The National president of the Society for Advancement of Democracy (SAD), Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu while granting press interview to journalist in his chamber on the Democracy Day, marked in Nigeria every May 29, assessed the state of democracy in the present government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu very poor. The Nnewi in Anambra-born prince, who doubles as the Principal Partner at Friends Chambers, declares that democracy is being trampled in Nigeria, reports, our anchorman, Nwamulunamma Ogbunka. Excerpts.
While government officials may be trying to assess Tinubu from a single perspective, and that assessment is misleading, if Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu’s take is something to go by. When you examine the political, economic, and security realities together, the true picture of our democracy emerges.
According to him, Tinubu has shown Nigerians, even before the election, that many of the democratic ideals he preached while opposing Jonathan were merely rhetoric. If those old recordings, he went on were played on national television today, it would be embarrassing, and there is no evidence of liberalization under his administration.
According to him, party primaries are no longer allowed to run their course, and candidates are being handpicked. “As National President of SAD, I cannot pretend that democracy is not being trampled upon. The process has been hijacked, and citizens are being sidelined.
“Nigeria faces a security crisis that demands a special task force and a declaration of war against insecurity. Unfortunately, the President is not providing decisive leadership. People are arrested for speaking out, while the courts are being used to suppress opposition. The space for other political parties is shrinking.
“Consider the case of Nyesom Wike who simultaneously leads two political parties because he is expected to “deliver” for the President. Must every political structure serve the presidency? The people are no longer part of the equation. Public officers swore on oath to the citizens, not to one man.
“Nigerians still remember the Chibok girls. I watched Mrs. Jonathan weep on television at the horror of their abduction. Yet, with killings continuing across many regions, what has the current First Lady done to commiserate with grieving mothers? This government appears indifferent to human welfare and democratic values,” he accused.
According to this constitutional lawyer of note, governors are now being dictated to and if they refuse to comply, they face suspension. That, he went on, is not democracy, but intimidation. He therefore stated that many Nigerians believe leadership is neither inherently good nor bad, but those currently in power lack prior experience in governance. “I served as Special Assistant to President Shagari and as Executive Secretary of his campaign, I understand what true leadership looks like.
“President Tinubu is not lacking in intelligence. The claim that he is controlled by advisers is false. Advisers only suggest; the leader decides. The decisions we see today reflect his personal choices, not external manipulation.
“Many applaud him for removing fuel subsidy, arguing that it has improved the economy. There is merit in that view. Since Tinubu assumed office, subnational governments have experienced more financial stability. States no longer struggle to pay salaries.
“Before now, states received ₦400-500 million monthly. Today, some share ₦2-3 trillion every month. That improvement is commendable. But financial inflow alone is not enough. The real question is: how wisely is the money being spent?” he queried.
To him, if a leader like Peter Obi were president and those subsidy savings were in his hands, he would deliver more. He believed that Obi would provide 24-hour electricity and build a national railway system like China’s, adding that Nigerians could board a train here and arrive in Lagos for ₦17, 000. “Nigeria needs that kind of transformative leadership,” he stated clearly.
He continued: “I speak without fear. The Igbo people are Nigerians too. Every other zone with equal or smaller population has produced a president, except the South East. My only “crime” is demanding equity. The Igbo have now produced Peter Obi, who stands out among all current candidates. He has no history of borrowing, he left Anambra State with surplus funds, and the United Nations honored him for achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” the prince hailed.
On security, he didn’t mince a word to disagree with Tinubu and many politicians on one point, even as he firmly said that he had all the time been against against it state police. “If the APC controls local government elections in their states and wins all seats, adding state police will eliminate opposition entirely. It will turn governors into emperors and make dissent impossible,” made his mind known.
To him, the judiciary, and the courts are doing their constitutional duty. The problem, according to him lies with lawyers and politicians who fail to build strong cases. In the 2023 presidential election petition, he went in, the BVAS and IReV issues were not pursued properly, instead, 27 witnesses were called across 36 states, and the petitioners expected the Supreme Court to construct their case for them.
“The judiciary is like a policeman arriving after a fight has ended. It can only judge based on evidence presented. Constitutional provisions now require election petitions to be filed within 14 days. When lawyers file late, the cases are dismissed. The Nigerian Bar Association must ensure its members follow the law,” the SAD leader advised.
Speaking on the Senate, he had this to say: “The Senate President is not an independent authority. He only announces the position of the Senate. Many of the Senate’s controversial decisions originate from the presidency or from within the chamber itself. I appeal to the Senate: if corruption is crippling the nation, rise and stop it.
“I authored a book, The Voice of Another Generation to share my perspective on the South East and South. Some claim Igbos are only traders and lack unity. Yet the South East has produced Peter Obi. If he has the capacity to develop Nigeria as he did Anambra, he should be judged on competence, not ethnicity.
“Democracy is more than voting. It requires the rule of law, respect for opposition, protection of citizens’ welfare, and leaders who honor their oath to the people. Until these principles are restored, Nigeria’s democracy will remain under siege,”:he concluded.