On this Democracy Day, I had intended to rest my pen. I wanted to leave the fate written on the walls of history to speak for itself. I thought perhaps the sacrifices of those who fought for democracy were enough testimony. Yet, in the final hour, a thought stirred within me, compelling me to write a message to all of us who have come together to form this sovereign nation called Nigeria. My message is particularly for those who believe that the business of Nigeria lies in the hands of a powerful few. Perhaps they are influenced by what the German sociologist Robert Michels described as the "Iron Law of Oligarchy" ,the tendency for power to concentrate in the hands of a small elite. Looking at our politics, our institutions, and our economy, one may be tempted to believe that the destiny of Nigeria is determined only by those who occupy powerful offices and influential positions. But history tells a different story. Nigeria does not belong to any president, governor, politi...
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada won a new term last night, according to the national broadcaster CBC/Radio Canada, in a remarkable turnaround for the Liberal Party owed in large part to President Trump’s aggressive stance toward the country.
It is still too early to tell if the Liberal Party has secured a majority of seats in the House of Commons, or if it will be forced to form a minority government.
Until just a few months ago, the Conservative Party, run by career politician Pierre Poilievre, seemed all but certain to win. But Trump and his relentless focus on Canada upended the race, securing the Liberal Party a fourth term. Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, pushing it toward a recession, and repeatedly threatened to annex it as the 51st state.
Knock-on effects: The result highlights how Trump’s brand of conservative politics can turn toxic for conservatives elsewhere if they are seen as being too closely aligned. Poilievre, who railed against “radical woke ideology,” pledged to defund Canada’s national broadcaster and said he would cut foreign aid, seemed to have lost centrist voters, polls suggested.
Who is Mark Carney? Carney, who has been prime minister since March, is a Harvard- and Oxford-educated economist who served as governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 global financial crisis and the Bank of England during Brexit and who promoted himself as the anti-Trump candidate.
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