THE GATHERER

Was the June 12th, 1993 presidential election free and fair? Was it the “freest and fairest election” in Nigerian history? If it was free and fair and it was actually won by Chief M.K.0 Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, what electoral mandate did it give him? Did it give him the mandate to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander - in - Chief of its Armed Forces, for a period of four years, from 27th August, 1993, to 26th August, 1997, under the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution of 1989? Or, did that election and its results, give him a special mandate, higher than the mandate given by any previous or, subsequent, Nigerian election, to become the President of Nigeria for four years, from any day he is installed, during his life time? That is, did Chief Abiola, on June 12th 1993, obtain a mandate from the electorate of Nigeria, which is not defined, or limited, by any time framework, any constitution, any laws, and even th...

Integrating African countries into an economic and political union by African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has required tortuous and conscious advocacy. Perhaps subconscious advocacy too by non-Africans who, none the wiser, refer to Africa as a country.   It was a delight to watch 50 African heads of governments sign AfCFTA – i.e. African Common Market – into existence at the 2018 Kigali African Union Summit. It will no doubt be one of Africa’s finest moments of the twenty-first century.  As a bloc, ‘African Common Market’ would rank comfortably among the world’s top 10 biggest economies . Besides spurring internal trade by zero-tariff on goods moving within the continent, the African youth requiring nothing than an overnight bag and bank card to visit any African country will boost intra-continental skills exchange and tourism. A borderless Africa is a strong negotiating hand for the 55 countries of the continent when dealing with rest of the wor...