Okutepa: Nigerian leaders see critics as enemies, not partners in nation-building

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Okutepa, has accused Nigerian leaders of treating critics of government policies as enemies of the state.

He said the country’s democracy has been weakened by intolerance of dissent, poor leadership and what he described as a system driven by “selection” rather than the will of the people.

In a statement issued on Monday, the senior lawyer said many public office holders wrongly assume that anyone who challenges government policies or speaks against bad governance is working for the opposition.

“The sad reality in Nigeria is that those who are in power see those of us who are not in power or supporting what they do in power as enemies of the Nigerian state,” Okutepa said.

He argued that patriotism is not the exclusive preserve of those in government, insisting that many Nigerians outside public office are equally committed to the country’s progress.

“There is nobody in power in Nigeria that loves Nigeria more than me or anyone of us not in power. I want Nigeria to be great. I want immediate justice for anyone who is opposed and victimised. I want systems that work for everyone in Nigeria,” he stated.

According to him, leaders in established democracies benefit from listening to opposing views, unlike in Nigeria where criticism is often dismissed as politically motivated.

“Governments in countries that accord respect to their people listen and gain insight and knowledge from opinions and contributions of those outside power who are critical of bad governance. In Nigeria it is not so. Speaking truth to those in power means you are being used by the opposition,” he said.

Okutepa maintained that Nigeria possesses enormous human and economic potential but lamented that poor leadership had prevented the country from achieving meaningful development.

He blamed the nation’s challenges on what he described as systemic leadership failures, arguing that the country’s democratic ideals had been undermined over the years.

“The potentials of Nigeria are too great to be ignored. The systemic failures in Nigeria today are a function of bad leadership. When you see our brand of democracy and what people who call themselves democrats do, then you require no further definition of nepotism and despotism,” he said.

The senior advocate also questioned the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process, alleging that political offices are increasingly determined through elite influence rather than the ballot.

“In Nigeria, democracy is a product of selection, not election. Democracy here is government of some people by some people for some people. It is government of the selected by the selected for the selected,” he said.

He further alleged that institutions expected to safeguard democracy often legitimise outcomes that do not truly reflect the wishes of the electorate.

“Even those who were not elected but selected get stamps of legitimacy from institutions that should be intolerant of injustice. Democracy in Nigeria is a direct product of anti-democratic forces,” Okutepa stated.

The legal practitioner also criticised what he described as the growing disconnect between political leaders and ordinary citizens, saying many Nigerians now fear those elected to govern them instead of holding them accountable.

“In Nigeria, the people fear their leaders and the leaders, in most cases, have no respect for the people. Brutality is one of the weapons of democracy in the hands of Nigerian democrats,” he said.

He argued that poverty had become an instrument of political control, alleging that many citizens defend leaders whose actions ultimately work against their own interests.

“The more the leaders impoverish the people and flaunt their ill-gotten wealth, the more the people dread them and allow themselves to be used as instruments of imposition. Even those whose tomorrow is being destroyed fight with the last drop of their blood in support of their oppressors,” he added.

Despite his criticism of the country’s democratic system, Okutepa expressed optimism that Nigeria could still realise its full potential if leaders embraced justice, accountability and equality before the law.

“For me and many other patriotic people, Nigeria must be great, and it will be great when we all agree to do the right thing and nobody sees himself as more superior than the other, whether in power or outside power. We all need to make Nigeria great. Let us wake up to make Nigeria better than we have today,” he said.