Odinkalu rejects 'gaslighting' Nigerians with civilian vs military rule false choice, demands better democracy
On Democracy Day (June 12, 2026), human rights advocate Chidi Odinkalu told Channels Television that comparing failures of civilian rule to military rule amounts to "gaslighting" Nigerians. Speaking during a special Democracy Day conversation themed "The Next Generation: From Struggles To Stewardship," he firmly rejected the notion that Nigerians must choose between ineffective civilian governance and military dictatorship.
Odinkalu argued citizens deserve better democratic governance rather than being forced to accept poor options. Drawing from his personal experience living under military rule (including time in Ikorodu Road gutters), he warned against nostalgia for military amid current economic hardship and insecurity. His comments come as Nigeria grapples with governance challenges and occasional pro-coup sentiments, following last year's alleged coup plot investigation involving senior officers.
The former NHRC chairman insisted Nigerians shouldn't settle for "the worst of civilian rule" but demand the best possible democracy. He questioned why citizens can't aspire to effective civilian governance instead of accepting false choices. With military rule not being "folklore" to him having lived through it, Odinkalu called for rejecting gaslighting narratives and working toward genuine democratic improvement. What standard should Nigerians set for their democracy - mere absence of military rule or truly effective civilian governance?