Thursday, October 2, 2025 - Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju has lamented that at 65, democracy is almost non-existent at the subnational levels.
He stated this on Nigeria's 65th independence celebration
day which is holding today.
He lamented that the country has made little or no progress
in security the lives and property of citizens.
“Independence means nothing without security. Nigeria must
urgently strengthen its internal and territorial security so that citizens can
feel safe in their homes, on their roads, and within their communities. Every
other day we hear of ‘unknown gunmen’ unleashing terror across the nation. This
cannot continue,” he said.
The activist stressed that beyond insecurity, Nigeria’s
democracy has failed to take root outside the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, state governors wield excessive powers
with little accountability, reducing democracy to a federal concept that barely
exists at the grassroots.
“Today, democracy in Nigeria seems to exist only in Abuja;
it is almost non-existent at the subnational levels. Our governors wield
excessive power with little to no accountability, and they are shielded from
scrutiny even as their salaries and allowances continue to rise,” Adeyanju
stated.
He also faulted the refusal of state governors to obey the
Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, calling it a dangerous
trend of disregard for the rule of law.
Adeyanju extended his criticism to the federal government,
accusing President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet of underperformance.
He alleged that only about four ministers are visible and
actively working, while others have become “ghost ministers.”
“True democracy must be rooted in accountability at every
level, not just in the Federal Capital Territory. Only about four of our
ministers are visible and working; the rest are missing in action and are only
ministers by portfolio. A country of Nigeria’s magnitude and challenges cannot
afford ghost ministers,” he said.
The rights lawyer maintained that Nigeria at 65 still lacks
progress in key areas such as accountability, security, and governance.
“Independence Day, to me, should not just be a date on the
calendar. It should be an ongoing work of building a nation where democracy,
accountability, and security are real for every Nigerian, not just a privileged
few,” Adeyanju concluded.
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