In a searing rebuke of the current Nigerian government, human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has drawn a bold and chilling comparison between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the repressive military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha, stating that Nigeria’s present condition under democratic rule is even worse.
Farotimi, who also serves as the General Secretary of Afenifere, made the damning remarks on Thursday during a symposium themed “Afenifere: Identity, Ideas and Ideology”, held at the prestigious Muson Centre in Onikan, Lagos State. The event was organised to honour the 97th posthumous birthday of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the revered Afenifere leader, and to reflect on the past, present, and future of the pan-Yoruba socio-political movement.
In a speech that was both fiery and reflective, Farotimi painted a bleak portrait of Nigeria’s democratic decline, lamenting that the country’s trajectory has spiraled far below what was experienced under military rule. According to him, the very foundations of civic liberty and institutional integrity are being eroded at an alarming pace.
> “This regime has outdone Abacha’s in its suppression of free will,” Farotimi declared to thunderous applause. “Every platform that once gave the people a voice is being systematically dismantled. Nigeria is becoming a ghost of its democratic promises.”
He explained that the symposium was originally planned with Adebanjo before his passing, with the intention of confronting the growing internal misunderstandings and divisions within Afenifere. But with Adebanjo gone, it had taken on greater urgency.
> “After Baba’s death, it became clear that we must act swiftly to clarify our history, reaffirm our ideology, and confront the perilous state of our nation. We are not just celebrating Baba’s life—we are defending the ideals he lived for,” he stated.
Farotimi did not mince words in describing Nigeria as standing on a precipice. He urged citizens to look back to history for context, warning that the unresolved issues of federalism, identity, and marginalisation that plagued Nigeria at independence are still haunting the nation today.
> “Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s vision of federalism as a unifying compromise was never fully realised,” he said. “Instead, what we have today is a fraudulent federal structure—a unitary system disguised as federalism—imposed by a domineering centre that crushes diversity and hampers development.”
He called out the central government’s increasing authoritarianism, citing rampant insecurity, the emasculation of the judiciary, and the weakening of democratic institutions as key symptoms of a failing state.
> “The judiciary is compromised, the law is weaponised, and governance has become a farce. The Nigerian state no longer even pretends to serve the people. We live in fear, governed by impunity.”
He referenced the 1993 political crisis and the formation of NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) as a resistance force against military tyranny, stating that Afenifere once stood at the heart of Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle—and must do so again.
> “In 1993, we fought back against tyranny. Today, in 2023, we face an even more insidious threat: a government cloaked in democratic robes but behaving like a junta. The will of the people has once again been discarded, and the soul of the nation is at stake.”
Farotimi passionately called for Nigerians across all ethnic lines to rise above division and forge a common front against oppression. He emphasised that Afenifere’s vision was never ethnocentric, but nationalistic in scope.
> “Afenifere must now be a rallying point for all Nigerians. This is no longer a Yoruba struggle; it is a Nigerian struggle. The goal is not just survival—it is liberation.”
Invoking the enduring spirit of Chief Adebanjo, Farotimi urged the youth and civil society to awaken from complacency.
> “Baba always said, ‘Go and organise yourselves.’ It is time to honour him not just with tributes but with action. The legacy he left is a call to arms—for truth, justice, and freedom.”
The Tinubu administration, inaugurated in May 2023, is facing mounting criticism for what many see as an unprecedented crackdown on civil liberties and public dissent. Human rights groups, journalists, and international observers have raised red flags over the government’s tactics, which include:
Intimidation and arrest of journalists critical of the regime.
Legal persecution and fines against independent media outlets.
Deployment of security forces to violently disperse peaceful protesters.
Online censorship under the guise of combating “fake news.”
One of the most controversial incidents was the government’s response to mass protests following the removal of fuel subsidies. What began as peaceful demonstrations quickly turned violent as security operatives swooped in with tear gas, batons, and mass arrests.
The fear and silence reminiscent of Nigeria’s dark military past appear to be creeping back into the national psyche. Critics argue that a democratic government should not rule by fear, but by consensus, law, and respect for the people’s will.
Dele Farotimi’s message was a wake-up call—a passionate plea to reclaim the soul of a battered nation. As Nigeria grapples with economic hardship, insecurity, and political disillusionment, his words ring loud and clear:
> “This situation is undesirable—but it is not irreversible. Nigeria must rise, organise, and demand the freedom it was promised. If not now, when?”
PIONEER NEWS 