebuilding and supporting sustainable, community-led solutions that address local and global challenges and improve lives.
Babalola said: “Rotary gives people the opportunity not only to make a difference in their communities, but also to grow through meaningful relationships, collaboration, and a deeper appreciation of different perspectives.

“At a time when many societies face division and uncertainty, I believe Rotary has an important role to play in building understanding, advancing peace, and creating opportunities for communities to thrive.

“As president, I look forward to highlighting and strengthening that impact around the world.”

Babalola brings to the role decades of experience advancing community development, peacebuilding, and public health initiatives across Africa. He has been actively involved with Rotary’s Peace Center at Makerere University in Uganda – the organization’s first on the continent.

As head of Rotary’s 45,000 clubs worldwide, Babalola will lead Rotary’s top priority of ending polio. Together with its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent and contributed more than US$3 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect over 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease.

He has also been deeply engaged in Rotary’s polio eradication efforts, serving on the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee and advising the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee.

Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow local economies and protect the environment. More than US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service – to support these initiatives over the last 100 years.

….Accuses Presidency, INEC and judiciary of conspiracy to keep Atiku off 2027 ballot, calls on Nigerians and international community to defend democracy

By Adeko Ukpa

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, alleged a fresh plot by the Presidency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and elements within the judiciary to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from the ballot ahead of the 2027 general election.

Frank warned that any attempt to exclude the ADC and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, from the election would amount to an assault on democracy capable of plunging the country into chaos and anarchy.

In a strongly worded statement, Frank claimed that credible information available to him indicated that the ADC had become the principal target of a coordinated plan aimed at crippling the opposition and entrenching a one-party state.

According to him, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is merely being used as a decoy while the real objective is to ensure that the ADC and Atiku are not on the ballot in 2027.

“We have been reliably informed of a fresh plot to use the judiciary and INEC to remove the ADC from the ballot come 2027. The ADC has always been the main target, while the NDC is merely being used as a decoy.

“The ultimate objective is to ensure that the ADC and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, do not participate in the 2027 election at all costs,” he said.

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, claimed that the information was passed to him by a top source within the Presidency who, according to him, expressed concern over the implications of such a move and the damage it could do to Nigeria’s democratic image.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and closely monitor what he described as a dangerous pattern being orchestrated by the ruling party in its alleged determination to retain power by every means possible.

“I urge Nigerians to take this warning seriously because a new twist in this plot will soon surface. What is being perfected is a dark agenda designed to silence opposition parties and perpetrate a massive electoral fraud ahead of the 2027 general election,” he alleged.

The former APC spokesman also appealed to the international community, particularly the United States’ Government, to intervene to prevent what he described as an impending democratic crisis.

According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has allegedly abandoned democratic norms and is determined to use state institutions and apparatus to destroy opposition parties, especially the ADC.

“I call on the international community, especially the United States’ Government, to intervene and ensure that Nigeria does not descend into crisis because of the desperation of those in power.

“The current administration has thrown decorum to the wind and appears determined to truncate democracy for selfish political interests by deploying state institutions against the opposition,” he said.

Frank further warned INEC and the judiciary against becoming “accomplices” in any alleged anti-democratic plot, saying that Nigerians, the international community and posterity would hold them accountable for their actions.

“We are already aware of what is being planned. Those behind this conspiracy within the Presidency are known to us and their identities will be made available to the international community as individuals who enabled impunity and democratic barbarism in Nigeria,” he declared.

He called on Nigerians, political leaders, civil society organisations and all democratic stakeholders to rise in defence of the country’s democracy.

Frank also urged opposition leaders and presidential candidates to put aside their differences and unite against what he described as an attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

“This is the time for all opposition leaders and presidential candidates to come together in defence of democracy. If we fail to act now, we may all have to deal with the grave consequences of our silence and inaction.

“Nigeria’s democracy must not be disrupted by the desperation of a few individuals who are determined to hold on to power at all costs,” he said.

From Adeko Ukpa

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has strongly condemned the arrest of activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing it as a “national disgrace” and a dangerous assault on democracy.

Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his remand at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.

Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed Sowore’s motion seeking the judge’s recusal over alleged bias, and adjourned the motion for stay of execution till June 24.

Frank, in a statement on Tuesday, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Sowore, insisting that the activist had committed no offence warranting arrest or detention.

He alleged that the arrest was politically motivated and part of a broader agenda by the Federal Government to intimidate opposition figures, journalists, civil society actors and critics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the continued deployment of security agencies against dissenting voices is a clear indication that the government is becoming increasingly intolerant of criticism and democratic opposition.

“The arrest of Omoyele Sowore is a disgrace and a show of shame by the DSS. It is nothing but political victimisation and a desperate attempt to intimidate opposition leaders and silence voices of dissent in the country,” Frank said.

He maintained that Nigeria remains a constitutional democracy where citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of expression, stressing that criticising government policies and actions does not constitute a crime.

“Sowore has not committed any offence. He merely exercised his constitutional right to speak on issues affecting Nigerians. If the government disagrees with his views, it should respond with facts and good governance, not harassment and intimidation,” he stated.

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, argued that many of the issues raised by critics, including insecurity, economic hardship and poor governance, are realities confronting ordinary Nigerians daily.

“Is it not true that insecurity has worsened? Are Nigerians not facing unprecedented hardship? Why then should anyone be arrested for speaking the truth about the state of the nation?” he asked.

The political activist warned that no amount of intimidation, arrests or blackmail would prevent Nigerians from demanding accountability from those in power.

“No amount of intimidation by the DSS, the police or any other security agency will stop Nigerians from exercising their democratic rights. No amount of harassment will stop citizens from speaking against incompetence, failure and bad governance,” he declared.

Frank also questioned the priorities of the DSS, noting that while bandits and terrorists continue to threaten lives and communities across the country, security agencies appear more focused on pursuing critics of government.

“It is unfortunate that the DSS seems more interested in going after opposition figures than confronting the bandits and terrorists terrorising innocent Nigerians. This arrest is clearly politically motivated,” he said.

He further criticised the judiciary, urging judges to resist any attempt to use the courts as instruments of political persecution.

He said: “The judiciary must be careful not to allow itself to be used to undermine democracy. Nigerians are watching and history will judge every institution by the role it plays at this critical moment.”

Calling on the international community, particularly the United States and other democratic nations, to pay close attention to developments in Nigeria, Frank expressed concern over what he described as shrinking democratic space and growing intolerance of opposing views.

“The international community must not remain silent while activists, journalists and opposition leaders are subjected to intimidation and persecution. Democracy thrives on freedom of expression and respect for fundamental rights,” he insisted.

He reiterated his demand for Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release and urged security agencies to remain professional and non-partisan.

“The DSS must stay out of politics and focus on its constitutional responsibility of protecting national security. Omoyele Sowore must be released immediately and unconditionally,” Frank said.