CSOs Back Onaiyekan’s Call On Nigerians To Speak Out, Demand Accountability

By James Kwen and Adegwu, John, Abuja

Prominent Civil Society Organisations(CSOs), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International Nigeria and Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), have thrown their weight behind the call by the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on Nigerians to break the culture of silence and demand accountability from the government.

Onaiyekan urged Nigerians to end the culture of silence and demand accountability from elected leaders at every level of government.

He spoke yesterday at Ave Maria University, Pinako, during a ceremony organised to mark the 70th birthday of the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah.

The Cardinal said Nigerians should no longer accept a situation where elected officials treat themselves as masters. At the same time, citizens remain powerless, insisting that democracy must place government at the service of the people.

Reacting to the admonition, the leader of the CSOs, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, welcomed Cardinal Onaiyekan’s call on Nigerians to reject political docility and demand accountability from elected representatives at all levels.

He said, the Archbishop’s message speaks directly to one of the fundamental challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy: the widening gap between citizens and those elected to serve them.

Rafsanjani, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, said democracy cannot function effectively when elected officials begin to see public office as a privilege without corresponding responsibility.

“Political leaders are servants of the people, not their masters. From local government councillors and chairpersons to governors, legislators and the President, every public official must be accountable for public resources, policies, promises and decisions taken in the name of citizens.

“Cardinal Onaiyekan is also right to emphasise that Nigerians must move beyond a culture of silence. Accountability cannot be left exclusively to elections conducted every four years.

“Citizens must continuously engage government through town hall meetings, constituency engagements, petitions, Freedom of Information requests, public hearings, budget monitoring, peaceful advocacy, investigative journalism and the lawful activities of civil society organisations.

“However, citizens can only exercise this responsibility effectively where the government protects civic space. Nigerians who peacefully criticise government, expose corruption or question public policies should not be subjected to intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest or threats. Freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly are indispensable pillars of democratic accountability,” he said.

Rafsanjani insisted that responsible citizenship must accompany the demand for responsible leadership, saying Nigerians cannot condemn corruption while participating in vote-buying, political violence, ethnic manipulation, or celebrating individuals whose sources of wealth cannot be explained.

The prominent CSO leader maintained that the quality of democracy ultimately depends on both leaders’ conduct and citizens’ willingness to defend integrity and democratic values.

He said, “Religious leaders and institutions also have an important moral responsibility. When religious leaders speak against corruption, poverty, injustice, insecurity and policies that undermine human dignity, such interventions should not automatically be interpreted as partisan politics.

“Constructive criticism from credible institutions is an important part of a democratic society.”

Rafsanjani maintained that as Nigeria moves toward the 2027 general election, Cardinal Onaiyekan’s message should serve as a reminder that citizens must become more demanding about the quality of leadership they elect.

“Nigerians should interrogate candidates on their records, competence, integrity, policies and commitment to constitutional democracy rather than allowing ethnicity, religion, inducement or political propaganda to determine their choices.

“Ultimately, Nigeria needs a democratic culture in which leaders understand that public office is a trust, citizens understand that sovereignty belongs to them, and institutions are strong enough to ensure that nobody is above accountability.

“The transformation Cardinal Onaiyekan is calling for will only happen when Nigerians consistently insist that those who seek power must answer to the people before, during and after elections,” he added.