Great to be here and we’re discussing big significant political issues that are happening everywhere in the country today. Big story today: detained journalists charged with treason for criticising the government, and the list is growing. From what it looks like, a number of journalists have been detained by Federal as well as State authorities, accusing them of things like treason and just a host of other allegations against these journalists, and also bloggers, like Amnesty International did point out also.

Well thanks very much Aghogho and Rotimi. And I really want to welcome Uadamen Ilevbaoje to … he’s the Head of Tracka. And if anybody follows me on Twitter, they will know that I’m a big fan of Tracka. And it kind of dates back to a period when I was writing a chapter about Nigeria’s quest for Freedom of Information legislation for a book being published by the Columbia University Press.

IDEAS Radio 30 Aug 2019 Guest: Amnesty International Country Director Osai Ojigo Aghogho Oboh: Alright, we’ve just been shadow boxing before we start the Public Square.  Rotimi Sankore throwing punches! So, this Public Square … Rotimi Sankore: The promo sounded too exciting! Ayo Obe: Then you should be excited! AgO: We are indeed excited.  Public…

But wow, things have been happening! I mean, I turn my back for one minute and then we see all sorts of things happening. Of course the swearing in of ministers and assignment of portfolios to them. Rotimi I was saying to you that there are so many angles to it, but from an IDEAS point of view, you know the issues that we’re looking at are Integrity, Democracy, Ethics and Accountability. And we have to recognise that an appointed minister is really an out … branch of the President, so they effectively represent the President in the task that he has assigned to them.