ADC: Abacha More Democratic Than Yesterday’s NADECO Activists – Peter Obi

Nigerians are grappling with a profound historical irony as former pro-democracy activists who risked everything to end military dictatorship under General Sani Abacha are now being accused of undermining the very democratic ideals they once championed.

A statement making the rounds on social media and public forums captures the growing frustration. It describes these one-time heroes as “yesterday’s defenders of democracy, today’s destroyers.”

The message points out the sharp contrast. Acclaimed fighters for human rights who led the charge against Abacha’s regime during the dark days of the 1990s now stand accused of worse conduct once in power.

During Abacha’s rule from 1993 to 1998, the military junta annulled the June 12 presidential election, detained Chief MKO Abiola, and crushed dissent with detentions, exiles and executions. The National Democratic Coalition, popularly known as NADECO, emerged as the loudest voice against that oppression.

NADECO brought together politicians, lawyers, journalists and activists who demanded the return of democracy. Many of its leading figures went into hiding or fled abroad, facing constant threats from security agencies.

Today, some of those same voices occupy high offices. Yet public discourse suggests their governments have presided over economic pain, security lapses and alleged clampdowns on protests that many citizens now compare unfavourably to Abacha’s era.

The viral statement puts it bluntly: General Sani Abacha, once seen as the face of oppression, “will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days.”

It ends with a sober observation: power indeed reveals character.

NaijaChoice News has monitored the reactions across platforms and streets in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and Port Harcourt. Many ordinary Nigerians who lived through the Abacha years say they never expected the current level of disillusionment from the very people they once hailed as saviours.

Others argue the comparison is unfair, insisting today’s leaders face different pressures including global inflation and post-pandemic recovery. Still, the conversation refuses to die down.

The statement closes with a familiar rallying cry: “A New Nigeria is Possible.” That phrase, long associated with calls for better governance, now echoes louder as citizens demand accountability from those who once promised to deliver it.

For many, the lesson is clear. Democracy is not guaranteed by the identity of those in power, but by how they exercise it. The debate continues, and Nigerians are watching closely.