“The test of democracy is freedom of criticism.” — Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Democracy thrives on dissent. In its absence, governance deteriorates into authoritarianism, detached from the people it claims to serve. In Nigeria, a troubling trend has emerged: public figures, unwilling to tolerate criticism, weaponize the assets of the state to suppress voices that challenge them. This is not merely an abuse of power—it is an existential threat to democratic governance.
Wike vs. Odinkalu: The “Strongman” Reflex
Professor Chidi Odinkalu, a seasoned human rights advocate and former Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, renowned for being fearlessly outspoken in defence of good governance, recently directed a pointed critique at Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State. Odinkalu questioned Wike’s apparent dalliance with key figures in Nigeria’s judiciary—an institution already burdened by public distrust and allegations of corruption. Pointing out that his coziness with the judiciary compromised the optics of their neutrality. Rather than engage the argument, Wike sought to punish the critic. He urged the Body of Benchers to sanction Odinkalu for daring to challenge him.
Stifle, suppress, silence – classic authoritarian proclivity. Wike, himself a lawyer, in the course of his training, must have engaged with Section 39(1) of Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. It is clear what the Body of Benchers must do – publicly and unequivocally distance themselves from this brazen attempt to conscript them into a personal vendetta. It is an institution that exists to uphold justice and not to massage the bruised egos of politicians.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: A Woman’s Right to Speak
If there is a hallmark of fragile democracies, it is their unique hostility toward women who dare to assert themselves. Nigeria’s dance of shame in the ‘celebration’ of International Women’s Month was so spectacular it spilled into April! Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi State, became the poster child of their display.
After publicly accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual misconduct, she faced predictable retaliation—suspension from the Senate. Her constituents, sensing injustice, planned a peaceful rally in her support, which the Kogi State government attempted to quash by suddenly banning all political gatherings. A ban, not on crime or violence, but on assembly and expression —the very foundations of democratic participation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan paid a surprise visit to her constituency to celebrate Eid, and in a flash, an organic, spontaneous rally of solidarity by thousands of her constituents who peacefully filled the square in support of their representative has predictably now resulted in their hyperventilating state government demanding for her arrest. Fresh off the heels of International Women’s month (March), this incident sends a chilling message to women in politics: “Know your place.”
The NYSC: Conditioning the Next Generation for Silence
The Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is tasked with instilling civic responsibility in young citizens and preparing them to take their position as leaders and vanguards of our nation’s democracy. Instead, it insists on molding them into weak saplings of despotism with the not-so-subtle hint: fall in line, or face retribution. A young corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, exercising her constitutional right, recently criticized President Bola Tinubu’s performance as President, labeling his performance “terrible”. She supported her assessment by pointing out the chronic inflation suffered by most Nigerians under his administration and demanded better governance. How did NYSC respond? It bullied her into apologizing, warning her of severe consequences if she did not retract her statement.
This is state-sponsored coercion. It flies in the face of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Nigeria has ratified, and contradicts Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution. A democracy that punishes its youngest citizens for voicing opinions is a democracy on the verge of collapse.
The Duty to Defy
Nigeria’s citizens must choose to continue to engage in their democracy in a full-throated manner. Silencing critics does not erase their arguments. It merely exposes the weakness of those in power. True democracies do not seek vengeance against dissenters, they engage them. Public institutions must refuse to be used as political weapons. Consequently, the Body of Benchers must reject Wike’s demand to sanction Professor Odinkalu. Law enforcement in Kogi must refuse to act as a tool of suppression. The NYSC must remember its mandate is to shape citizens, not subjugate them.
We must remember that democracy is not a gift from politicians—it is an expression of the participation of the people in whatever form they choose to express it within the boundaries of the law. It cannot be silenced or cowered, it must be defended fiercely and unapologetically!
