Nigeria Needs Democratic Legitimacy To Sustain Security, Says Ayo Obe

 

A civil rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist, Ayo Obe, has argued that Nigeria’s worsening security challenges should not be used to justify undermining democratic governance, adding that national security and human rights are complementary rather than conflicting objectives.

Speaking on Friday in her address at the June 12, 2026, edition of The Platform amid growing concerns over kidnappings and violent crimes affecting communities in parts of Yorubaland and across the country, Obe acknowledged that the deteriorating security situation has led some Nigerians to question whether democracy is capable of addressing the nation’s challenges.

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She noted that it was tempting for some citizens to conclude that democratic governance is the problem, accusing politicians of focusing more on electoral contests than on protecting lives and property.

However, Obe firmly rejected the notion that democracy and security are at odds.

“I need to make my position about this very clear. There is absolutely no conflict between national security and democracy,” she said.

According to the veteran activist, sustainable security can only be achieved through governments that enjoy democratic legitimacy and the confidence of the people.

“In fact, in my view, if our security is to be sustained, then we have to have democratic legitimacy,” she stated.

Obe also stated that democratic institutions can endure only if responses to criminal violence are anchored in the rule of law.

She warned against approaches that disregard human rights in the pursuit of security, arguing that excessive force and unlawful tactics have historically failed to eliminate violent extremism and criminality.

“What we have seen is that violence is not enough to suppress that barbarism,” she said, adding that Nigeria cannot afford to adopt scorched-earth tactics against its own citizens.

The former Civil Liberties Organisation president stressed that terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping remain serious threats to national stability, but maintained that efforts to combat them must remain within the bounds of the law.

Addressing those who believe that security forces have been overly restrained in dealing with perpetrators, Obe argued that respecting human rights does not weaken security operations.

“Human rights and security are not enemies; on the contrary, they are partners,” she said.

 

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