Criticism, tonic, not toxic to democracy and development. By Jackson Edem Otu

 

"Government is not a monopoly. Where there is no opposition, there is no freedom. Where there is no criticism, there is no progress."  --Chief Obafemi Awolowo

 

Chief Awolowo penned those words more than sixty years ago yet they seem so fresh they could have been written today given the level of intolerance Nigerian leaders  display against criticism and critics alike.

President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States stated thus, "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president...is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

But before I proceed, I would like to warn that this piece is neither directed against the president of Nigeria nor for him. The Nigerian presidency has always been centre of focus and Scrutiny. All blames for the woes causes by even a village Chief goes to the presidency. Human rights activists, both local and international, have almost always centered their activities on the central government.

Though there have been unsubstantiated allegations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu taking the nation down the path of a one party State by stifling the opposition, crises in each party have been traced back to internal problems rather than external.

Critics have been allowed to have their say. The presidency as well as the National Assembly have demonstrated they listen to criticism and divergent opinions by accommodating their views in proposed laws, and policies.

It is tempting to refer to the case of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as an example of government clamp down on critics. But it should be noted that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been a vocal critic of the president since 2024 without any harassment from law enforcement agents. He only got into trouble when he openly confessed to a crime that borders on breach of national security.

But as I said, had the Federal government not been centre of focus for criticism and Scrutiny by the media and civil rights activists, we might have been telling a different story. Only God knows.

But it is exactly this over-concentration of attention on the apex government that have given the subnational, especially State governors who often rule with the notion that they are some sort of emperors, the free hand to infringe on the rights of the citizens and treat critics and divergent opinions with disdain.

We have seen cases, reminiscent of the gestapo, where critics of State governors went missing. Properties have been demolished and businesses of opposition or critics grounded by some governors who see critics as vermins to be crushed.

Criticism far from been toxic to democracy, good leadership, and development, is rather, a tonic that enhances their growth and vitality.

Democracy is not all about elections. Where oppositions and criticism and divergent opinions do not matter, democracy becomes just a government by the people, of the rulers and for the rulers. Leaders become rulers, and administrators turn to dictators.

Examples abound both locally and globally that States  that are tolerant of criticism are mostly those more developed while those averse to opposition and  are given to stifling criticism are the most backward ones.

This is why the recent events in Cross River State call for concern.

A situation where critics have to flee into exile to escape persecution from a democratically elected government should attract the interest of well-meaning people all over the world.

It was under the infamous military regime of late General Sani Abacha that Nigeria experienced such occurrence where dissidents had to flee for their lives. 

Governor Bassey Otu came into office three years ago with the mantra of "Peoples first," however, some people and critics feel pronouncements and actions emanating from him have been in conflict with that mantra.

Conversely, opponents of the government and sworn critics believe the high-handedness and ruthlessness with which the security agents in the state handled protesters during the #EndBadGovernance protests in 2024 was traced to him. He was also reported threatening to "crush" the opposition in the state just recently.

Even more worrisome is that a known critic of Governor Otu, Portrait Peterson, has had to flee into exile from alleged intimidation and harassment.

Paterson had exposed the alleged lies of the state government concerning some projects which the government claimed it had completed but which still remained untouched. He alleged in a video that the Otu administration had used the pictures of a completed road project from another state to confuse the people.

The amount of furore generated by the expose led to a flurry of reactions and futile rebuttal by the government as usual. Sympathizers or paid henchmen went on the prowl baying for blood. It is particularly concerning that a group that goes by the name of "veteran journalist forum" would join in harassing a social commentator. But this group, instead of addressing the issue raised, resorted to subtle blackmail, name calling, and celebration of useless projects of renovation of governor's office, building of First Lady's office, etc that have no economic value but all executed with billions of naira that should have gone into education, health, agriculture, or other worthwhile ventures which could have helped lift the state out of economic backwardness.

Now that Paterson has been heckled into exile, who next? What hope for free speech, constructive criticism, accountability, and good governance for the people of Cross River? 

Could this be a factor in the state remaining second from the rear in the comity of states despite increased federal allocations?