Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has warned that Nigeria is on a dangerous path toward an inevitable revolution. According to him, the ruling class’s “hubristic overreach” has pushed the country to a boiling point.
In a video message shared on social media, Farotimi expressed deep concern about the 2027 general elections, stating that unless Nigerians unite, President Bola Tinubu is likely to win again.
“A Tinubu will not lose an election,” he stated, adding that opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar are deluding themselves if they believe they can challenge him effectively.
Farotimi explained that Tinubu’s approach to power involves winning over influential godfathers rather than governors themselves. “He is buying their godfathers, those who kept them there. And the ones he can’t buy, he is intimidating into aligning,” he said.
He expressed doubt in the judiciary’s capacity to act independently, describing the constitution as a “scrap” and the judiciary as “unfit for purpose.”
“If you’re waiting for an election to save Nigeria, you have lost already,” he warned. “The only thing that can save us is a revolution.”
Farotimi emphasized that Nigeria is already in a civil conflict, albeit one without clearly defined lines. “If you sustain the current system, Nigeria will erupt in a civil war. It’s already in one—the only problem is that the lines are not defined. But if it continues on the current trajectory, Nigeria will implode,” he declared.
He elaborated on Tinubu’s political strategy during the APC primaries, saying:
“While other candidates were busy trying to buy delegates, Tinubu was buying the godfathers of the governors—those who control the delegates. He wasn’t buying sitting governors; he was buying those who keep them in power. And those he couldn’t buy, he intimidated.”
He added, “What you’re seeing is the alignment of politicians, whether forced or voluntary. A Tinubu will not lose an election, especially now that he is in power. Atiku and others are under illusions if they think otherwise.”
Farotimi warned that election outcomes would likely be predetermined and endorsed by a compromised judiciary. “Without the alignment of the people, the election result will be announced ahead of time, and the judiciary will endorse it. That’s the reality of Nigeria’s political system.”
He also called attention to troubling government inaction regarding terrorism financing. “Over 400 Bureau de Change operators identified as financing terror groups in Nigeria—none of them has been arrested.”
Farotimi condemned the hypocrisy of those who claim to act in God’s name while participating in violence. “Nigeria is unravelling because of the complicity and hypocrisy of those who claim to be religious but support evil,” he said.
He criticized everyday Nigerians for their silence and passivity amid growing insecurity and political failure.
“The everyday Nigerian who refuses to get involved, believing that the solution will come miraculously, must understand—if Nigeria does split, it will not happen peacefully under current conditions.”
He concluded with a passionate call for unity and civic engagement. “Even if peace is achievable, it will only come if we act together, understanding that the crisis goes beyond state failure—there is complicity by state actors in the destruction of peace.”
