ABEOKUTA – A political analyst and former spokesman of the Labour Party, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, has defended Nigeria’s democratic journey in the Fourth Republic, insisting that despite its imperfections, civilian rule remains preferable to military dictatorship.
Arabambi stated that even the worst civilian administration is better than military rule, warning that military regimes often suspend constitutions, suppress citizens’ rights and impose draconian policies for selfish interests.
According to him, democratic governance naturally comes with challenges, including abuse of power by public officials, allegations of corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds by some political office holders.
He, however, maintained that democracy allows room for correction and institutional growth.
Arabambi who drew comparisons with the democratic evolution of the United States said, “Nigeria’s civil rule is an experiment. America also wobbled and fumbled before stabilising its democracy.”
Speaking on whether Nigerians are truly enjoying the dividends of democracy, Arabambi argued that governance is a shared responsibility between leaders and citizens.
He noted that government alone cannot provide every necessity for the people, adding that individuals must also contribute to improving their own living conditions.
Arabambi blamed many of Nigeria’s economic and institutional problems on poor leadership and self-interest among political elites.
He accused some public officials of enriching themselves through contract awards and abuse of office rather than serving the national interest.
He also criticised the administration inherited by President Bola Tinubu from former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a “failed government” and a country in economic distress.
According to him, Nigeria was spending over 90 per cent of its income on debt servicing under the previous administration, while the economy suffered from weak exports and excessive monetary interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
On governance under the current administration, Arabambi said the government of Tinubu was making efforts to stabilise the economy.
He claimed that federal allocations to many states had increased significantly compared to 2023, while urging Nigerians to hold state governors accountable for how public funds are utilised.
He expressed concern over the implementation of local government autonomy, accusing several governors of frustrating the process despite court pronouncements supporting financial independence for local councils.
“The local government is the closest tier of government to the people, but many governors are impediments to its autonomy,” he said.
Arabambi called on Nigerians to remain hopeful about the country’s future, expressing optimism that conditions would improve before the 2027 general elections.
He advised citizens to vote wisely in 2027, stressing that the electorate must take responsibility for choosing credible leaders capable of moving the country forward.
