By Fatima Mukhtar
Former Governor of Ekiti State and ex-Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said that many citizens across Nigeria and West Africa are increasingly frustrated with civilian governments that have failed to meet their expectations.
Speaking at an ECOWAS 50th anniversary policy dialogue in Abuja, Fayemi lamented that poor governance, insecurity, and economic hardship have weakened public trust in democracy.
According to him, “many of our citizens are not only disillusioned with the performance of civilian governments, but they are also losing faith in the democratic process itself.”
He said the region’s growing wave of coups and political instability is a direct result of leadership failures and unfulfilled promises of democracy. Fayemi emphasized that democracy must go beyond regular elections and focus on improving citizens’ welfare, creating jobs, and ensuring justice and security for all.
He also stated that Nigeria has been under civilian rule since 1999, but the country is yet to attain full democracy. “What we have is civilian rule, not genuine democracy. True democracy is about service, accountability, and inclusion, not self-interest,” he noted.
Fayemi expressed concern over the worsening cost of living and hunger in the country, warning that rising poverty levels could continue to fuel frustration and resentment among citizens.
“Except we are deceiving ourselves, Nigerians are not happy. Many are angry because of hunger and lack of money,” he said.
He urged West African leaders to rebuild public confidence by tackling corruption, insecurity, and inequality, adding that rebuilding trust between leaders and citizens was the only way to preserve democracy in the region.
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