“Civilian Authoritarianism”: Odinkalu, Ojudu, 15 Others Accuse Tinubu of One-Party State Plot

By: OBSERVERS TIMES.

A coalition of seventeen prominent Nigerians, including human rights advocate Chidi Odinkalu and former presidential adviser Babafemi Ojudu, has issued a scathing indictment against President Bola Tinubu, alleging a calculated campaign to establish a one-party state and dismantle the nation’s democratic framework.
In a statement titled “Defending Democracy: A Call to Resist the March Toward a One-Party State in Nigeria,” released on Sunday, the group accused the Tinubu administration of employing “bribery, blackmail, and coercion” to weaken opposition parties and coerce defections to the ruling party.
“We are witnessing a disturbing trend where opposition figures are being induced to defect to the ruling party, not out of conviction, but out of fear and pressure,” the statement read, highlighting the alleged weaponization of state institutions for partisan gain.
The coalition warned that the erosion of a vibrant opposition threatens the very foundation of Nigerian democracy, stating, “A democracy without opposition is not a democracy.” They cautioned against a slide into “civilian authoritarianism,” drawing parallels with the nation’s struggle against military rule.
“The absence of robust checks and balances breeds arrogance and unaccountable governance,” they asserted, emphasizing the importance of a multi-party system for a healthy democracy.
The group implored President Tinubu to “respect the democratic path that brought him to power” and cease the alleged persecution and intimidation of opposition leaders. “We did not fight to end military dictatorship only to enthrone civilian authoritarianism,” they declared.
Signatories to the statement included Richard Akinnola, Abdul Mahmud, Dr. Sam Amadi, Auwa Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Nnimmo Bassey, Adeola Soetan, Hon. Uche Onyeagucha, Uzodinma Uwaogbe, Mma Odi, Osa Director, Prof. Adele Jinadu, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Chief Tola Adeniyi, Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, and Olufemi Adegbulugbe.