
by Nedu Okorie
A public affairs analyst and social commentator, COMRADE JOEL AFOLAYAN has revealed that majority of the facilities and decrees that binds Nigeria in unity was actualized in the military era.
He said this while reacting to the call from certain quarters regarding the takeover of the country’s leadership by the military, on a political breakfast show, “Diamond Breakfast show” on Diamond 88.7 FM illorin, Tuesday, 22nd of October, 2024.
Afolayan opined that the tenets of democracy, such as the right to protest, freedom of speech and freedom after speech, is not evident in the current Nigerian democratic dispensation.
“We no longer see the attributes of democratic rule rather we see the characteristics of military rule where victimization was the order of the day. No one has the right to protest any more. When you protest the police who are meant to protect lives and properties are now clamping down on protesters.”
“One of the attributes of democracy is freedom of expression but this factor is lacking. What is the evidence of democracy when there is lack of expression?” Nonetheless, he added that: “the worst of state of democracy is better the best of the military.”
According to him, there is no provision in the 1999 constitution for the country to opt for military rule.
While speaking on the media reports that suggested that there is a leadership vacuum following the absence of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Comrade Afolayan explained that the absence of any person in the administrative structure should not hinder the flow of operations.