Legal practitioner calls for enduring democracy in Nigeria

A legal practitioner and human rights activist, Kehinde Idowu, has called for an enduring democracy in Nigeria, one in which human rights are respected and citizens are free to express their views on critical national issues without fear of intimidation.

Speaking in an interview against the backdrop of the violent disruption of a peaceful protest, the Lagos-based lawyer stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen the protection of citizens’ rights.

“Nigeria’s democracy continues to face recurring tests, none more telling than the frequent confrontations between civic activists and security agents.

“I know this reality all too well, having endured arrests, assaults, and intimidation during peaceful activism,” he said.

Idowu explained that his legal career has been rooted in defending the less privileged, challenging unlawful detentions, and confronting abuses of power.

Motivated by the example of the late human rights icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, he said that he joined the National Conscience Party in 2002 and became an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) the following year.

His political engagement, according to him, included contesting for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

He recalled that his advocacy efforts gained further structure in 2012 with the co-founding of the Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Center, now known as the Human Rights Defenders and Access to Justice Advocacy Center (HRDAC).

The organisation, he said, addresses human rights violations, corruption, and systemic abuses, while also providing legal support to vulnerable groups.

He noted that his leadership in these efforts frequently brought him into conflict with law enforcement agencies.

Idowu further disclosed that in 2018, he was arrested during a peaceful sit-in protest demanding the release of an unlawfully detained HRDAC member.

The incident, he said, was later brought to the attention of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, highlighting longstanding concerns over the treatment of activists.

He also recounted the January 31, 2019 protest tagged “End the Corruption Now!!”, during which HRDAC members and other citizens embarked on a peaceful procession from Ikeja towards Allen Avenue in Lagos State.

Despite prior notification to the police, he said security was not provided.

“Before long, the protest was confronted by armed operatives who deployed tear gas, batons, and fired gunshots into the air to disperse the crowd.

“In the ensuing chaos, I attempted to calm participants. Instead, I was identified as the leader, assaulted, and arrested along with two others,” he stated.

According to Idowu, the incident remains “a sharp reflection of the fragility of civic freedoms in Nigeria.”

“If peaceful protest becomes a crime, then democracy itself is endangered,” he said.

He added that although several years have passed since the incident, the underlying issues remain unresolved, noting growing public concern over Police conduct, increasing tension surrounding citizens’ rights to assemble, and recurring allegations of corruption.

“These developments point to a democratic system in need of deeper safeguards.

“For me, the struggle is far from over. Nigeria must choose whether it wants a democracy in name or in practice.

“The people must be free to speak, to assemble, and to demand accountability,” he said.