Human rights advocate and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has delivered a scathing indictment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claiming that the current regime has surpassed the dark era of General Sani Abacha in its suppression of civil liberties, free speech, and democratic expression.
In a recent public statement, Farotimi criticized the Tinubu government for what he described as "a calculated dismantling of the people’s right to dissent, organize, and express opposing views." Drawing comparisons to Nigeria’s past military dictatorship, he warned that the current atmosphere of fear, intimidation, and targeted repression resembles – and in some ways exceeds – the climate under Abacha’s infamous rule.
“Abacha ruled with brute force, but even then, you knew who the enemy was. Under Tinubu, it is subtle, systemic, and deeply entrenched – a democratic façade masking authoritarian intent,” said Farotimi.
He cited examples of clampdowns on peaceful protesters, rising cases of media censorship, arrests of dissenting voices, and the increasing weaponization of state institutions to stifle opposition. The lawyer expressed grave concern over what he views as the erosion of Nigeria’s democratic gains and the growing culture of silence induced by fear of reprisal.