Constitutional lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has questioned the response of opposition political parties to recent controversies surrounding the Federal Government, saying they have not mounted the level of scrutiny expected in a democracy.
Speaking during an interview on SYMFONI TV, Odinkalu said the opposition has failed to match the intensity with which similar allegations were pursued in previous political cycles.
He argued that the handling of recent controversies has exposed weaknesses in the country’s opposition politics, suggesting that more robust engagement should ordinarily accompany issues of national significance.
According to him, the current response contrasts sharply with what Nigerians have witnessed in the past whenever the governing party found itself on the opposition benches.
During the interview, Odinkalu said, “If the APC were in opposition today, this scandal would never be treated so quietly.”
He maintained that the remark reflected his assessment of Nigeria’s political environment, where major allegations often receive varying levels of attention depending on which political actors are involved.
Odinkalu said effective opposition is an essential part of democratic accountability, adding that governments should face sustained scrutiny whenever serious public issues arise.
He also suggested that the response from opposition figures has fallen short of what many Nigerians would expect under the circumstances.
According to him, strong democratic institutions depend not only on those in government but also on an active opposition capable of holding the executive accountable.
The legal scholar made the remarks while discussing governance, accountability and the state of opposition politics in Nigeria during the interview……See More
Leave a Reply