By Adekunle Peters/Lagos
A University Don, Promise Adiele, PhD, has opined that democratic governance seems to be disappearing in Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
Adiele who is a lecturer in the Department of English, Mountain Top University, Makogi Oba, Ogun State, stated this at the backdrop of recent political developments in the country.
Specifically, he pointed to the impeachment and reelection saga of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly and the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State and suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as evidence that democratic governance is gradually slipping away from Nigeria.
“In practical terms, one can confidently argue that democratic governance in Nigeria as we know it is disappearing, vanishing across all levels of political corridors. The politicians are engaged in inordinate, self-serving machinations towards retaining power in 2027.
He described as prophetic, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Public Communication and Media, Daniel Bwala, who declared in December 2023 that even if you give Mr. President [Tinubu] 30 years, nothing will work.
“Many people thought he was playing politics,” he said, noting that the statements were prophetic and accurate.
“Since Tinubu’s ascension to power, democratic governance seems to be disappearing in Nigeria and in its place is hardship, inflation, poverty and a profligate governance protocol that benefits a few to the detriment of the masses.
“The current government has not positively affected the lives of Nigerians in any identifiable way which gives credence to Bwala’s 2023 effusions.
“In Rivers State, there has been absolutely no semblance of governance since 2023. The people of the state cannot, in good conscience, beat their chest to assert that there is governance in the State.
“Only Yesterday, Bola Tinubu sacked Fubara and summarily ushered in the Khaki boys into a democratic dispensation.
“Democratic Governance also seems to be disappearing in Lagos State as in other parts of Nigeria. According to elected members of the Lagos House of Assembly, the Speaker Mr. Mudashiru Obasa was impeached for reasons bordering on fraudulent activities and corruption. A new speaker was elected.
“However, because the people of Lagos State, the electorate, do not matter in the APC political laboratory, Mr. President intervened. The corrupt, fraudulent Obasa as declared by the House of Assembly was reinstated and today, he is the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly with all the baggage on his head,” Adiele added.
He, however, noted that no matter what Tinubu and the current political class may think or how docile Nigerians may appear, the electorate is still the primal custodian of democracy.
“Nigerians who chased the military away are still Nigerians, they have not changed. The Nigerian youths that chased SARS away are still Nigerian youths. A stitch in time saves nine,” Adiele warned.
