As Nigerians commemorate another Democracy Day, human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has expressed deep concern over the state of governance in the country under President Bola Tinubu. In a statement titled “June 12: Assessing Democracy in Nigeria Under President Bola Tinubu,” Adeyanju highlighted the worsening conditions of hardship, insecurity, and hunger that continue to plague the average Nigerian.
According to Adeyanju, democracy in Nigeria has largely become a system that benefits the elite while leaving the masses behind. He criticized the administration’s abrupt removal of fuel subsidies—an action that was initially presented as a progressive economic reform. Rather than improving the economy, he argued, the removal has widened inequality, triggered inflation, and deepened poverty among citizens.
“What was promised as a path to national rebirth has instead become a gateway to unchecked looting at the subnational level,” Adeyanju said, lamenting that states now receive significantly higher federal allocations, yet the lives of ordinary Nigerians show no corresponding improvement.
He pointed out the absence of tangible development: “Across the country, there is little, if any, evidence to suggest that the increased funds have translated into better lives for citizens. No new roads, no improved schools, no functional hospitals. Only expanding convoys, lavish spending, and political realignments as governors defect to the ruling party to secure continued access to power and privilege.”
The activist also criticized the federal government’s failed effort to secure local government autonomy. Despite the Attorney-General, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), championing the cause with apparent dedication, Adeyanju noted that the campaign has yielded no meaningful results. He accused state governors of continually diverting local government funds, thereby crippling grassroots governance and denying communities basic development.
He further described Nigeria as being caught in a vicious cycle where personal interests overshadow public welfare, the rule of law is consistently undermined, and political accountability remains a distant ideal.
“Today, as we mark Democracy Day, we must ask: Who truly benefits from this democracy?” Adeyanju questioned. “For many Nigerians, the promise of representative governance has given way to daily struggles for survival. Until leadership is redefined by service, transparency, and genuine commitment to national development, Nigeria’s democracy will remain a celebration for the few, while the majority continue to suffer in silence.”
