National Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Seriake Dickson, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against actions that could erode Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning that there is little distinction between civilian and military dictators when constitutional safeguards are undermined.
Dickson made the remarks during the Diplomatic Digest 6th Anniversary Lecture, according to a statement shared on the party’s official social media platforms on Friday.
The former Bayelsa State governor stressed that Nigeria’s democratic progress can only be sustained through strict adherence to the Constitution, judicial independence, press freedom and an electoral commission that enjoys the confidence of the people.
He said democracy requires continuous commitment to democratic governance, the rule of law, democratic principles, a free and independent media, an impartial judiciary and an electoral body that is genuinely independent.
According to him, without these fundamental pillars, there is little difference between a civilian dictator and a military ruler.
Dickson acknowledged that Nigeria has moved beyond military rule but warned that elected leaders must avoid weakening democratic institutions while professing commitment to democratic governance.
He also expressed concern over what he described as growing pressure on democratic values across Africa, particularly within the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
The NDC chairman blamed what he called the Federal Government’s ineffective foreign policy for the weakening of the regional bloc, pointing to the emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States as evidence of declining Nigerian influence in West Africa.
He urged President Tinubu to ensure that state institutions are not deployed for partisan interests, warning that any government perceived as oppressive or operating above the Constitution would eventually lose public trust and legitimacy.
Dickson further argued that when a government or political party begins to consider itself more important than the nation, the Constitution, the judiciary and other democratic institutions, it risks losing the confidence and support of the people.
He described such tendencies as one of the greatest threats to democracy within the ECOWAS sub region and across Africa.
