Diri Says Justice, Equity And Fairness Key To Nigeria's Democracy

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has identified the absence of justice, equity and fairness as major factors affecting the growth and stability of democracy in Nigeria.

Diri also said democracy would continue to struggle in the country without true federalism, fiscal federalism and adherence to the rule of law.

The governor stated this on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill message at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue held at the International Conference Centre in Bauchi.

Diri said Nigeria had taken a wrong turn in its democratic journey and needed to address structural imbalances to make the country work better for its citizens.

Using Bayelsa State as an example, the governor said injustice in resource exploitation and the distribution of national revenue had persisted for decades.

He said oil-producing communities in Bayelsa and other parts of the Niger Delta had yet to receive commensurate development despite contributing significant revenue to the country for more than six decades.

Diri also faulted the revenue allocation system, noting that Bayelsa, with eight local government areas, contributes resources that are shared among states with significantly more local government areas.

According to him, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, one of the oil-producing areas in Bayelsa, lacked road access for more than 60 years until his administration commenced infrastructure projects in the area.

He said his administration also constructed a 630 metre bridge to provide access to the headquarters of the local government area.

“We are gathered here again today because of this annual discourse, which I recall had also been held in Bayelsa State when our leader started moving it to the states,” Diri said.

“The topic is about democracy, and I like to bring it home to Bayelsa State. Democracy has been well defined by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and it 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.”

Diri cited Oloibiri, the Bayelsa community where commercial oil production began in Nigeria, as an example of what he described as injustice in the country's resource management.

He said it was ironic that oil-producing states continued to depend on monthly revenue allocations despite the environmental and developmental challenges faced by oil-bearing communities.

The governor also linked resource exploitation to insecurity, referring to gold mining activities and insecurity in some northern states.

“Today there is gold in Zamfara and other northern states and what do we experience? Insecurity. Most of the insecurity has been traced to the discovery of gold in that far north,” he said.

Diri said Nigeria needed to embrace true federalism to strengthen its democratic system.

“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.

The governor commended former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation for sustaining the annual dialogue, saying Nigeria needed platforms for continued engagement on issues affecting its democracy.

The event, themed “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?”, was held in collaboration with the Bauchi State Government and chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Dignitaries at the event included former President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; former Vice President Namadi Sambo; Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi.