As Nigeria marks Democracy 2026 Day, Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu, National President of the Society for Advancement of Democracy (SAD) and former Special Assistant to President Shehu Shagari, granted this exclusive interview to our anchorman, Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka over the weekend. He assesses President Bola Tinubu’s three years in office, the state of Nigeria’s democracy, security, economy, judiciary, legislature, and the South East’s place in national politics. The interview was conducted on Democracy Day, May 29, 2026. Excerpts.
How do you assess President Tinubu’s performance in three years, particularly on democracy and governance?
Honestly, government is trying to look at Tinubu from one point of view, and it’s an incorrect assessment. I must say he has done well by showing Nigerians before the election that all he said about democracy when he was fighting Jonathan is nothing. If you put those cassettes of what he was saying then on television now, it becomes a shame. He’s not liberalizing democracy, he’s not even allowing party primaries to go on. He’s selecting candidates himself. As chairman of SAD, I cannot keep quiet and say democracy is not being trampled upon in this country.
You mentioned insecurity. How do you rate his handling of it?
We are in a situation that requires a task force, that requires the declaration of war against insecurity. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not helping matters. We are worried. He talks what he doesn’t like, he sends people to prison. What is it that we are doing in our courts? You don’t want any other political party to exist.
You cited the case of Wike, what’s your concern there?
He is both chairman and president of two political parties at the same time because they said they want him to deliver for the president. Must everything be to deliver for the president? The people are no more part of it. He took an oath of office to the population, not only to the president.
You referenced the Chibok girls and Mrs. Jonathan. What point are you making?
The population is remembering the Chibok girls. I watched on television where Mrs. Jonathan was crying, that is God at her reaction to the killing of people. She even said she cried and invited them. There’s been killings in many areas. What has the First Lady been able to do? Has she gone to commiserate with them as a mother? You can see a group of people who do not care about welfare or democracy.
On state governors being suspended, what’s your take?
They will dictate who will be a governor. If he doesn’t do it the way they want, they suspend him. In that kind of democracy, it’s no more enjoyable. Many people believe no leader is bad or good, but those doing this were not in government before. I was Special Assistant to Shagari for many years and Executive Secretary of his campaign. I interacted with President Shagari daily. I know leadership.
You said “Tinubu is not a dull brain.” What did you mean?
It is not true that he is from advisers. You have called them dictators. If advice is good, you take it; if not, you dump it. The man called Tinubu is not a dull brain. He decides.
Many people hail him for fuel subsidy removal, saying it’s helping the economy. Your view?
We should look at that one very well. Since Tinubu came to power, there is improvement in subnational government. There is no more question of non-payment of salary. State governors used to get ₦4-500 million monthly, now they are sharing up to ₦2-3 trillion every month. I think he’s dealing with that area.
What about borrowing? Is he using borrowed money wisely?
Burden of money is not the issue, is he using them well? Just like subsidy. If another person becomes president, like Peter Obi, and all those subsidy funds come to his account, I say he will do better. He would give us 24-hour power and railways like China, around the whole country. I could enter a train here and go to Lagos and pay ₦17.
You’ve spoken strongly about the South East and presidency. Why?
I’m not a coward. The Igbo man is part of Nigeria. All other zones of the same population as Igbos, or even smaller, have made presidencies, except the Igbo. Let anything be a crime in my crime for equity. Igbos have now produced Peter Obi, who among all candidates is the brightest. He has no record of borrowing, he dropped more money for Anambra State, and the UN gave him an award for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. If this Igbo man is good, I will not condemn him because he’s Igbo.
On security improvement under Tinubu, do you see any progress?
On security, there’s an area I will be bold enough to differ from politicians and Tinubu: state police. I’m against it. If APC does local government election in their states, they give it only to their party. If you back them with state police, nobody can stay in that state. It will muffle opposition, create dictatorial states, and make governors emperors. If they create state police, the best is to leave the country.
How do you assess the judiciary under this dispensation?
Judiciary is doing what is expected of them, but lawyers are not doing their jobs. Take the 2023 presidential case: the judiciary ruled, but those who handled the case didn’t pursue the area of BVAS and IReV. They brought 27 people to give evidence in 36 states and expected the Supreme Court to do the case for them. No. In the Imo case, the votes claimed were larger than the voter register. When they lost, they came for review. The court saw the mistake but couldn’t help them. The court is like a woman — what they’re given is what they deliver.
But many Nigerians believe the judiciary is compromised. Your response?
The judiciary is like a policeman invited to a fight after it has ended. He only decides based on what he’s told. I have shown you that judiciary is not bought and does not belong to Tinubu or APC. The problem is with lawyers and politicians who don’t follow the law. There’s a constitutional amendment that says election cases must be filed within 14 days. When they file after 14 days, they lose their right. My colleagues in the NBA must do their jobs.
What’s your assessment of the National Assembly, especially the Senate?
The Senate President is nobody. If the Senate says no, he announces it. He represents the view of the Senate. I would like to talk to the Senate. Are they passing all these draconian decisions because they originate from the presidency? I want to say to the Senate: if there is corruption frustrating the nation, stop it.
How do you rate the performance of journalists in this democracy?
Well, they are doing their best. They disseminate information, based on what they are told. So give them kudos.
You mentioned your book “The Voice of Another Generation.” What’s its message on Nigeria’s future?
I wrote that book to share my opinion about the South East and South South. People say Igbos are traders and don’t love themselves. But now we have produced Peter Obi. If he is good for Nigeria, he should be judged on capacity, not tribe. Nigeria is looking for someone to make it work the way he made Anambra work.
What’s your final message to Nigerians on Democracy Day 2026?
Democracy requires more than elections. It requires rule of law, respect for opposition, welfare of citizens, and leaders who keep their oath to the people, not just to themselves. Until we get that, democracy will remain under threat.
