By Abioye Tosin Lawrence There was a time when South Africa stood as a symbol of triumph over oppression. A nation reborn from the ashes of apartheid, guided by the moral weight of reconciliation and unity, as envisioned by Nelson Mandela. The “Rainbow Nation” was not just a phrase, it was a promise. Today, that promise is being tested. Across different periods of social unrest, reports of violence and hostility against African migrants have raised urgent questions about the state of African brotherhood within South Africa. Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Malawians, Congolese, and others have, at various times, found themselves caught in waves of destruction that target foreign-owned shops and communities. This raises a difficult but necessary question: where is the protection of law when African brothers become targets in a nation built on liberation ideals? Nigeria, for instance, has often demonstrated strong institutional responses to crime affecting foreign nationa...
“Convoys, Crackdowns, and a Country in Chains: CBN Onwuasoanya Ezendigbo Slams Nigeria’s ‘Democracy of Fear’”
Onwuasoanya Ezendigbo, a presidential candidate, delivered a scathing indictment of Nigeria’s political climate in a statement on Sunday, accusing the ruling class of weaponizing state power to suffocate opposition and entrench what he described as a creeping dictatorship.
According to Ezendigbo, the essence of democracy is being steadily eroded as those in power deploy “mighty institutional force” not to build the nation, but to silence dissent. He alleged that opposition voices are increasingly intimidated, harassed, and denied the basic democratic right to express alternative views.
In a sharply worded critique, he condemned the use of political thuggery, claiming that violence sponsored or tolerated by the elite has contributed to the normalization of insecurity across the country. “You went with thugs and unleashed them on the poor,” he stated, linking such actions to the broader rise of banditry and lawlessness in different parts of Nigeria.
Ezendigbo argued that governance has been dangerously misdirected. Rather than focusing on infrastructure, economic stability, and human capital development, leaders have prioritized political dominance. “The government’s duty is to build, not to break. To empower, not to oppress,” he emphasized.
He painted a stark picture of leadership disconnected from reality, questioning the symbolism of heavily guarded political figures. “When you move with over 30 convoys, you are not free, you are a prisoner of your own power,” he said. He further noted that a nation cannot claim progress when its leaders cannot trust its own hospitals, schools, or security systems enough to use them for their families.
The statement also carried a warning about Nigeria’s trajectory, cautioning against comparisons with nations that have suffered prolonged instability, such as Angola and Libya. He urged Nigerians to reflect deeply on the country’s direction before it drifts further into crisis.
Highlighting the economic hardship faced by citizens, Ezendigbo described a nation where survival has overshadowed dignity. “A hungry people cannot value life the same way,” he said, adding that widespread poverty, unemployment, and unreliable electricity have reduced many Nigerians to mere survivalists.
He concluded with a broader continental warning, urging other African nations not to replicate Nigeria’s governance model. “Nigeria must become an example worth following, not a cautionary tale,” he declared.
The statement has since sparked conversations about the balance between power and accountability, raising urgent questions about the futu
re of democracy in Nigeria.
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