Nigeria operates 'civil rule,' not genuine democracy, says rights lawyer Falana

Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana has asserted that Nigeria, despite 27 years of uninterrupted civilian administration, is not practicing genuine democratic governance but merely operating under "civil rule."

Speaking at the Amnesty International (Nigeria) AGM, Falana urged Nigerians to differentiate between elected civilian governments and true democracy. He argued that genuine democracy should be measured by the extent to which citizens enjoy justice, accountability, human rights, and social welfare.

While acknowledging public frustration with governance, Falana stated that military rule is not a better alternative. However, he insisted on the honesty of admitting that Nigeria's current system falls short of the democratic ideals for which many fought and sacrificed.

Falana cautioned against a dangerous and historically inaccurate nostalgia for military regimes, emphasizing that democratic governance extends beyond elections. It requires institutions that respect citizens' rights, uphold the rule of law, and guarantee social and economic justice.

He lamented the significant gap between constitutional promises and the daily realities faced by Nigerians, particularly in education, healthcare, security, and economic opportunities. Falana called for stronger institutions to hold public officials accountable and ensure government actions align with democratic principles, stressing that democracy cannot thrive without public confidence in its institutions.

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Military rule is not better than democracy regardless of the frustrations people may have. But we must also be honest enough to admit that what we currently have is largely civil rule and not the full expression of democracy that Nigerians fought and sacrificed for.