Strongman Politics Is a Dangerous Path for Nigeria — Goddy Uwazuruike Warns

Legal practitioner and former National Conference member, Goddy Uwazuruike, has warned that Nigeria risks collapse if it continues to embrace strongman politics and authoritarian-style leadership.

Speaking during an interview on The Morning Brief aired on Channels Television on Thursday, Uwazuruike said the growing culture of unquestioned executive power is eroding democratic principles and weakening the country’s political institutions. “Strongman politics and strongman mentality is still on and will lead to our doom if we don’t stop it,” he stated.

Uwazuruike compared Nigeria’s current political climate with previous administrations under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umar Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan, noting a stark decline in democratic engagement and institutional independence.

“Contrast today with when Obasanjo was there, when Yar’Adua was there, when Jonathan was there — the executive, the opposition, and the ruling party all thrived. But what have we seen in the last ten years?”

“Virtually everyone in the opposition has crossed over to the ruling party because of the strongman syndrome. Whatever the President wants, he gets. We’ve even heard this being said in this current administration — no one dares to say, ‘No, Mr. President.’”

Citing Rivers State as an example, Uwazuruike said such strongman-style governance encourages unilateral presidential decisions that are carried out without resistance or proper checks.

He also criticized the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a major disappointment that fell short of public expectations. According to him, the high hopes Nigerians placed in Buhari’s leadership were ultimately unmet.

Turning to the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu, Uwazuruike expressed concern that the situation appears to have worsened, despite initial promises of a “renewed hope” agenda.

“We were promised a renewed future, but what we are seeing is a deepening of the same issues. The signs are not encouraging,” he concluded.