The President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Professor Benjamin Okaba, on Thursday, September 28, 2023, joined former president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and other prominent personalities in Nigeria and outside the country as they converged in the tower hall of the Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for the second edition of the Democracy Dialogue initiative powered by The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, GJF.

The annual democratic dialogue is an initiative that brings together stakeholders across Africa to examine issues of democracy and crises in the Africa continent towards proffering solutions, and the 2023 edition has as its theme: "Breaking New Grounds in Democratic Development Nexus in Africa".

The second edition of the dialogue was held in the context of the global decline in democracy with the unconstitutional change of governments in the African continent, the shrinking civic space, human rights violations, disinformation, and the rise of populism, all of which are significantly impacting the practice of democracy in the continent.

Some of the dignitaries in attendance at the event are: former president of Sierra Leone, Bai Koroma; former vice president of The Gambia, Fatuomata Tambajang; His Excellency Dr. Omar Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States' Commission; Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed; former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, Amb. Joe Keshi; Professor of Political Science and Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies at the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Prof Ibaba Samuel; the Bayelsa State Governor along with his wife, Sen. & Mrs. Douye Diri; the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; other serving and former national and state lawmakers, traditional rulers, among others.

The panel discussants at the event were Bai Koroma, Fatuomata Tambajang; Prof. Ibaba, Amina Mohammed, Amb. Keshi among others.

Speaking at the event, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Touray, in his remarks, blamed the lack of infrastructural and other positive developments in Africa on the existence of weak institutions that have failed to hold leaders accountable such that punitive actions that should serve as deterrent have been watered down.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, called for the strengthening of democratic institutions through inclusiveness of women, youths and the vulnerable in the society, as ways to bolstering the practice of democracy on the continent.

Other discussants at the dialogue hinted on how democracy can be used to achieve development as well as pursue other national aspirations.

This second edition is chaired by former president Dr. Jonathan with the Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Atuwaste III as the Royal Father of the day, and Dr. Touray as the special guest of honour. Governor Diri of Bayelsa State played chief host.

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