Former Ekiti State Governor and prominent pro-democracy advocate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has declared that Nigeria is yet to attain full democratic status, 26 years after the country transitioned from military dictatorship to civil rule.
Fayemi made the assertion during a Democracy Day special on Channels Television, where he stressed that while the conduct of elections has become routine, Nigeria still falls short of the fundamental values that define true democracy.
“We must not confuse the conduct of elections with the practice of democracy,” Fayemi 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.”
The former governor acknowledged the strides made under various administrations since 1999 but insisted that the nation’s political culture lacks the depth and institutional framework necessary to sustain democratic ideals.
Reflecting on his days as a pro-democracy activist during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha, Fayemi recounted the risks he and other campaigners took in confronting military rule.
He specifically recalled his role in operating Radio Kudirat, a clandestine media platform used to mobilise resistance against the junta. “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 France flight that ended up in Lagos at the height of the struggle. That alone could have cost me my life.”
According to Fayemi, many of those who died in the process were not reckless but deeply committed to the struggle for 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.”
He recalled that during the Oputa Panel sittings, some security operatives admitted they were under orders to eliminate key resistance figures.
Fayemi commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recently honouring some of the prominent figures in the pro-democracy movement, describing it as a commendable move.
However, he lamented the exclusion of lesser-known contributors who, according to him, also played critical roles.
“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.”
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