As Nigeria marks another Independence Day, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, human rights lawyer and activist, has said there is little evidence that the country is making real progress, stressing that democracy and accountability remain weak across many levels of government.
Adeyanju noted that while democratic institutions appear functional at the federal level, they are ‘almost non-existent’ in the states where governors wield enormous power with little oversight.
He said months ago, 19 state governors nearly derailed the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), adding that the intervention of the judiciary was the only safeguard that kept the anti-graft fight alive.
‘The same disregard for accountability is why the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy has not been implemented. Leaders cannot choose which laws to obey. True democracy must be rooted in accountability at every level, not just in Abuja,’ he said.
On the federal cabinet, Adeyanju lamented that only a handful of ministers appear visible and active in their duties, while the majority remain ‘missing in action.’ He warned that a country of Nigeria’s size and complexity cannot afford ‘ghost ministers’ who contribute little to governance. Adeyanju also emphasized that independence is meaningless without adequate security. According to him, citizens continue to live in fear as ‘unknown gunmen’ and other criminal groups unleash violence across the country.
‘Independence Day should not just be about celebrating a date on the calendar,’ he said. ‘It should be about building a nation where democracy, accountability, and security are guaranteed for all Nigerians, not just a privileged few.’