Nigeria is not practicing Full Democracy despite regular elections- Fayemi

Former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, says Nigeria is yet to attain the status of a full democracy, despite holding regular elections since 1999.

Speaking on a Channels Television programme to mark Democracy Day, Fayemi said the country must move beyond just conducting elections to build genuine democratic institutions.

“What we mustn’t do is to conflate elections with democracy,” he said. “What we got was to re-establish the right to elect our leaders into office in 1999. What we are still lacking, in my view, is genuine democracy. We got civilian rule, we are proudly on the journey — we now have a semi-democracy, but we don’t have full democracy.”

The former minister of mines and steel development also recalled his role during the military era under General Sani Abacha, highlighting the risks taken by activists who operated the underground Radio Kudirat.

“I mean, I carried the transmitters of Radio Kudirat on an Air France flight that was destined for Cotonou in the Benin Republic and made a detour to Lagos in the heat of the crisis,” he said. “I could have been picked up on that flight; I would have been history by now, as many found themselves to be.”

Fayemi commended President Bola Tinubu for recognising democracy activists with national honours, but expressed disappointment that some key contributors were left out.

“I wasn’t delighted, and I must say this upfront. Those who were the drivers of that project… yes, I led that project, but none of them were recognised today by the president,” he said.