A university lecturer has said that Nigeria is still battling with traces of military rule, even though the country has practiced democracy for over two decades. According to the academic, many attitudes, institutions, and actions in governance still reflect military-era thinking rather than democratic values.

The varsity don explained that excessive use of force, disregard for rule of law, and limited tolerance for opposing views are some signs that the influence of military rule has not fully disappeared. He noted that democracy should encourage dialogue, accountability, and respect for human rights, which are sometimes missing in Nigeria’s system.

He also pointed out that some public officials still operate with a command-and-control mentality, instead of seeing themselves as servants of the people. This, he said, weakens democratic growth and makes citizens feel excluded from decision-making processes.

The lecturer urged the government and institutions to consciously promote democratic culture through education, reforms, and leadership by example. According to him, Nigeria can only strengthen its democracy by fully breaking away from military habits and embracing openness, justice, and citizen participation.