NIGERIA: A group of prominent Nigerian pro-democracy and human rights activists have expressed deep concern over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged efforts to dismantle the country’s democratic foundations and establish a one-party state.
The activists, who include Richard Akinnola, Auwa Ibrahim Musa (Rasfajani), Professor Adele Jinadu, Uche Onyeagucha, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Abdul Mahmud, Dr. Sam Amadi, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Nnimmo Bassey, Adeola Soetan, Uzodinma Nwaogbe, Mma Odi, Osa Director, Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, Femi Aborisade, Olufemi Adegbulugbe, and Chief Tola Adeniyi, warned that the drift toward a one-party state would betray the ideals fought for during Nigeria’s struggle against military dictatorship.
“We are witnessing a calculated and systematic effort by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismantle the democratic foundations of our republic and reduce Nigeria to a one-party state,” the activists stated in a declaration titled “Defending Democracy: A Call to Resist the March Toward a One-Party State in Nigeria.”
According to them, the administration is eroding political pluralism through bribery, blackmail, and coercion. “Under this administration, political pluralism is being eroded not by persuasion or performance, but by bribery, blackmail, and coercion,” the statement read. “A democracy without opposition is not a democracy,” they emphasized. “The presence of multiple, vibrant parties is not a luxury—it is the lifeblood of any democratic system.”
The activists called on President Tinubu to respect the multi-party architecture of the republic and end the persecution and intimidation of opposition leaders. “We call on Mr. President to remember the democratic path that brought him to power, to respect the multi-party architecture of our republic, and to end the persecution and intimidation of opposition leaders,” the statement read. “We did not fight to end military dictatorship only to enthrone civilian authoritarianism,” the activists declared. “We must rise now to defend democracy, or risk losing it forever.”
Century Post
