NewStats: 3,265,435 , 8,186,734 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 11:02 PM 691959

Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has said Nigeria remains short of full democratic status, twenty-six years after returning to civil rule.

Fayemi made the comment during a Channels Television programme held to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day.

He said that while elections have become part of the country’s political calendar, Nigeria is yet to fully embody the core principles of democracy.

“We must not confuse the conduct of elections with the practice of democracy,” he said.

“What we got in 1999 was the right to elect leaders, but that is only one element. What we have is civilian rule, not full democracy. At best, it is semi-democracy.”

He acknowledged the progress made under past and present istrations but insisted that deeper democratic culture and institutional reforms were still lacking.

Fayemi also reflected on his years as a pro-democracy activist during the military era, especially under the regime of late General Sani Abacha.

He recalled the operation of Radio Kudirat, a secret radio station used by activists to challenge the military government.

“It wasn’t about being fearless,” he said. “We knew the risks, but we believed we were doing the right thing. I once carried Radio Kudirat’s transmitter on an Air flight that ended up in Lagos at the height of the struggle. That alone could have cost me my life.”

He said those who died in the process were not reckless but simply committed to the cause of freedom.

“Some of us survived by sheer luck. The people who died were not careless. They believed in the mission and paid the ultimate price.”

During the Oputa , he noted, some operatives itted that they were assigned to eliminate leaders of the resistance.

Fayemi welcomed the national honours recently bestowed on some pro-democracy figures by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as a commendable gesture.

He however, expressed dissatisfaction that several others, particularly those behind the scenes, were not recognised.

“I was the face of Radio Kudirat, yes, but I didn’t do it alone,” he said.

“Many people risked their lives. They also deserve to be acknowledged. It is not enough to reward the visible figures while ignoring those who made it all possible behind the curtain.”

Fayemi’s remarks have reignited conversations on how much ground Nigeria still needs to cover to be regarded as a true democracy.

https://dailytrust.com/fayemi-what-we-have-in-nigeria-is-civilian-rule-not-full-democracy/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwK5KexjbGNrArkp6GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeWAjREVfXSNZqzOkNa00k3CXfIZzJpifpW--g3XGKXb0Q2He-TUq7BUu4viA_aem_W2Gztc4M75wfbZKDVKQEng

They know the truth. Same people that played politics with sensitive issue that affects national development. They will call Fayemi names.

Wetin this one sabi about democracy?. Oga park well

I understand what Fayemi means, but I think Nigeria has done a lot to grow democracy; it may not be perfect yet, but we are getting better step by step, and President Tinubu is helping to move things forward.

What we see now is lootocracy ,nothing else

Just like you ruled Ekiti under “Civilian rule” and not “democracy”.

Imagine this traitor have audacity to talk.

Fayemi Fayemi Fayemi

Them go soon call you Igbo man

Fayemi my brother, yoruba version of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi ...their person will be damaging the country, they will not attack the person directly.

We need God’s intervention, if you want to know how terrible Nigeria is, buy power transformer and invite nepa to come and connect it for your community, they will keep you waiting forever

We expected the tenets of true democracy to be elevated during PBAT regime, but the reverse is the case,
1. Silencing opposition
2.Driving Nigeria towards a one party state
3.Unconstituionally imposing an undemocraticailly elected governor In Rivers state
4. Muscling the Legislators by imposing his stooge
The list is endless

Democratic governance in Nigeria is yet to get a sure footing. We are still at a developmental stage. But for this democracy to thrive and become fully fledged, we need to eradicate poverty and fix the rots in our educational systems. Poverty and ignorance is the reason people sell their votes and wrong candidates. They are the same reasons our leaders take us for granted.

For this first time as a Nigerian, I feel like we have a president that’s doing the right thing. only the educated will understand when you know the critical condition Nigerian has found itself in.

Why is it that the only time you people talk is when you’re out of the government?

No country has full democracy. A true government of the people, by the people and for the people is just a utopian idealism. Can never exist in such an imperfect world as this.

Fayemi is an attention seeker. Even America is not practicing full democracy. How old is Nigeria compared to USA?

once they are out of the system, that's when they know what true democracy is. bunch of clowns and hypocrite

Who democracy help? Ehn? Some peeps don't have any thing to say again

How this man fell short with tinubu still suprise me till date.

To the point tinubu had to ignore him and failed to give national honour.

What really went wrong between them

100% honestly I'm not the biggest fan of democracy especially the presidential system

For me parliamentary system remain the best option for Nigeria really

There is no how someone like Tinubu can emerge in a parliamentary system it's impossible

In a parliamentary system you defend your policy weekly, no running place to hide, no aid to help you... You face opposition every single day... Every action scrutinized

Parliamentary is also by far less expensive

We have 6 zones... Give each zone 50 seats that's 300 and thats it

Appointment bandits
Are now talking
Nigeria is now a fraud to them
After benefitting and milking the country.

Once Dem remove their hand from the treasury like dis, them go become Nation builder advocate
Theivesssssssss

hisexcellency34:
Wetin this one sabi about democracy?. Oga park well

Imagine you saying this to a member of a squad who tells the truth about what they do.

Racoon:
They know the truth. Same people that played politics with sensitive issue that affects national development. They will call Fayemi names.

Did your Obi and Atiku risk their lives? They now want to reap where others laboured.

cjudy:
Fayemi Fayemi Fayemi

Them go soon call you Igbo man

the one above you already called him a traitor. Anyone that refuses to bow to Baba Sope is a traitor to them.


Baba Sope's era will soon come to an end but most of them are still ignorant of the reality on ground, they should continue; stubborn flies always accompany the corpse to the grave

Buhari killed Democracy

Tinubu is burying it

Maxymilliano:


https://dailytrust.com/fayemi-what-we-have-in-nigeria-is-civilian-rule-not-full-democracy/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwK5KexjbGNrArkp6GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeWAjREVfXSNZqzOkNa00k3CXfIZzJpifpW--g3XGKXb0Q2He-TUq7BUu4viA_aem_W2Gztc4M75wfbZKDVKQEng

Like for democracy share for military rule

Nigerians knows what they want

Hmmmmmmm, the ma, though was part of the system, spilled out the truth maybe because he is no longer part of those sharing the spoil but what he said is pure and undiluted truth. Nigeria will only be better if all act like those in that era acted. we cant rescue nigeria by playing the blame game. Ire o

Oga Fayemi? You have there before,. What did you change?

https://youtube.com/shorts/qFyb9rKsF4c?si=EmAZC2S2waetOal4