THE AFRICA Director, MacArthur Foundation, Dr Kole Shettima, said on Monday that the late public intellectual and activist, Prof Abubakar Momoh, lived and died for democracy and an egalitarian society.
Dr Shettima stated this as a Keynote Speaker at the Annual Prof Abubakar Momoh Memorial Lecture held at the auditorium of The Electoral Institute (TEI), INEC Annex, Central Area, Abuja.
According to Shettima, it was not by accident that Prof Momoh died on Nigeria’s Democracy Day in 2017 but “a divine affirmation and confirmation of his unique and true commitment to democracy”, adding that it was a divine honour bestowed on him as he lived for democracy and an egalitarian society.
“It wasn’t accidental that Abu died on that historic day, Nigeria’s Democracy Day. It’s difficult to argue that Abu’s passing on that day is not a divine affirmation and confirmation of his unique and true commitment to democracy.
“What a divine honor! Abu lived for democracy and egalitarian society. He seemed to be in a hurry to get a lot of things done. And he did in his short life,” Dr Shettima stressed.
He added: “He [Prof Momoh] was involved in designing the African Governance Architecture and Elections Benchmarking for the African Union. He served as an election observer to several African countries on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. He was also an Election Observer in some European countries. He devoted his academic life to teaching and raising new generation of social change champions. And he died in active service as the Director General of this Institute, TEI.
Stating that Prof Momoh’s death devastated friends, comrades, colleagues and family, Shettima noted that apart from his immediate family, Momoh left behind many adopted childred, as he also revealed that his only biological son graduated from Trent University, Canada, on June 5th, 2024.
“I always remember Monday, May 29th, 2017, the 3rd day of Ramadan, 1437. On the morning of that day, I received a call from Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu that our mutual friend Abubakar Momoh had passed on. I was at the State House Banquet Hall celebrating Democracy Day.
“The passing of Abu, as we fondly call him, devastated friends, comrades, and colleagues. There was an outpouring of grief, sympathy, and empathy. He left Tawa and Muhsin, his immediate family, mother, siblings, and relations.
“Momoh also left behind many adopted children he took care of. I am happy that Muhsin, his only biological son, graduated from Trent University, Canada, on June 5th, 2024. The young man wants to be an academic just like his father,” Shettima stated, as he thanked the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and The Electoral Institute (TEI) for honoring Prof Momoh with the annual lecture.
Shettima said Momoh’s practical and scholarly lives were dedicated to espousing the values of popular democracy.
“In his writings, Abu espoused the values of popular democracy. For example, in the article “Popular Struggles in Nigeria 1960-1982,” published by the African Journal of Political Science in 1996, he critiqued a neo-colonial Nigerian state incapable of fulfilling the people’s aspirations. Abu charged the peasants, workers, and students to locate their struggles in transforming the Nigerian state.
“In practice, he participated in democratic institutions. He demonstrated a commitment to popular institutions, being an active member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and on the board of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, among others. Abu was a renowned civil society leader.
“Hence, Abu died on a day symbolic of his commitments, values, and passion.”
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In his keynote address, entitled: “Achieving Professionalism Among Election Personnel Through Effective Training in Preparation for the Edo and Ondo States Governorship Elections,” Shettima stressed that elections are critical components of every thriving democratic society.
He commended TEI for the theme of the annual memorial lecture which he said is timely in using it to revisit the longstanding challenges of organizing elections in Nigeria, which he argued is a complex exercise involving a web of public institutions, agencies, and officials.
“It is further complicated by the unstable rules of the game, multiple institutional weaknesses, and an environment of widespread lack of trust and integrity which imposes significant financial and ethical costs on elections planning in Nigeria.”
For the full keynote address, click here.
In his opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Board of The Electoral Institute, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, stated that achieving professionalism among election personnel is a critical step towards ensuring free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
“The Commission involvement in effective training programs, has empowered its staff to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, in order to strengthen our processes and procedures to serve the interests of all Nigerians,” Prof Zuru said.
On his part, Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris, the Director General of The Electoral Institute, while thanking the family of Prof Momoh for attending the lecture, gave assurances that the outcome of effective training of election personnel for 2024 Edo and Ondo states off cycle governorship elections, will manifest in the high level of professionalism in terms of efficient electoral service delivery, technical competence and capacity to handle various challenges that may arise in the course of the conduct of the elections.
“It is important to note that the Commission in pursuits of its Mission and Vision, has prioritized the professionalism of its personnel, towards achieving free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections. This noble goal should continue and be sustained,” said Dr Idris.
