Nigeria’s democratic journey is facing significant challenges, with transparency and accountability taking a backseat in critical decision-making processes.
This was the warning from veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, during his My Take segment on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television on Sunday.
Akande raised concerns over the National Assembly’s handling of President Bola Tinubu’s emergency proclamation, questioning the lack of transparency in the approval process. According to him, the Nigerian Constitution clearly states that a two-thirds majority of all members in each House must approve such a proclamation. However, when both Houses announced their approval on Friday, no one could confirm how many lawmakers were present, how they voted, or who supported or opposed the measure.
He said “Inside Sources could easily imagine that the President has superior information that may have compelled him to make the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers State. But, we should not have a situation where an elected President is able to arbitrarily suspend another elected government official. To allow such is both unconstitutional and undemocratic especially in a Federation. This is why we are saying today that democracy is travelling a hard road in Nigeria.”
“Where is the accountability? Where is the transparency in all these? What is the use of a Parliament that does not attract public confidence?” Akande asked, expressing frustration over what he sees as a growing trend of politicians serving their own interests rather than those of the people.
Beyond the questionable parliamentary proceedings, Akande lamented the state of Nigeria’s political opposition, calling it “comatose.” He criticized opposition figures, particularly former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, for failing to rally their party members in the National Assembly to challenge the emergency proclamation.
“Mr. Peter Obi couldn’t even get Labour Party lawmakers to speak up, while Atiku was more focused on coalition politics instead of ensuring PDP legislators resisted undue pressure,” Akande noted. “They simply issued statements opposing the state of emergency and then disappeared.”
This lack of decisive opposition, he argued, has left the political landscape lopsided, allowing the ruling party to exercise power unchecked. “At a time when the President has assumed powers outside the confines of the law, the opposition forces are thoroughly disorganized,” he observed.
While acknowledging that President Tinubu may have had compelling intelligence necessitating the emergency rule in Rivers State, Akande emphasized that the method used was unconstitutional. He cautioned against the President unilaterally suspending an elected governor, warning that such actions undermine Nigeria’s federal structure.
“An elected President should not be able to arbitrarily remove another elected official. This is both unconstitutional and undemocratic,” he argued. “Whenever an elected official is to be removed, it must follow the due process clearly stated in the constitution.”
Akande warned that failure to denounce this development could entrench a dangerous precedent, where political power is wielded for personal gain rather than national stability. “If we do not resist this, we will never outgrow the politics of patronage and personal aggrandizement. Things might even get worse,” he cautioned.
Despite the grim picture, Akande commended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its bold stance against the government’s action. The NBA recently condemned the emergency proclamation, describing it as an abuse of executive power. Akande urged civil society and legal practitioners to remain vigilant, as their advocacy is crucial in preserving democratic principles.
As Nigeria grapples with these challenges, Akande stressed that silence is not an option. He called on citizens, lawmakers, and civil society organizations to demand accountability and transparency from political leaders. “Democracy is travelling a hard road in Nigeria, but we must not keep silent,” he concluded.
