Former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke Jnr, has warned that democracy in Nigeria and across West Africa is ‘in crisis’, insisting that only accountable leadership, functional institutions and improved citizen welfare can restore public trust.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Wednesday, Nweke said Nigerians have no problem with democracy as an idea, but with the ‘performance of democracy’ and its failure to improve people’s lives.
“The available data shows that Africans, in fact Nigerians, do not really have a problem with democracy as a theory or as an ideology. The problem that Nigerians have is the issue of the performance of democracy… What’s the impact of democracy on their lives?” he said.
Nweke stressed that citizens want security, justice and competent leadership.
“Nigerians are concerned about insecurity. We want to be secure. Nigerians are concerned about accountable leadership. Corruption is very, very rife. So, there is significant mistrust in public institutions like our judiciary… If you want to restore trust in democracy, the right thing to do is for our leadership to become accountable,” he said.
He added that credible elections, independent courts, improved quality of life and working public institutions are “the basic ingredients” needed to preserve democracy.
Reacting to concerns about Nigeria’s role in foiling a coup attempt in Benin Republic, Nweke said the government acted within ECOWAS decisions, but understands citizens’ scepticism.
“Our government acted within the framework of ECOWAS… Nigeria may have provided that leadership for just reasons. We’re a massive country… But we must understand the cynicism of citizens because we’re grappling with our own issues here,” he said.
He argued that Nigerians would feel pride in such foreign interventions if domestic governance were stronger.
“If Nigeria was well protected, and our economy is doing well, and leadership is accountable… Nigerians will feel a sense of pride. But what you find on social media is: we are here looking for protection ourselves, why are you going to do this?”
Nweke added that leadership must prioritise solving Nigeria’s internal problems before projecting power abroad.
Nweke said he hopes recent instability will force ECOWAS leaders to “sit up”.
“I’m hopeful that recent events in the ECOWAS sub-region would help political leadership… to see that their citizens are yearning for change, yearning for accountability, yearning for security, yearning for a good life… That’s the only way democracy can be preserved,” he stated.
He reminded leaders that citizens do not care about the label of government but about “a good life, security, and opportunities”.
Addressing arguments that Nigeria needs a uniquely African democratic model, Nweke said the problem is not the system but the character of political leadership.
“Whatever you call the system of government… if you have political leadership that do not have character, that do not have the discipline, that do not understand that the essence of public service is service… you’re still going to have the same result. Any leadership that is not accountable to its people will fail.”
He added that principles like consensus, accountability and protection of the vulnerable existed in Nigeria’s traditional governance systems but have been eroded.
“We must go back to first principles… The basis of advancement in thriving societies is accountability, discipline, law and order, independence of the judiciary. Countries where these conditions obtain have done much better than countries where they are absent.”
Commenting on the Rwanda–DRC peace deal signed outside Africa, Nweke said it reflects Africa’s inability to resolve its own crises.
“If you continue to be unable to manage yourselves… other global powers who have strategic interests will step in. Your incompetence or your ineptitude will not be allowed to undermine their national interests.”
He contrasted today’s reality with Nigeria’s historic regional leadership in the liberation struggles in Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“What was different then was that we had a very secure country, and perhaps the quality of people in government… Today the absence of strategic thinking and quality personnel is undermining our ability to project power.”
Nweke blamed persistent insecurity on decades of leadership failure and lack of political will.
“There’s been a complete failure of leadership… not about now, not about the last two years. A progressive deterioration in the way our political leadership have confronted national problems. And the result is what we are now seeing.”
He criticised the inconsistency and passiveness of authorities in confronting terrorists.
“Nigeria’s military, confronted by a ragtag group of terrorists, are being embarrassed… Governors have said, ‘we know where these people are’, but no action was taken. Clearly something is going on.”
However, he noted that recent interventions show capacity exists—if leaders choose to use it.
“The actions taken in the past several weeks show that there’s a latent capacity which can be unleashed if the political will is there… I’m hopeful that the momentum will be sustained, and that sooner rather than later, comprehensive security can be restored.”
Boluwatife Enome
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