Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, counseling him to “Protect Nigeria’s democratic space, not shrink it.”

In the open letter, Chief George tells President Tinubu:

” Mr. President,This is not a routine correspondence; it is a deeply held conviction from my heart.

I write as a man who has given over half a century to the service of Nigeria, a country whose stability, unity, and democratic future are now under visible strain.

I speak out of conviction, experience, and a duty to truth.

My reflections arise not from anger or partisanship, but from a place of sincere patriotism, responsibility, and an abiding faith in Almighty God.

Nigeria is drifting dangerously. What is unfolding within our political space today raises grave concern.

The increasing suppression direct or indirect of opposition voices, the apparent drive toward political dominance without restraint, and the erosion of democratic balance are not merely troubling; they are signals of a system under stress and heading towards potential rupture.

Let me state this plainly: Democracy cannot survive where opposition is weakened, ridiculed, or systematically neutralized.

A country governed without credible dissent is not stable, it is volatile. And volatility, once ignited, respects no office, no title, and no authority.

Mr. President, history is littered with leaders who mistook control for strength.

They surrounded themselves with applause, silenced criticism, and dismissed warnings until reality corrected them, often irreversibly. I request you fervently not to walk that path.

The assumption that power can be consolidated without consequence is a grave miscalculation.

The belief that influence, patronage, or financial leverage can substitute for justice and fairness is equally flawed.

As one of the global economic thinkers Professor Ross Gittins rightly observed societies do not find stability in material appeasement alone.

As material incentives and political patronage do not create lasting satisfaction or loyalty.

Money does not define leadership and cannot buy legitimacy. It cannot command respect, and certainly cannot secure legacy.

What sustains leadership is trust and trust is built on fairness, equity, transparency and justice.

Today, that trust is under pressure. Nigerians are not merely concerned they are watching.

They are burdened by economic hardship, rising costs, and a growing sense of uncertainty. In such a climate, any perception rightly or wrongly of political suppression becomes combustible.

Let me be unequivocal:a nation under economic strain cannot afford political provocation.

This is how instability begins not suddenly, but gradually through decisions that appear strategic in the moment but prove destructive in consequence.

Mr. President, you stand at a decisive crossroad. You can choose to correct course, strengthen democratic institutions, and restore national confidence.

Or you can allow the current trajectory to continue one that risks deepening division and inviting consequences that no administration can fully control.There is also a matter of counsel.

As we approach critical judicial decisions, particularly from the Supreme Court, every action taken by leadership must reinforce not weaken the integrity of our institutions. Anything less sends a dangerous message both within and beyond our borders.

Those who tell you that all is well, those who dismiss legitimate concerns, who encourage aggressive political consolidation, who interpret caution as weakness are not safeguarding your leadership; they are endangering it.

Leadership demands the courage to hear the truth, not just loyalty. Let me remind you: Power is temporary. History is permanent. No leader escapes the judgment of history.

The question is not whether your tenure will end; it will end. The question is how it will be remembered.

Nigeria, once the undisputed Giant of Africa, now faces the risk of diminished relevance.

Nations once considered smaller or less stable are advancing in governance, electoral credibility, and institutional discipline while we struggle with avoidable internal tensions.

This is not acceptable. As we approach critical judicial decisions, particularly from the Supreme Court, every action taken by leadership must reinforce not weaken the integrity of our institutions. Anything less sends a dangerous message both within and beyond our borders.

Mr. President, I say this with all sincerity and urgency. If the current course is not urgently reviewed and corrected, the consequences may be far-reaching.

Nations do not collapse overnight they unravel through a series of ignored warnings.This is one of those warnings, if ignored could be severe.

You have been entrusted by God and by circumstance with leadership at a critical moment in Nigeria’s history.

Use it wisely. Correct course where necessary. Restore confidence where it has been lost. Protect the democratic space, not shrink it. That trust must not be squandered.

Act with courage.

Act with restraint. Act with justice.

Distance yourself from sycophants. Embrace truth and act with courage. Remove those who mislead you.Listen to voices of reason. Protect the democratic space.

Save Nigeria from avoidable crisis.

Protect its democracy. Preserve its unity. Secure its future.

Finally, Mr. President, I must emphasise that the integrity of our electoral process must remain sacrosanct.

There must be no manipulation whatsoever by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in any form or manner.

The will of the Nigerian people must be respected and allowed to prevail freely, transparently, and without interference.

Anything short of this undermines democracy and risks eroding the very foundation of our nation’s unity and legitimacy.

May God grant you the wisdom to discern truth, the humility to act on it, and the strength to lead rightly,” he signed off.

“The 2027 election will be my last outing”, declared the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday.

Atiku has been contesting for the presidency since 1992.

Asked why should Nigerians take the risk of choosing him after so many previous attempts, considering his age, the ex-Vice President said Nigeria has leadership problem, adding that his experience as a former Vice President and military governor of a state set him apart from President Tinubu.

“There is a clear and stark difference, take the cases if state governors in a number of state being headed by relatively young people and failing woefully simply because at the apex, they do not have capable and experienced president to guide them and to give them the benefit of his experience.

That’s why we have been having a number of woeful leaderships in a number of state because they are being headed by inexperienced young men,” he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinforced the importance of youth participation in Nigeria’s democratic process, as stakeholders gathered in Abuja for a civic engagement programme promoting the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The event, held at Merit House in Maitama, was initiated by a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Magaji Ndagi, as part of his Community Development Service (CDS).

It attracted INEC officials, NYSC representatives, government stakeholders, corps members, and students from across the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the event, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, praised the initiative and highlighted the vital role young people play in strengthening democracy.

He noted that over 3.7 million Nigerians have registered in the ongoing CVR exercise, with youths making up more than 68 percent.Haruna emphasized that a credible voter register is key to free and fair elections, adding that INEC continues to implement the CVR process in phases in line with legal provisions.

He also reaffirmed the Commission’s longstanding partnership with the NYSC in election management.

Representatives of the NYSC and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of the CVR exercise, stressing that active participation in elections is essential to shaping the country’s future and deepening democratic governance.

The programme featured expert lectures, an interactive session on voter registration, and the unveiling of a magazine designed to boost awareness. Participants were urged to move from apathy to action and take full ownership of their civic responsibilities.