Elder statesman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of systematically dismantling democratic institutions and practices in Nigeria.

 

Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Monday, George warned that Nigeria was veering dangerously toward authoritarian rule, 26 years after the country returned to democracy.

 

“Nigeria currently finds itself at a critical juncture, where the actions of the current political administration threaten to erode the very foundations of our hard-won democracy,” the former military governor of Ondo State said.

 

He noted that growing numbers of Nigerians were becoming disillusioned with what they see as the shrinking legitimacy of a government that claims to represent the people.

 

“A growing number of Nigerians are left questioning the authenticity of a government that claims to be of, by, and for the people,” he added. “It is time for us to confront these challenges head-on and demand a democracy that truly serves its citizens.”

 

George was particularly critical of President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, which resulted in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials. He described the move as legally dubious and morally indefensible.

 

“Recent events in Rivers State are indications that the administration of our democracy remains problematic,” he said. “Before and even after the emergency declaration, Rivers State witnessed no significant incidents of violence — not even a chicken was killed.”

 

The PDP stalwart also took issue with the President’s request to the National Assembly to confirm appointments to key state institutions, including the Independent Electoral Commission and the Civil Service Commission, while the state remains under emergency rule.

 

“To proceed with such appointments amid a questionable state of emergency reflects a troubling disregard for democratic principles,” George stated. “It suggests a calculated effort to bypass accountability and manipulate state functions. This is a clear signal of a growing concentration of power.”

 

George warned that the implications of the president’s actions extend far beyond Rivers State and represent a dangerous precedent for national governance.

 

“Nigeria is staggering dangerously on the path of self-destruction,” he cautioned. “Those in charge have refused to learn lessons from the past. It is disheartening that Nigeria is globally on the radar for all the wrong reasons.”

 

His comments come amid growing concerns from civil society groups and opposition figures over what they perceive as democratic backsliding and the erosion of constitutional norms under Tinubu’s administration.