Vassy Kapelos

A Dirge For PDP https://ift.tt/2rcui8D The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the brink of implosion; its recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting sealed its fate. Despite being aware of the party’s numerous challenges, including the destructive influence of former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, NEC failed to take decisive action. This inaction has pushed the party closer to its demise. And now, the main opposition party Nigeria can boast of is doing the macabre dance, gyrating on its own grave, leaving the country on the verge of becoming a one-party state. I like and hate the PDP in equal measure, hence my difficulty in deciding whether to laugh or lament its current state, which is clearly compounded by NEC’s error of judgment. Digging into the past PDP’s contributions to Nigeria’s development are indisputable. As a dominant political party in Nigeria since the return to democracy in 1999, the party made some significant contributions, including playing a crucial role in consolidating democracy, ensuring peaceful transitions of power, and promoting political stability. The party implemented various economic reforms, such as the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) and the Vision 20:2020 program, aimed at promoting economic growth and development, even as it invested in infrastructure development, including road construction and power generation. As a party in government, the PDP established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit, otherwise known as Due Process Unit; Sovereign Wealth Fund and Development Bank, among others. When the PDP assumed power in 1999, Nigeria’s economy by GDP size was $57.48 billion and 51st largest in terms of global ranking by GDP size. In 2006, it improved to $222.79 billion and became the 33rd largest economy. It was $568.50 billion, 22nd largest economy in 2014 and $492.44bn, and 24th largest in 2015. Of course, these contributions are not without controversy. However, by 2023 after 8 years of APC rule, the nation’s GDP size went down to $374.95 billion, making Nigeria the 42nd largest economy. This year, Nigeria’s economy is estimated at $252.74 billion, making it the 53rd in global ranking. After so much battering by the APC government, Nigeria dropped to fourth position on the IMF’s list of largest economies in Africa 2024. In the last nine years, the APC has done tremendous damage to the Nigerian economy. Unfortunately, the PDP failed to provide effective opposition to the ruling APC. Its inability to address its internal issues and hold APC’s feet to the fire has led to its downfall. Missed opportunity The last NEC meeting of the PDP which was held exactly seven days ago provided the party the last chance to wield the big stick on some of its members who have constituted stumbling blocks, to reinvent itself. Sadly...

Reviewing ‘Safe Haven’ by Jon Silverman, Robert Sherwood https://ift.tt/UsrPSJQ The book Safe Haven is one that should attract several diverse audiences of readers. Former BBC reporter Jon Silverman, who covered the British Nazi War Crimes Act issue from beginning to end, and his co-author Robert Sherwood, an expert on the post-World War II prosecution of Nazi war criminals, have written an excellent history of the fate of the legislation passed in the British Parliament in Spring 1991 to enable the prosecution of Holocaust perpetrators living in the United Kingdom. Theirs is a cautionary tale regarding an important and highly justified judicial initiative, launched to prosecute Nazi war criminals who had illegally immigrated to Great Britain, which in practical terms (only one individual was convicted and punished, out of many clearly guilty perpetrators) was a miserable failure but ultimately had a positive impact on Holocaust consciousness in the United Kingdom. The authors explain the practical “failure” of the bill in great detail, and point out how quite a few more mass murderers could have been convicted, had the British legal bureaucracy been more flexible, and had there been greater political will to convict and punish these Eastern European Nazi collaborators. Thus this story is not only about the Holocaust, or post-World War II justice, but also about how governments function and how justice is or isn’t achieved in a leading Western democracy. An important chapter in the fight to prosecute Nazi criminals On a personal level, the book also deals with an important chapter of the efforts of the Simon Wiesenthal Center to help facilitate the prosecution of Nazi criminals. In 1986, I was hired by the center to open an office in Jerusalem, which would focus on Eastern European Nazi collaborators who had immigrated to Western democracies. By this point, it was common knowledge that all the major Anglo-Saxon democracies which had fought against the Nazis had admitted at least dozens, if not hundreds, of the worst of Hitler’s henchmen as refugees. (The only exception was South Africa, which was closed hermetically to immigration in those years.) Canada and Australia had already been alerted to the problem and were discussing possible steps to take, but Great Britain and New Zealand ostensibly had no indication that they also had the same problem. On October 22, 1986, however, the Wiesenthal Center submitted a list I compiled of 17 Latvian and Lithuanian Nazi collaborators living in Great Britain to Donald Ballentine, the British consul in Los Angeles, which marked the beginning of the process that led to the War Crimes Act. We subsequently sent 50 more names to the British authorities and did our best, together with the local supporters of the initiative, to convince the government to pass the bill and maximize its impact. In Britain’s first war crimes trial at the Old Bailey in 1999, Anthony Sawoniuk was given two life sen...

‘Lame duck leader’: Scotland’s Humza Yousaf quits. What’s next? | Politics News https://ift.tt/jHIP5Rq Glasgow, Scotland – Humza Yousaf has stepped down as Scottish first minister after the collapse of his power-sharing government last week prompted opposition parties in the devolved Scottish Parliament to table two confidence votes – one in him and another in his administration. Yousaf resigned on Monday after becoming the first Muslim head of government of any Western democracy when he assumed the posts of first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in March 2023. He secured Scotland’s top job after the shock resignation of his predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon. Sturgeon turned the SNP into an election-winning machine at both a Scottish Parliament and London Westminster level during her eight years and four months as party leader and first minister. But after the British government repeatedly refused to facilitate her calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence and after long being buffeted by a series of personal and political setbacks, Sturgeon eventually fell on her sword after claiming that her years as Scotland’s most powerful politician had taken its toll. Yousaf, a Sturgeon loyalist who won Scotland’s top office after defeating two party colleagues in an SNP leadership race, entered office as the head of a power-sharing government after Sturgeon’s deal with the Scottish Green Party in August 2021 resulted in an SNP-Green parliamentary majority. But Yousaf’s decision to end the alliance on Thursday – which came after the Green Party called an emergency vote on whether to continue with the pact after it was angered by the SNP’s decision to abandon Scotland’s “world-leading” carbon emissions target – capped a tumultuous premiership. Analysts said it was in jeopardy from the very start. “He’s had a lot of bad luck,” Scottish political commentator Simon Pia said, referring to the current police investigation into allegations of financial misconduct by the SNP during Sturgeon’s premiership, which led to Peter Murrell, Sturgeon’s husband and the party’s former chief executive, being charged with embezzlement this month. Pia, a former Scottish Labour press adviser at the Scottish Parliament, said Yousaf at 39 just “didn’t have the political savvy” to handle the rough and tumble of high office. Indeed, during his resignation speech at Bute House, the official residence of Scotland’s first minister in Edinburgh, Yousaf conceded that he had “clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset I caused Green colleagues” who, after his decision to axe the emissions arrangement, signalled their intention to vote against him in a confidence motion. ‘Lame duck leader’ Political analyst Gerry Hassan, author of Scotland Rising: The Case for Independence, said Yousaf’s resignation was a reflection of the SNP’s current downward trajectory as a political force after its first victory in Scottish Parliament electio...

Cartoon: When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice https://ift.tt/jq9MJxu Cartoon In the realm of political satire, cartoons have long served as a powerful medium to convey complex political scenarios and critiques with humor and wit. One such provocative piece is “When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice.” This cartoon captures the essence of political missteps and the often humorous yet critical perspective on governmental affairs. The Art of Political Cartoons Political cartoons are more than just humorous illustrations; they are visual editorials that use satire to provide commentary on current events, political leaders, and policies. The cartoon in question, “When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice,” employs sharp wit and clever imagery to highlight the inefficiencies and misjudgments within the administration. Historical Context and Relevance Understanding the historical context in which a political cartoon is created is crucial. This particular cartoon can be seen as a reflection of the current political climate, where political leaders are often under intense scrutiny for their decisions and actions. By portraying the president’s ministers as needing target practice, the cartoonist suggests a lack of precision and competence in their duties. Analyzing the Imagery Symbolism in Political Cartoons Political cartoons rely heavily on symbolism to convey their messages. In “When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice,” various elements serve as symbols: The Target: Often represents the goals or issues the administration aims to address. Mini-sters: A play on the word “ministers,” suggesting that these officials are miniature in terms of their capabilities or effectiveness. Target Practice: Implies a need for improvement, training, or correction in their approach to governance. Character Depiction The portrayal of characters in political cartoons is also significant. The ministers in this cartoon are likely depicted in a caricatured manner, exaggerating certain features to highlight their perceived inadequacies or humorous traits. This artistic choice not only entertains but also underscores the cartoonist’s critical viewpoint. Themes and Messages Governmental Inefficiency A recurring theme in political satire is governmental inefficiency. This cartoon taps into this narrative by suggesting that the president’s ministers are not hitting their targets – a metaphor for failing to achieve their policy goals or manage their responsibilities effectively. Accountability and Competence Another central message is the need for accountability and competence in leadership. The notion of target practice implies that the ministers need to improve their skills, which can be interpreted as a call for better leadership and more effective governance. Impact on Public Perception Political cartoons like “When the President’s Mini-sters Need Target Practice” play a significant role in shaping p...