In a chilling echo of Nigeria's darkest days under military rule, President Bola Tinubu's administration has unleashed a wave of repression that threatens to strangle the very democracy he once fought to establish. The recent spate of arrests, detentions, and intimidation of activists, journalists, and civil society organizations paints a grim picture of a government spiraling towards authoritarianism.
The arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the brazen raid on the offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern of governmental overreach. These actions, coupled with the detention of journalists and whistleblowers, reveal a regime increasingly paranoid and intolerant of dissent.
It is a bitter irony that Tinubu, once a stalwart of the pro-democracy movement, now presides over an administration that surpasses even the notorious excesses of military dictatorship. The Department of State Services, acting as the government's attack dog, has embarked on a campaign of intimidation that makes a mockery of Nigeria's hard-won democratic freedoms.
Perhaps most alarming is the government's response to peaceful protests against its economic policies. The mass arrests and ludicrous charges of treason leveled against #EndBadGovernance demonstrators, including minors, represent a dangerous escalation. By criminalizing dissent, Tinubu's administration reveals its fundamental weakness and insecurity.
Instead of addressing the legitimate grievances of a populace struggling under the weight of ill-conceived economic reforms, skyrocketing inflation, and widespread hardship, the government has chosen the path of repression. This short-sighted strategy will only deepen the crisis of legitimacy facing Tinubu's presidency.
The words of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ring true: this "siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice." Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Will it slide back into the abyss of dictatorship, or will its citizens stand firm in defense of their hard-won democratic rights?
President Tinubu must heed the warnings of groups like Afenifere and reverse course immediately. The immediate release of all detained protesters, an end to the harassment of journalists and civil society organizations, and a genuine engagement with the concerns of the Nigerian people are not just moral imperatives – they are essential for the survival of Nigeria's democracy.
The world is watching, Mr. President. The choice between tyranny and democracy lies in your hands. The legacy of your administration hangs in the balance. Will you be remembered as the leader who extinguished the flame of Nigerian democracy, or as one who had the courage to uphold the principles for which you once fought so passionately?
