Nigeria under Tinubu is worse than dreaded Abacha’s regime in suppressing free will— Afenifere secretary, Dele Farotimi

Nigerian human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, has stated that Nigeria’s current state under the Tinubu-led government is worse than the regime of late Sanni Abacha.

Speaking at a public symposium titled “Afenifere: Identity, Ideas and Ideology,” held on Thursday at the Muson Centre in Onikan, Lagos State, Farotimi lamented the decline of the Nigerian state and stressed the urgent need for unity, ideological clarity, and citizen-led action.

His words,” The challenges Nigeria faces today are not new. When Afenifere was formed 74 years ago, it was a response to existential threats to the Nigerian project—even before independence. Issues of centralisation, calls for separation, and debates around federalism were already alive. Federalism, championed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Action Group, was the middle ground.”

“What we have today is a one-size-fits-all system, imposed by the centre. Instead of allowing the diverse nations within Nigeria to flourish, we have a unitary arrangement masquerading as federalism. This structure has stifled development and made life nearly unbearable for many Nigerians.”

He pointed out the systematic destruction of institutions that once gave citizens a voice.

He said, “Every platform that could empower the people has been systematically dismantled. Afenifere, however, still has a role to play—if there is to be a future for Nigeria. Afenifere must be at the forefront of challenging the current system that has erased the place of the citizen and undermined the rule of law.

“With the judicial system compromised, and the law rendered meaningless, the lives of all Nigerians—whether Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, or Ijaw—have been devalued.

“Farotimi decried the state’s failure to ensure security, noting: “We live in a country where armed groups are referred to as ‘hunters,’ and yet no one knows who or what they’re hunting. Citizens sleep with one eye open—or don’t sleep at all—because the state has failed in its most basic duty: the protection of lives and property. The constitution is ignored at will, and governance is marked by illegitimacy and arbitrariness.”

Drawing a historical parallel, Farotimi referenced the 1993 political crisis following the annulment of the presidential election.

“After General Abacha took power on November 17, 1993, Nigerians across the country were aggrieved. Different groups had different complaints, but Afenifere served as the binding force—leading the formation of NADECO and pushing back against military tyranny.

“Today, the situation is even worse. In 2023, just like in 1993, the will of the people has been disregarded, and that puts the very foundation of society at risk.”

According to Farotimi, Afenifere’s duty is to awaken Nigerians to the common nature of their suffering and help forge a united front.

Farotimi said, “If we allow ourselves to be distracted and divided, we lose our ability to seek freedom. Those who benefit from our disunity do so by diminishing not just our civic rights but our humanity.

“Afenifere must now offer a platform for all Nigerians—regardless of ethnic background—to come together. It was never founded for the Yoruba alone but for all Nigerians. It was founded to save us from ourselves.

“I still hear Baba’s voice telling us: ‘Go and organise yourselves.’ He never stopped calling for unity and self-organisation. Today, we honour him not just in words but through action. What we do with his legacy is now in our hands.”

“Afenifere is extending a hand to all Nigerians—to work with us, to find common ground and purpose, so that we may save ourselves from the crises that engulf us. This situation is not desirable—but it is not irreversible,” he added. #Tinubu