Latest news with #DemocracyDay
Axios
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
"Democracy Day" returns to Cleveland City Hall
A community-led "Democracy Day" hearing arrives at Cleveland City Hall Monday as part of the national movement to get corporate money out of politics. The big picture: Cleveland is among more than 20 Ohio municipalities that have passed resolutions since 2012 pushing Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to declare that money is not speech. Cities adopted these resolutions at the urging of advocacy groups like Move to Amend in response to the Citizens United Supreme Court decision in 2010. Cleveland's 2016 ordinance established a biennial public hearing at City Hall to allow the community to explore these topics. What they're saying: "We are witnessing in real time the increasing political and economic power of the super wealthy and corporations in our country to influence not only our elections, but public policies on health care, education, food, jobs, transportation, energy, and the natural world," said Cleveland Heights resident Greg Coleridge, national co-director of Move to Amend, in a statement. Between the lines: The meeting comes a month after HBO released "Ohio Confidential," a documentary that unraveled the HB6 bribery scandal. 💭 Sam's thought bubble: HB6 is, of course, a striking example of how a single corporation can warp public policy with big bucks.
Russia Today
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Long live the king: Why this nation debates the return of monarchy
Violent protests took place in Nepal last week as pro-monarchy groups demanded the return of former King Gyanendra Shah to power, 16 years after the monarchy was abolished in the mountainous nation. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, saw twin protests on March 28. The rally led by the United People's Movement Committee, a coalition supporting monarchy, devolved into clashes with security forces and resulted in the deaths of at least two people, including a journalist. Another rally, organized by several republican political parties that formed the Socialist Alliance to 'defeat regressive and reactionary forces,' processed peacefully. Two different locations were allocated for rallies. However, the pro-monarchy rally got out of control. Protesters burned private homes, vehicles, and media houses, and attacked journalists as well as the offices of political parties. Pro-monarchy groups also looted supermarkets, homes, and department stores. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, at least 80 people were injured during the protest, including 15 police officers. Pro-monarchy protestors clash with Nepal Police in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 28, 2025, in an apparent show of power, which claims two lives and leaves dozens injured. © Sanjit Pariyar/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Nepal Police arrested around 111 people, including Rabindra Mishra, the former editor-in-chief of the BBC Nepali Service, who entered Nepalese politics in 2017 and formed the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). Mishra and RPP General Secretary Dhawal Shamsher Rana, who was also arrested during the protest, have been charged with treason by the Kathmandu District Court. Both Mishra and Rana were accused of inciting the protesters. The chief coordinator of the pro-royalist movement, Nawaraj Subedi, an 87-year-old politician who was a leader in the country's Panchayat system, which was established by King Mahendra in 1960 and remained in force until the 1990s, was placed under house arrest . Security agencies also initiated a search of Durga Prasai, labeled by local media as the chief commander of the ongoing royalist movement. Prasai, a controversial businessman who has been implicated in a bank loan fraud, allegedly provoked the crowd and triggering widespread stone-pelting, according to witnesses. Prasai later released a video apologizing for the incident, claiming he was not hiding. Pro-monarchy protestors clash with Nepal Police in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 28, 2025, in an apparent show of power, which claims two lives and leaves dozens injured. © Sanjit Pariyar/NurPhoto via Getty Images The committee behind the royalist movement was formed earlier in March, after thousands of people joined a demonstration in the capital in support of restoring the monarchy with the former king, Gyanendra Shah, as its head. On February 18, the eve of Nepal's Democracy Day, Shah issued a statement from the city of Pokhara where he was staying, expressing concern that the country's long-term peace, stability, and sovereignty have started to erode in recent years. 'Even though the reins of the state power have been in the hands of many repeatedly, or even though it has changed, our existing state system does not seem to be able to make any profound contribution to the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the nation,' he was quoted by local media as saying. Upon his arrival in Kathmandu, pro-monarchy supporters gathered outside of Tribhuvan International Airport in and welcomed the former royal, giving pro-monarchy forces a signal for a coordinated political action. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Vice Chairperson Rabindra Mishra (center) and other arrested are brought to the District Public Prosecutor's Office in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 30, 2025. © Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images The government reacts Following the violence, the government led by K.P. Sharma Oli, who was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister in May last year, has signaled its intent to take action against pro-monarchy groups. The government has reduced the security detail assigned to Gyanendra Shah and reshuffled the security team. Before the Kathmandu incident, 26 police officers were assigned to his security, but after the violence, the government reduced the number to 16. According to government sources, further action may be taken against Shah. 'The government is taking former King Gyanendra's activities seriously and might take further action within the next few days,' a senior government official told RT. The 'Arrest Gyanendra' campaign has gained momentum in social media following the protests. Despite differences on various issues, major political parties of the country share the same stance regarding Gyanendra's activities. A pro-monarchist carries a poster of the late King Mahendra Shah during a pro-monarchy protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 28, 2025. © Rojan Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images Ram Prasad Shrestha, a former member of the Judicial Council called for investigating former king's involvement in the movement and held accountable for the violence that occurred, if found guilty. 'The current crisis has emerged because of the immunity he was granted,' he said. Journalist Harihar Birahi, who served as a member of the Commission of Inquiry into the suppression of the second people's movement in 2006, also believes that these circumstances provide sufficient grounds to investigate Gyanendra's role in the movement. Read more Power play: How a country with major energy potential struggles to keep the lights on Major political parties have demanded legal action against Shah. The Nepali Congress party, the main coalition partner in the government, has accused him of being responsible for the March 28 violence in Kathmandu. 'The kind of activities that took place in the name of royalism – former King Gyanendra Shah is fully responsible for them. He should take responsibility for the actions carried out under his direct influence,' Ram Saran Mahat, a leader of the Nepali Congress, said. Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' – the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and former prime minister – stated that the former king was directly involved in the events that unfolded over the past six months. He added that political parties and the government could not take a lenient stance on him. 'Gyanendra Shah cannot be allowed to go unpunished. The Nepali people are not ready for that. The government must take this seriously. It is now very clear that Gyanendra Shah is behind everything that has been happening,' Prachanda said , according to the Kathmandu Post. Political analyst Jhalak Subedi, in a conversation with RT, suggested that the main plan was orchestrated under the leadership of the former king, who 'has been preparing for the restoration of the monarchy for a couple of years.' Subedi also claimed that Gyanendra has support by 'India's Hindus' and that Indian media has been 'consistently giving priority' to the movement for the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy in Nepal. Indeed, a political controversy arose in Nepal in March, after Gyanendra supporters flashed posters with the image of India's Uttar Pradesh state chief minister Yogi Adityanath during their rallies in Kathmandu. Adityanath is known for viewing the neighboring country as a 'Hindu state.' According to Indian media, ties between Nepal's royal Shah dynasty and the Goraksh Peeth, a monastery of the Nath tradition, which is currently lead by monk-turned-chief minister Adityanath, date back centuries. On April 1, days after the deadly unrest Kathmandu, Nepal's ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma, met with Adityanath in India's Lucknow to discuss bilateral relations. Pro-monarchists hold photos of former King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah and Yogi Aditya Nath, CM of India's Uttar Pradesh, as they gather outside Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, to welcome him. © Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images Done with the royals Gyanendra Shah assumed the crown in 2001 after his brother, then-King Birendra, was killed in a massacre at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace. The attack, allegedly carried out by Crown Prince Dipendra, resulted in the assassination of much of the royal family before Dipendra took his own life. In February 2005, Gyanendra seized power from the civilian government – a move that made him deeply unpopular. He dissolved the government, banned news reporting, and authorized the army to arrest senior political leaders, journalists, trade unionists, human rights activists, and civil society members. All telephone and internet connections were cut. Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal during his Coronation ceremony in Nepal on June 6, 2001. © Bhaskar Paul/The The India Today Group via Getty Images In response, the parliamentary political parties and the Maoist rebels – then engaged in armed conflict – joined forces and launched a united movement against the monarchy. Following a 19-day people's uprising, Gyanendra relinquished power to political parties in 2006. Two years later, the Constituent Assembly formally abolished the monarchy, forcing Gyanendra to vacate the Narayanhiti Palace. The government subsequently allocated Nagarjuna Palace, located seven kilometers west of the capital, as his residence. Since then, he has traveled to various districts, organizing public engagement programs. In recent months, however, he has become increasingly active in campaigning for the restoration of the monarchy. READ MORE: 'It stinks': The world's tallest mountain is overflowing with feces and waste. Nepal is sounding the alarm Why people want the king back? Only around 5% of Nepal's parliamentarians advocate for monarchism. They belong to the right-wing Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which campaigns for reinstating Nepal as a Hindu kingdom. Political analysts suggest that public frustration with the government's poor service delivery, corruption, and unemployment has created dissatisfaction. Yubaraj Ghimire, a senior Nepali journalist, suggested that in recent times, political parties had failed to deliver and have become extremely corrupt. Nepal's former King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah (Center) greets his followers and supporters as his vehicle is surrounded by a large mass of pro-monarchists upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 9, 2025. © Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images Tanka Karki, a political analyst and former Nepali ambassador to China, believes, however, that former king wrongly believed he had widespread public support. 'The only alternative to democracy is democracy itself; the restoration of the monarchy is not possible,' Karki told RT. 'Shah made a daring but unsuccessful attempt.' He suggested that the events of the past week provided lessons to all political parties in the country. Subedi believes that former King Gyanendra and his movement weakened after the March 28 Kathmandu incident. 'The restoration of the monarchy is not possible. I see it facing suppression once again,' he said.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Regrets, executions, coups and a love story: Four takeaways from former Nigerian military ruler IBB book
Nigeria former military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, wey many pipo know as IBB, don release one new autobiography including several revelations about di tough times wen im bin dey in charge of di kontri from 1985 to 1993. Di book - A Journey In Service dey make Nigerians tok and reflect on wetin for happun if tins turn out differently - especially di controversial decision to annul di 1993 elections, and di execution of im childhood friend. Babangida get mixed record. While some praise am for di infrastructural development Nigeria wey im do, odas say massive corruption bin dey during im time. Dis na four takeaways from di book: Di 1993 elections annulment Dis na di biggest talking-point as e touch one topic wey many believe say change Nigeria history. Some say di kontri still neva really recover from di annulment of di 1993 presidential elections. For di book, Babangida, now 83, for di first time express deep regret for cancelling dat election. Di poll bin suppose bring an end to military rule afta 10 years and di cancellation of di outcome throw di kontri into katakata. Di date of di vote na – 12 June - now e dey remembered for Nigeria as Democracy Day. E force Gen Babangida to resign. Moshood Abiola, wey many pipo believe say na im win di election, later go prison and dem assassinate im wife. Nigeria current President, Bola Tinubu, say Gen Babangida book launch show courage to admit wetin bin happun . "Dat accident of history na di most regrettable. Di nation dey entitled to expect my expression of regret," Babangida write. Gen Babangida, popularly known as IBB, acknowledge say Abiola, wey die for 1998, bin win di election. However, for 1993 as dem bin dem gada di results, di military goment stop di process – dat action cause widespread protests and political crisis. At dat time, dem bin cite di issue of vote-buying, as well as di need to protect di kontri judiciary as reasons for di annulment. Abiola son Jamiu say di acknowledgment by Gen Babangida say im father bin win di election come as welcome surprise to am and some of im family members. "Perhaps General Babangida dey look for peace," im tell BBC Focus on Africa podcast. Eventually dem restore civilian rule for 1999, 11 months afta di death of anoda military ruler Sani Abacha. Execution of a childhood friend General Mamman Vatsa and Babangida bin grow up togeda, dem bin dey di same class for school and dem rise alongside each oda for military. Im execution for 1986 afta im chop conviction of one coup plot na anoda major talking-point of Babangida presidency. "We be very close friends," Babangida recall. "We bin grow up togeda for Minna and we be classmates for Bida. We do several tins together as peers. My wife remember say we bin dey share a room as bachelors. We go reach out for whatever shirt bin dey available, irrespective of who get am, and just wear am and go out! We bin dey very close." However, im say na now im realise say Vatsa bin dey jealous am since wey dem be teenagers. "Wit di benefit of hindsight now, I remember one constant part of our relationship as teenagers and young men na a continuous peer jealousy on im part towards me. Im bin always dey envious of my achievements, especially wen I tink say I dey progress pass am, either for school or our military career path." Dem execute Vatsa and nine odas for March 1986. Sake of planned coup, wey according to Babangida go put di kontri into darkness. "I bin get to choose between saving a friend life and di nation future," im write. Nigeria first coup Anoda serious issue na di1966 coup wey overthrew Nigeria first goment afta independence from UK. Dem kill Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, along wit oda high-ranking national and regional leaders. Di fact say most of di coup plotters bin come from south-eastern Nigeria mean say di coup come dey known as an "Igbo coup" - na label wey Babangida reject. Im highlight di role of Major John Obienu, an ethnic Igbo officer, wey play a key role in ending di coup, e reveal say many senior Igbo officers also die for di mutiny. Di book also shed light on the involvement of members of oda ethnic groups, notably Yorubas, many of whom im say bin participate for di military takeover. Di former leader confam di original intention of di coup plotters na to release politician Obafemi Awolowo from detention and install am as president. Babangida write: "Na one terrible time for di Nigerian military. As I don tok am bifor, as a young officer wey see all of dis from a distance, probably, ethnic sentiments no drive di original objective of di coup plotters. "For instance, di head of di plotters, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, na only 'Igbo' dey im name. Dem born and raise am for Kaduna, im immigrant parents bin come from Okpanam wey today many know as Delta State, wey, for 1966, na di old mid-western region. Nzeogwu bin speak Hausa well-well and dey like any 'Hausa' pesin! im and im original team bin probably think, even if naively, say dem fit turn tins around to make di kontri better. Di association of Igbos wit di coup bin lead to attacks on members of dat community around di kontri and ultimately to di civil war wia Igbo leaders bin try to secede from Nigeria in 1967. At least one million pipo die in for wetin go become di Biafran war. Di love story wit Maryam Babangida Many Nigerians see Babangida wife Maryam as di kontri most iconic and influential First Lady. From 1985 to wen im leave office for 1993, dia love story totori a lot of pipo. She die for 2009 and di ex-head of state no remarry. "She bin fine well-well. Her ebony beauty, her set off enchanting eyes, and her dazzling smile dey show her lovely set of teeth; wen she smile – and wen she smile – her face go come out well-well, and her eyes dey dance," Im write. "Two of us see see our marriage as our freedom and we agree to sort tins out ourselves if we quarrel. We bin dey very compatible; I fit only remember two occasions wey we quarrel, and neither of us bin dey afraid to apologise to each other. In all our years of marriage, e no ever dey necessary for anyone to mediate between us over a misunderstanding becos of diat original meeting of minds." "I never imagine say Maryam go die bifor me, but di gift of life dey Allah hands, no be for human being. I dey grateful for Maryam life and di fruit of our union. Coping without her no dey easy, but e dey much less demanding by di memories of our life togeda and di length of her shadow," Babangida tok. Im describe Maryam as a devoted wife, mother, homemaker, and passionate advocate for rural women. Above all, im see her as a true partner.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four takeaways as former Nigerian military ruler reveals all in new book
Nigeria's former military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, known as IBB, has released a book about the turbulent times while he was in charge of the country. A Journey In Service, which chronicles his life, especially while he was in office from 1985 to 1993, has got Nigerians talking and reflecting on what might have been if things had turned out differently. Here are four takeaways from the book: This is the biggest talking-point as it touches on a topic which many believed altered Nigeria's history. Some say the country still hasn't really recovered from the annulment of the 1993 presidential elections. In the book, Babangida, now 83, for the first time expressed deep regret for cancelling that election. The poll was supposed to bring an end to military rule after 10 years and the cancellation of the outcome threw the country into turmoil. The date of the vote – 12 June - is now remembered in Nigeria as Democracy Day. Gen Babangida was forced to resign. Moshood Abiola, widely believed to have won the election, was later imprisoned and his wife assassinated. Nigeria's current President, Bola Tinubu, said at the book launch that Gen Babangida had shown courage by admitting what took place. "That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my expression of regret," Babangida writes. Gen Babangida, popularly known as IBB, acknowledged that Abiola, who died in 1998, won the election. However, in 1993 as results were being collated, the military government abruptly stopped the process - an action that triggered widespread protests and a political crisis. At the time, he cited the issue of vote-buying, as well as the need to protect the country's judiciary as reasons for the annulment. Abiola's son Jamiu said the acknowledgment by Gen Babangida that his father had won the election came as a welcome surprise to him and some of his family members. 'Perhaps General Babangida was looking for peace,' he told the BBC Focus on Africa podcast. Civilian rule was eventually restored in 1999, 11 months after the death of another military ruler Sani Abacha. General Mamman Vatsa and Babangida grew up together, were in the same class in school and rose alongside each other in the military. His execution in 1986 after he was convicted of a coup plot is another major talking-point of Babangida's presidency. "We were very close friends," Babangida recalls. "We had grown up together in Minna and had been classmates in Bida. We did several things together as peers. My wife recalled that we used to share a room as bachelors. We would reach out for whatever shirt was available, irrespective of whose it was, and just wear it and head out! We were that close." However, he says now realises that Vatsa had been jealous since when they were teenagers. "With the benefit of hindsight now, I recall that a constant part of our relationship as teenagers and young men was a continuous and recurrent peer jealousy on his part towards me. He was always envious of my achievements, especially when he thought I was progressing better than him, either in school or our military career path." Vatsa and nine others were executed in March 1986. They were said to have planned a coup, which according to Babangida would have plunged the country into darkness. "I had to choose between saving a friend's life and the nation's future," he writes. Another contentious issue has been the 1966 coup which overthrew Nigeria's first government following independence from the UK. Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was killed, along with other high-ranking national and regional leaders. The fact most of the coup plotters were from south-eastern Nigeria meant the coup became known as an "Igbo coup" - a label Babangida rejects. He highlighted the role of Major John Obienu, an ethnic Igbo officer, who played a key role in quelling the coup, revealing that many senior Igbo officers were also killed in the mutiny. The book also sheds light on the involvement of members of other ethnic groups, notably Yorubas, many of whom he said had participated in the military takeover. The former leader confirmed that the original intention of the coup plotters was to release politician Obafemi Awolowo from detention and install him as president. Babangida writes: "It was a terrible time for the Nigerian military. As I have said elsewhere, as a young officer who saw all of this from a distance, probably, ethnic sentiments did not drive the original objective of the coup plotters. "For instance, the head of the plotters, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, was only 'Igbo' in name. Born and raised in Kaduna, his immigrant parents were from Okpanam in today's Delta State, which, in 1966, was in the old mid-western region. Nzeogwu spoke fluent Hausa and was as 'Hausa' as any! He and his original team probably thought, even if naively, that they could turn things around for the better in the country. The association of Igbos with the coup led to attacks on members of that community around the country and ultimately to the civil war in which some Igbo leaders tried to secede from Nigeria in 1967. At least a million people were killed in what became known as the Biafran war. Many Nigerians see Babangida's wife Maryam as the country's most iconic and influential First Lady. From 1985 to when they left office in 1993, their love story captivated a lot of people. She died in 2009 and the ex-head of state has never remarried. "She was stunning. Her ebony beauty set off enchanting eyes, and her dazzling smile showed off a lovely set of teeth; when she smiled – and she often smiled – her face lit up, and her eyes danced," he writes. "We both saw our marriage as our freedom and agreed to sort things out ourselves if we quarrelled. We were very compatible; indeed, I can only recall two occasions on which we quarrelled, and neither of us was afraid to apologise to the other. In all our years of marriage, it was never necessary for anyone to mediate between us over a misunderstanding because of that original meeting of minds." "I never imagined that Maryam would pass away before I did, but the gift of life is in Allah's hands, not in humanity's. I am grateful for the life Maryam and I shared and for the fruit of our union. Coping without her has not been easy, but it has been made much less demanding by the memories of our life together and the length of her shadow," Babangida says. He describes Maryam as a devoted wife, mother, homemaker, and passionate advocate for rural women. Above all, he saw her as a true partner. Uganda probes death of Nigerian footballer in shopping mall Nigeria ex-military leader for first time admits regret over cancelled poll India bans two opioids behind crisis in West Africa Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigeria ex-military leader for first time admits regret over cancelled poll
Nigeria's ex-military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babangida has expressed deep regret for the first time for annulling the results of the 1993 presidential election. The poll was supposed to bring about an end to military rule after 10 years and the cancellation of the outcome threw the country into turmoil. The date of the vote – 12 June - is now remembered in Nigeria as Democracy Day. Gen Babangida was forced to resign. Moshood Abiola, widely believed to have won the election, was later imprisoned and his wife assassinated. Nigeria's current President, Bola Tinubu, said Gen Babangida had shown courage by admitting what took place. The former military leader, 83, expressed his regret at the launch of his autobiography A Journey in Service in the capital, Abuja, on Thursday. "Undoubtedly credible, free and fair elections were held on 12 June 1993," he told the audience made up of the cream of Nigerian society, including Tinubu, two former presidents – Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan - and another ex-military leader, Abdulsalam Abubakar. "However, the tragic irony of history remains that the administration that devised a near-perfect electoral system and conducted those near-perfect elections could not complete the process. "That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my expression of regret." Gen Babangida, popularly known as IBB, also acknowledged that Abiola, who died in 1998, won the election. However, in 1993 as results were being collated, the military government abruptly stopped the process - an action that triggered widespread protests and a political crisis. For three decades, the circumstances surrounding the 1993 election have been shrouded in controversy, with conflicting accounts emerging overtime. This new admission, seen as reopening old wounds, has triggered fresh debates rather than closure. Many people will be expecting the former military ruler to also provide answers to some questions relating to his policies at the time. Gen Babangida, who overthrew another military leader Muhammadu Buhari in 1985, led the county for eight years. Multiparty democracy did eventually return to Nigeria in 1999 with the election of Obasanjo – who had also been a former military leader – as president. Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
