Former NADECO Secretary General, Ayo Opadokun, has blamed Nigeria’s democratic setbacks on years of military rule, not civilian politicians. Speaking Thursday at the presentation of his book, The Gun Hegemony, he said military dictators undermined civil governance through force and coercion. “The military killed democracy in this country, not civilians,” he said, citing decades of direct and indirect military control.
Opadokun said military dominance eroded justice, stability and free speech, describing Nigeria’s democracy as “one written by the guns.” He urged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that long years of military influence could not be reversed quickly. President Tinubu, represented by Femi Gbajabiamila, and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praised Opadokun’s contributions to democratic development.