Farotimi: Tinubu’s Leadership Blurs Line Between Democracy and Dictatorship

Human rights lawyer and political activist, Dele Farotimi, has raised serious concerns over the state of governance in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the administration increasingly resembles a military dictatorship rather than a democratic government.

Speaking in an interview monitored by RootedScope Media, Farotimi noted that Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of democratic principles promised during the 2023 elections. Instead, he said, the country is witnessing what he described as “a dangerous suppression of free speech.”

“In the administration of Tinubu, there is ambiguity as to whether we are under a military dictatorship or a democracy,” he said. “It is becoming increasingly dangerous to speak.”

He warned that the civic space is shrinking and that criticism of the government is often met with hostility or criminalization.

“It’s very easy to forget the kind of government we have in place, given the level of repression and the readiness to criminalise every form of civic disagreement,” he stated.

Farotimi said while it remains unclear how much of this is directly tied to President Tinubu’s personal disposition, the tone and actions of government officials reflect a troubling pattern.

“I don’t know how much of this is traceable to the President or his temperament, but when the fish rots, it begins from the head,” he said.

“There is always someone on whose table the buck must stop. The reality is that Nigeria is more repressed at this moment than free. Nigerians are not feeling the kind of breeze the President claims to be projecting.”

Farotimi’s remarks come amid widespread concerns about deteriorating civil liberties and press freedom in the country, with critics accusing the current administration of intolerance to dissent.