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As a frontline aspirant for the 2027 House of Representatives election and a democratic icon, I found the recent appeal by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for “continuity” and the implicit push for automatic party tickets for legislators at the just concluded national convention of our party , All Progressives Congress deeply troubling with shockwave,. This is not merely a political proposition but an affront to the very essence of democracy, the people.

This is the height of insensitivity to political dynamic like zoning, performance index and acceptability of the legislator by the people that constituted the electorate (people)

Democracy is not sustained by the permanence of politicians but by the sovereignty of the people. Any attempt to guarantee legislative return tickets, no matter how subtly framed, amounts to the subversion of the people’s will. which is the fulcrum of democracy.

As Abraham Lincoln famously defined it, democracy is “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” It does not say “government of incumbents, by incumbents, for incumbents.”

The Speaker argues that high turnover in the legislature weakens institutional memory and disrupts governance.

While experience is valuable, it cannot and must not override the electorate’s right to choose their representatives freely. To suggest otherwise is to elevate political convenience above democratic legitimacy. As Thomas Jefferson warned, “The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government.”

The notion that Nigeria “cannot continue to start every cycle afresh” dangerously implies that voters are liabilities to progress rather than its drivers.

This reasoning, Onwe said is fundamentally flawed; adds that renewal is not a weakness of democracy but its strength. The periodic opportunity to elect new representatives ensures accountability, injects fresh ideas, and prevents the entrenchment of political monopolies.

Moreover, cloaking this appeal in the language of “stability” and “discipline of progress” does not disguise its anti-democratic undertone. Stability that silences competition is not stability but stagnation. Progress that excludes the people’s choice is not progress but regression. He said.

Political parties must resist the temptation to impose candidates under the guise of continuity. Internal democracy is the bedrock of national democracy. When party elites predetermine outcomes, they erode public trust and weaken the democratic fabric. As Nelson Mandela once said, “A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy”and by extension, so too are free, fair, and competitive elections.

Let us be clear: no legislator, regardless of performance, is entitled to automatic return. Every mandate must be earned anew from the people. The House of Representatives is not a private club of recurring members; it is the people’s chamber, renewed by their consent.

Besides, with Speaker Abbas’s experience and understanding of the country’s political dynamics woven with zoning at all level to ensure inclusivity, amongst other things; that statement falls short of expectations. Hence, he should withdraw that statement with apology to Nigerians.

If we are truly committed to democratic ideals, then we must reject any policy or rhetoric that seeks to pre-empt the people’s voice. The path to national progress lies not in insulating incumbents, but in empowering citizens.

In 2027 and beyond, the Nigerian people must remain the fulcrum of democracy not spectators to predetermined outcomes.

Onwe Wisdom
2027 House of Reps. Apspirant
Email: eilceodesk@mail.com

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There are moments in the life of a people when something unusual appears on the horizon. Not the familiar politician whose promises arrive with great fanfare and depart with suspicious speed, but something steadier. Something that does not merely announce itself but offers direction.

It seems the people of Owan Federal Constituency in Edo State are now at such a moment.

I am inclined to avoid grand metaphors that shine brightly but explain very little. What is required here is not fleeting spectacle. It is reliable orientation.

Call it a compass.

The name of that compass, in this instance, is Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe.

Now, before the choir gathers to sing the usual election hymns, a measure of restraint is in order. Nigerian politics has trained even the most optimistic among us to approach glowing profiles with a certain suspicion. We have heard the speeches. We have seen the posters. And so we have mastered the art of clapping politely while quietly asking a far more important question.

What exactly has this person done previously before stepping forward to offer himself as a possible candidate to represent his people?

It is a simple question. It is also the one that separates serious candidates from enthusiastic storytellers.

In Umakhihe’s case, to his credit, the answer does not require imaginative reconstruction. It sits plainly in the public record. This is a man who has operated at the highest levels of Nigeria’s public service, particularly within the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Budget and National Planning, Works and Agriculture and the broader architecture of food security. Not as a commentator. Not as an observer peering in from the outside. But as Permanent Secretary [in Budget and National Planning, Works and Agriculture and Food Security respectively], the point at which policy stops being theory and begins the difficult journey towards implementation.

That distinction matters more than campaign rhetoric ever will.

For a constituency like Owan, where agriculture is not a talking point but a way of life, the difference between theory and implementation is the difference between potential and prosperity. Land alone does not produce wealth. Labour alone does not guarantee success. What bridges the gap is access. Access to programmes, to funding, to infrastructure, to the quiet decisions made in offices far removed from the farms they affect.

This is where the Umakhihe proposition begins to make practical sense.

A man who had sat at the centre of that system does not approach it as a stranger. He understands its rhythms, its bottlenecks, and its possibilities. He knows which programmes have substance and which exist mainly in policy documents. He knows the difference between an announcement and an outcome.

And perhaps most importantly, he knows where the levers are.

Every discerning Nigerian knows that the country’s development challenges are not always the result of a lack of ideas. More often, they stem from a lack of connection between those who need support and the systems designed to provide it. Somewhere between policy formulation and local reality, things have a habit of getting lost.

Occasionally, someone comes along who understands both ends of that journey.

Consider what this could mean in concrete terms. Farmland supported not merely by seasonal enthusiasm but by structured programmes that improve yields. Storage facilities that reduce the quiet tragedy of post harvest losses. Rural infrastructure that ensures produce does not perish on its way to market. Irrigation systems that make farming less dependent on the generosity of the weather.
These are not abstract ambitions. They are the practical outcomes of effective representation linked to relevant experience.

Then there is the question of inclusion, a word that appears frequently in policy discussions but is less frequently translated into action. Umakhihe’s recognition as a gender-friendly permanent secretary is not an ornamental detail. It suggests a track record of ensuring that women who form a significant portion of the agricultural workforce are not treated as an afterthought in the design and delivery of programmes.

In places like Owan, where women carry a substantial share of the burden of food production, that orientation is not merely progressive. It is necessary.

Of course, competence alone is not sufficient. Nigerian politics has produced no shortage of capable individuals who, upon entering elective office, develop an unfortunate allergy to accessibility. The higher they rise, the more distant they become until constituents are left communicating with their representatives through layers of intermediaries who filter both information and intention.

Here, again, the reputation that trails Umakhihe offers a different picture. Accounts of his engagement with communities, his responsiveness to ordinary people, and his consistent support for those in need suggest a style of leadership that does not rely on distance for authority.

I will resist the temptation to canonise any candidate. Experience has taught us that political sainthood is a title best avoided. What can be said, however, is that proximity matters. A representative who listens is more likely to understand. A representative who understands is more likely to act.

Which brings us, inevitably, to the broader political question.

Elections are often framed as contests of popularity, as though governance were a popularity competition conducted at scale. In reality, they are choices about capacity. About who is most likely to convert opportunity into tangible outcomes.

For Owan Federal Constituency, the choice is not between perfection and imperfection. Such options do not exist in politics. The choice is between familiarity and function, between rhetoric and record, between promise and preparation.

Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe presents himself as a candidate whose preparation aligns closely with the needs of his constituency. A background rooted in agriculture and rural development. Experience at the highest levels of policy implementation. A demonstrated concern for inclusion. A reputation for accessibility.

These are not guarantees. Nothing in politics ever is. But they are indicators. In a system where voters must often make decisions with imperfect information, credible indicators are valuable.

A constituency does not require spectacle. It requires direction. It requires a steady hand on the wheel, someone who understands both the terrain and the machinery needed to navigate it.

The opportunity before Owan, then, is not merely to be impressed. It is to be deliberate in the choice of a representative.

Because in the end, constituencies do not develop on the strength of applause. They develop on the strength of choices. And every so often, a choice presents itself that is less about hope and more about alignment between experience and need.

This may well be one of those rare moments. And, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, by preparation and by record, presents himself as a compass pointing towards progress.

■ Sufuyan Ojeifo is the publisher/Editor-in-Chief of THE CONCLAVE online newspaper.

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By Sonny Aragba-Akpore

A little over a week ago, a webinar was held with a thematic discussion on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and healthcare in Africa. With the advent of AI globally, fears have been expressed in strong terms that jobs will be lost to it, especially in the medical field and across the workplace. But the webinar dispelled the sceptics’ belief that there is nothing to worry about. While AI appears to be a visible threat, the hosts of the webinar told participants that medical personnel and medical practices, with all their protocols, will be complemented by AI, and that it will be a win-win for medicine.

The webinar hosts, Newmark, with the theme “AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges,” told participants that AI’s growing presence in hospitals and national health systems is intended to strengthen clinical decision-making, not sideline medical professionals. Co-Founder of RX Health Info System, Daniel Marfo, recalled how unthinkable such a conversation would have been just five years ago. Marco explained that “Healthcare is built on protocols, training and years of experience. So naturally, there was scepticism,” But what we are seeing now is that AI is sharpening clinical focus, not replacing it.” According to him “in many hospitals today, AI tools are embedded within Electronic Medical Records, ( EMRs) as doctors document patient symptoms and history, AI assistants can suggest possible diagnoses, highlight patterns and prompt additional questions that may otherwise be overlooked in a busy clinic” adding that “AI helps doctors process large volumes of information within limited consultation time,” stating further that, “it does not make decisions, it supports the decision-maker.”

The webinar suggested that AI is helpful, especially for bridging gaps in wait times for unavailable specialists. “In some facilities, where patients wait days because a specialist is unavailable, AI tools are helping to bridge that gap by offering preliminary insights that clinicians can act on quickly.” AI does not issue definitive diagnoses independently. Rather, it functions as a second set of eyes, enhancing accuracy and efficiency. “Beyond clinical interpretation, AI is easing administrative pressures that often drain healthcare professionals’ time and energy “From automated medical transcription to intelligent claims-processing systems in health insurance, AI is reducing paperwork, cutting delays and allowing doctors to devote more time to patient care instead of documentation.”

Though participants expressed great fears about possible job losses not only in the medical field but also in other professions, these fears were allayed earlier by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). On December 2, 2025, the ITU held a standardisation conference in collaboration with other global standardisation organisations to address standards for AI technology and its impact on humanity. The organisations signed a working statement to guide all. Known as the Seoul, South Korea statement, these international standardisation bodies pledged to cooperate on standards for artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to help build an open, sustainable and secure future for all.

At the global conference, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), and ITU issued a joint commitment to advance the well-being of humanity through AI standards. This International Summit on AI Standards explored the complex challenges posed by AI and the opportunity to bridge digital divides through effective international standards. The Seoul Statement enshrines a joint approach by the three organisations to advance AI standards for the benefit of everyone worldwide. “Standards are technical tools to uphold the principles we want to live by,” said Seizo Onoe, Director of the Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau at ITU. “The vision set out by this joint statement calls for diverse expertise and global commitment to collaboration and consensus – exactly what drives our standards work and exactly the spirit needed to create the future we want.

”The statement set out a joint vision and commitments from ITU, ISO and IEC on how technical standards can support the development and deployment of trustworthy AI systems that benefit society, drive innovation, and uphold fundamental rights. “AI has the potential to bring profound benefits to people and economies across the globe,” said ISO President Sung Hwan Cho. “But to ensure this potential is realised equitably and responsibly, International Standards are essential. This joint statement reflects our commitment to strengthening cooperation across our organisations to deliver relevant, robust and human-centric standards that guide the responsible design and use of AI technologies.”

The summit brought together over 300 participants from 65 countries to share perspectives from government, industry, academia, civil society, the public and private sectors, international organizations and UN agencies. Reliability and sustainability are crucial for standards to advance the global good. So is respect for human rights. “The rapid rise of AI confirms a basic truth: technology is always about people,” said IEC President Jo Cops. “As AI becomes central to the global economy, we must urgently establish a guiding framework. This joint commitment underscores the value of international standards as the blueprint for safe, trustworthy, and people-centred AI development.”

Like in medicine, so it is in other professions because the most valuable workers in future will likely be people who use AI as a tool rather than compete against it. Many hands-on jobs will ride on technology to grow. For instance, jobs of electricians, renewable energy technicians, and advanced manufacturing technicians, among others, will survive in the age of AI. Human and AI designers interact with AI tools, making systems easier and more intuitive for us. These include voice assistants, AI dashboards and intelligent apps. These jobs will be elevated by AI. Prompt engineers specialise in communicating effectively with AI systems to get high-quality outputs.

These engineers design AI writing, coding, and research automation workflows using AI tools. AI product managers lead teams to build with AI features, managing engineers and designers to align technology with day-to-day business goals. As automation increases, robotics engineering becomes more valuable in factories, hospitals, agriculture, and delivery services.

In the same vein, cybersecurity experts are now in high demand to protect systems from hacking, data breaches, and cyber warfare. Since AI has become a very powerful tool, corporate organisations need experts to ensure systems are fair, safe, and unbiased by institutionalising AI ethics, to help address manifest issues, to check for discrimination in algorithms, privacy concerns, and responsible AI policies within the organisation to ensure they are not abused. Machine Learning Engineers are currently in high demand to develop algorithms that enable machines to learn from data and improve automatically.

Industries using these include healthcare, finance, autonomous vehicles, and e-commerce. Data scientists are also in high demand, as companies rely heavily on them because AI systems depend on good data to manage statistics, machine learning, and programming. In general terms, industries use AI engineers who design and build artificial intelligence systems for apps, robots, and business tools, which are already in high demand. Their work includes building machine learning models, developing AI software and integrating AI into products for everyday use. But despite the promises of AI in jobs and professional settings, there are clear, visible threats.

In the media environment, for instance, very soon many media organisations will not need proofreaders and rewrite editors again, as these jobs will be taken over by AI. AI tools automatically check spellings and realign sentences and sentence structure, and correct spelling and grammar.

Because Robots and AI-controlled systems in warehouses will henceforth sort, pick, and pack items automatically, manual labour in logistics will be lost to AI. AI design tools can be used to quickly generate logos, social media graphics, and marketing posters.

Researchers depend on AI tools for their research thereby reducing the work of research assistants. There is less need for a large number of graphic artists in the workplace because AI-powered speech-to-text systems convert audio to text in seconds, thereby affecting jobs such as meeting transcription, legal transcription, medical dictation typing, and others.

Bookkeeping clerks’ jobs will be affected by the use of accounting software to categorise expenses, generate reports, and calculate taxes in offices and supermarkets. Travel agents now book tickets and hotels using AI, reducing the need for hands-on work for traditional travel agents. Customer service representatives and cashiers are now less in demand since services are powered by AI. Telemarketers and data entry clerks have had their jobs significantly taken over by AI tools. Automation is the future of many businesses now.