Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri says Nigeria must embrace true fiscal federalism and the rule of law for its democracy to thrive.
Diri, who identified justice, equity and fairness as the pillars of democracy, said the absence of the three has made the country’s democracy to falter.
The governor spoke yesterday at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue at the International Conference Centre, Bauchi.
The dialogue, with the theme: “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, was organised in collaboration with the Bauchi State Government and chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Diri said Nigeria lost its way in its democratic journey long ago and needs to correct its structural imbalances to work for its citizens.
Using Bayelsa as a case study, he decried the injustice in the exploitation of crude oil and lopsided revenue sharing formula.
According to him, oil-bearing communities in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta have been denied commensurate development more than 60 years after oil exploration began, despite accounting for the bulk of national revenue.
He said: “We are gathered here again today because of this annual discourse. Democracy is about the rule of law. To my mind, democracy is built on three pillars – justice, equity and fairness. And I believe that we missed the road of democracy in Nigeria long ago because there is no justice.”
“There is injustice where Oloibiri, the oil community in Bayelsa that made Nigeria a commercial oil producing country, remains a shadow of itself. It is ironical that at the end of every month, all our states go to Abuja to share oil money.”
The governor said Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which produces enormous oil wealth, had no road access for over 60 years until his administration built a 630-metre bridge to link its headquarters.
Diri also faulted a system where Bayelsa with eight local government areas shares its resources with states that have 40 councils and above.
He linked the prevailing insecurity in parts of the North to resource exploitation, saying insecurity escalated after gold was discovered in Zamfara and other states.
“My conclusion is that for democracy to thrive in Nigeria, there must be true federalism. Until we begin to practice federalism, we will have some pseudo-democratic, pseudo-autocratic, and sometimes even a tyrannical government in this country,” he said.
He lauded former President Goodluck Jonathan and his foundation for sustaining the dialogue, noting that Nigeria needs such platforms to develop a truly democratic culture.
Dignitaries at the event included Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Mr. Peter Obi.
