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 administrations 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 France 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 Panel, he noted, some operatives admitted 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.
