Renowned lawyer and author, Dele Farotimi, has said that the only way forward for Nigeria is a revolution as the only path to redemption lies in embracing truth, justice, and institutional reform.
Speaking at the Nigeria Leadership Series Discussion hosted by the Africa Leadership Group (ALG), Farotimi painted a grim picture of a nation trapped in the grip of systemic corruption, judicial failure, and elite manipulation.
Farotimi noted that the only way forward for Nigeria is a revolution.
The people must take back their power.”
Speaking on the topic: “Nigeria: Is There Any Hope?”, Farotimi said; Nigeria’s salvation does not lie in elections, reforms, or the goodwill of the ruling elite.
“You cannot fix Nigeria by voting for people who are part of the problem.”
“The system is rigged in their favor. Only a radical shift where the people rise and take control of their destiny can bring true change.”
According to him, Nigerians must abandon hope in the current political structure, which, he argued, is designed to perpetuate corruption and oppression. “The Nigerian state was built on lies and sustained by violence.
“If we do not dismantle it, it will continue to consume us,” he said.
Farotimi did not shy away from calling for direct action. “We must stop expecting change from the very people benefiting from our suffering,” he said.
Instead, he urged Nigerians to embrace mass organized resistance, and a total rejection of the status quo.
He emphasized that real change has never been handed to the oppressed on a platter.
“Throughout history, no people have been freed by simply begging their oppressors. You must demand your freedom and be ready to fight for it.”
Farotimi whose stance has not come without consequences recounted how he was incarcerated for speaking out against the system. “I was arrested and locked up simply for speaking the truth and for daring to challenge the entrenched powers that be”, he revealed.
He described the Nigerian state as one that thrives on fear, intimidation, and brutality. “They know that if the people wake up, their reign is over.
He did not spare the security agencies either, describing them as “attack dogs for the ruling class,” rather than protectors of the people. “That is why they use police, DSS, and the military to silence voices like mine.”
Painting a grim picture of Nigeria’s reality, Farotimi did not mince words. “Nigeria is not a country. It is a crime scene,” he said, accusing the ruling elite of looting the nation dry while leaving millions in poverty.
He pointed to worsening insecurity, economic collapse, and institutional decay as proof that the country is on a dangerous path. “There is no government in Nigeria, just a mafia in power,” he declared.”
Farotimi also took aim at the judiciary, accusing it of being a willing accomplice in Nigeria’s downfall.
He argued that the legal system, which should serve as a check on executive excesses, has instead become an enabler of corruption.
“The judiciary has failed Nigeria,” he stated bluntly. “Until the people rise to demand true justice, the courts will continue to serve the highest bidder.”
Farotimi however charged: “If you love Nigeria, you cannot remain silent. The time for sitting on the fence is over. The time to act is now.”
His words lingered, a call to a nation teetering on the edge. Whether Nigerians will rise to reclaim their country remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—Dele Farotimi has no intention of backing down.
Credit: Daily Independent
