Fellow Nigerians,
The time has come to speak up against actions that are steadily eroding the foundations of our democracy.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, elected to uphold the Constitution and lead with integrity, is now taking steps
that undermine the rule of law. The recent extensions granted to both the Inspector General of Police and the
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, fly in the face of constitutional provisions
and established norms.
Nigeria is not a military state. We are a constitutional democracy governed by laws that are meant to apply
equally to all, including the President. The 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides clear rules on tenure,
retirement age, and the process of succession in public service. These rules are safeguards against abuse of
power, not suggestions to be waived at the President’s discretion.
What we are witnessing is a concerning pattern: the consolidation of power through selective retention of
loyalists in key institutions. These decisions have nothing to do with continuity or performance—they are
political. When the head of state begins to bend the rules to keep allies in office, democracy is no longer
in operation. We are left with a system that mirrors authoritarian control.
President Tinubu ran on promises of reform, institutional renewal, and restored public trust. Yet the
administration’s current trajectory tells a different story—one of disregard for due process and
constitutional order. If the President cannot abide by the law, how can he expect others to do so? What
message does this send to governors, lawmakers, public servants, or even the average citizen?
This is not a question of politics—it is a question of principle. Power must be exercised within the bounds
of the law. No one, not even the President, is above the Constitution. Nigeria cannot afford to slip further
into a governance style that tolerates impunity and undermines accountability.
The country deserves better.
I call on the National Assembly to rise to its oversight responsibilities and hold the executive to account.
I urge civil society, the legal profession, and all defenders of democracy to challenge these unconstitutional
actions through all legitimate avenues, including the courts. And I appeal to the Nigerian people—remain
watchful, remain engaged, and continue to speak out against any drift toward authoritarianism.
This country belongs to all of us—not to a privileged few.
If we allow constitutional breaches to go unchecked today, we may wake up tomorrow in a country that no
longer recognizes the rights and freedoms we once took for granted.
Let this be a warning and a plea.
Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo
(BOS)
This article represents the personal views of the author and not necessarily those of Newspot Nigeria or its editorial board.
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