Former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani has reflected on a critical decision made by some Nigerian activists in 1999, stating that it continues to shape the country’s democracy today.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, Sani recalled how different paths were taken by key pro-democracy figures following the transition from military to civilian rule.
He pointed out that while Bola Tinubu, a prominent activist at the time, chose to enter politics and build political structures, many others—including Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba, Mike Ozekhome, and himself—remained committed to activism.
According to Sani, the decision to stay out of politics proved costly in the long run.
“The mistake some of us activists made in 1999 is still affecting democracy to this day. When it was time for the transition to civil rule, we refused to stop activism,” he said.
Sani explained that many activists at the time followed the ideology of Gani Fawehinmi, which prioritized advocacy and legal battles for social justice over direct political engagement.
“On the other hand, Tinubu, a pro-democracy activist, emphasized the importance of political engagement and governance through the establishment of political structures,” he noted.
He admitted that their reluctance to enter politics early put them at a disadvantage.
“By the time we realized that activism alone would not take us far, it was already late. We decided to contest elections in 2003, but the political landscape had changed. Even Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba, and Mike Ozekhome contested elections but performed poorly. By then, Tinubu had already moved on from activism to becoming a state governor, and today, he is the president.”
Sani acknowledged that this decision had long-term consequences for Nigerian democracy, as activists who could have influenced governance from within the system remained outside of it.