Nigerian lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has expressed concern over how hard it is becoming to speak openly under President Bola Tinubu’s government. He made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday.

Farotimi, who once served as a spokesperson for the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, said it’s now unclear whether the country is operating as a democracy or a dictatorship. According to him, Nigerians are not experiencing the true essence of democracy that the government claims to uphold.

He pointed out that there’s confusion about the kind of leadership in place—whether it’s democratic or leaning towards military rule. He said free speech is being heavily suppressed, and even peaceful disagreements are being treated like crimes.

Farotimi added that it’s now very risky for people to voice their opinions. He said he isn’t sure if this repression is due to President Tinubu’s personality, but stressed that the responsibility for this situation lies with the President.

He compared the government to a decaying fish, saying that the rot always starts at the top. He concluded that Nigeria feels more repressed than free right now, and people are not experiencing the democracy Tinubu claims to promote.

This comes after President Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address on June 12, said that Nigeria’s democracy is still functioning. He said, “Our democracy is not invincible, but it is alive.”