Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has outlined key steps Nigeria must take to strengthen its democracy and prevent the spread of political instability across West Africa, amid the rising incidence of military takeovers in the region.
Falana, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, said Nigeria cannot achieve stability without addressing the underlying triggers of unrest.
He argued that the country must expand civic freedoms and abandon the habit of criminalising dissent, warning that democracy cannot thrive where citizens are afraid to express themselves.
“If we want to have political stability in Nigeria, you must address the crisis of the economy, address poverty, tackle illiteracy, and curb insecurity of lives and property,” he said.
“You must show that the political space will not shrink as it is now. You have a shrinking of the political space, and that must stop. There must be freedom of expression.
“You cannot be charging people with all manner of offences for expressing their views about the affairs of their country,” he said.
Falana also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to deepen democratic inclusion, noting that disenchantment among citizens has grown due to policies that sideline their participation in governance.
He criticised African leaders who, according to him, manipulate state power to stifle opposition, pointing out that such conduct weakens pluralism and undermines confidence in democracy.
The senior advocate said genuine democracy requires vibrant and competitive opposition parties, insisting that ruling parties across the continent often neutralise their rivals through overt and subtle constraints.
Falana warned that unless Nigeria reverses these tendencies, its democracy may continue to wobble under the weight of weakened institutions and restricted freedoms.