Comrade Ayodeji Ologun

Executive Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Comrade Ayodeji Ologun, has criticised the top-down approach of government decision-making in Nigeria, calling instead for a citizen-led, bottom-up model that ensures governance reflects the will and needs of the people.

Speaking today on Frontline on Eagle 102.5FM, Ologun said the reason many Nigerians are reluctant to participate in elections is because they feel their votes don’t matter.

“People have lost confidence in the electoral process because they feel that no matter what they do, those in power will manipulate the outcome. But they need to realise that absolute power belongs to the people, not the officeholders,” he said.

According to him, the public often abdicates their role in governance, leaving critical decisions to senators, governors, and other politicians, whom they assume know best.

“Governance should not be a privilege of a few in power. A decision cannot be legitimate unless it passes through the opinion of the people,” he said.

Ologun decried how community voices, such as protesters and activists, are often seen as outsiders under the umbrella of civil society. “It shouldn’t be so. Civil society is the people. Governance should come from the bottom up, not the other way around. That is why policies often get dumped on citizens without input,” he noted.

He cited the example of Ondo State, where the governor reportedly sent agents to all local governments to hold town hall meetings and collect citizens’ needs. “That is what leadership from the grassroots should look like. When people feel ownership of a project, they maintain it. Our poor maintenance culture stems from the fact that people do not see these projects as theirs,” he said.

On laws and legislative reforms, Ologun noted that constitutional limitations prevent the passage of some laws. He also highlighted how many members of state assemblies get into office through the influence of governors, which often hampers independence. However, he said citizens can influence legislative processes by submitting memoranda during public hearings.

“When large numbers of people submit memoranda, lawmakers can’t ignore them. But when citizens don’t participate, they can easily be overridden. Communities should hold their local government chairmen accountable. Engagement is key,” he stressed.

Commenting on the upcoming two-day zonal public hearings on constitutional reforms scheduled for July 4th and 5th, Ologun expressed dissatisfaction that only six states were chosen to host them.

“There is nothing justifiable about hosting zonal hearings in just six states. Roads are unsafe, and many people cannot travel far. If citizens raise their voices, the National Assembly will have no choice but to expand the hearings to every state capital,” he said.

On issues like local government autonomy, electoral reforms, and state policing, Ologun said that participation is crucial. “You cannot reject a process you never took part in. In Osun, for example, no local government funds have been released, yet the House of Assembly claims to speak for the people. Some lawmakers even sponsor individuals to submit memoranda tailored to their interests,” he revealed.

He criticised the calls for state creation, saying it is driven more by political interests than by the people. “State creation is not what we need. What we need is more local governments that bring governance closer to the people. Creating more states will only bloat the National Assembly, which we already say consumes too many public funds,” he argued.

On President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks during the launch of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, where he praised a former classmate, Alex Sigma, Ologun said the president’s comments were irrelevant.

“That someone went to school with you doesn’t mean they graduated. That kind of shoutout sounds like propaganda and adds nothing to the conversation,” he said.

Regarding the newly launched agricultural reform and the deployment of over 2,000 tractors, Ologun said while the service provider model may be ideal in theory, the reality on the ground raises serious concerns.

“We need to ask ourselves—if you divide 2,000 tractors across 36 states, how many will each state realistically get? It won’t be sufficient,” he said.

He further questioned the logistics of implementation, arguing that centralised deployment would not serve farmers efficiently. “A farmer in Ogun shouldn’t have to foot the bill to transport a tractor from Abuja. There should be regional hubs or distribution plans that reflect local needs,” he added.

Ologun stressed that rather than focusing on new purchases, the government should audit and account for tractors procured by previous administrations.

Ologun concluded by urging Nigerians to be more involved in the democratic process at every level, stressing that true governance starts with the people.