A socio-political group, the Atunto Foundation, has faulted Nigeria’s power structure, saying the current governance system has become dangerously centralised and has enabled the emergence of unaccountable and overbearing state executives operating above institutional control.
The group’s Secretary General and Director of Research at Afenifere, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, made this known during an exclusive interview on Frontline, Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Wednesday, where he delivered a far-reaching critique of Nigeria’s democratic framework and the evolving role of state governors within it.
Fapohunda argued that the structure of governance since 1999 has progressively concentrated power in the hands of a few individuals, particularly state governors, who now wield enormous authority with little to no effective oversight. According to him, the system has weakened legislative institutions, eroded checks and balances, and fostered a political culture where public office is treated as a personal enterprise rather than a collective responsibility.
“That word ‘executive governor’, it is a terrorist term to say you are executive governor,” he said. “You don’t need to buy your way to become a governor. You campaign another 100 billion. And then once you are a governor, you are an emperor. You can do what you like. There is no restraint, there is no effective opposition, there is no system that truly checks your excesses. The entire structure has been designed in such a way that once you get there, you are almost untouchable. That is not what democracy is supposed to be.”
He further explained that the financial burden associated with elections has created a cycle where governance is driven by recovery and consolidation of power, rather than service delivery. In his view, this reality has significantly contributed to corruption, policy inconsistency, and a growing disconnect between leaders and the citizens they govern.
“You don’t need to buy your way to become a governor, but in reality, people spend enormous resources to get there,” he continued. “And when they get there, the mindset is different. It is no longer about service; it is about control, survival, and influence. That is why you see decisions that do not reflect the needs of the people. The system itself encourages that behaviour, and until you change the system, you cannot change the outcome.”
Fapohunda also criticised the role of state legislatures, describing them as largely ineffective and structurally weakened, often unable to exercise their constitutional responsibility of holding the executive accountable. He maintained that many assemblies have become extensions of the executive arm, thereby undermining the principle of separation of powers.
“Abiodun is on his own. Sanwo-Olu is on his own. Adeleke is on his own. They are unaccountable,” he said. “The assemblies have just appended it. They don’t collect salaries independently, they don’t have organic control over the governor, and they cannot stand up to him. So, what you have is a situation where one man dominates the entire state structure, and every other institution falls in line. That is a dangerous way to run any system.”
As a solution, the Atunto Foundation is proposing a transition to a parliamentary system, particularly at the regional level, where power would be distributed across a broader legislative framework rather than concentrated in a single executive office. Fapohunda noted that such a system would promote collective decision-making, enhance accountability, and reduce the excesses associated with executive dominance.
“That has to change,” he insisted. “We are proposing a 100-member parliament, and that body is supreme. Power will no longer reside in one individual. Decisions will be taken collectively, and leadership will emerge from within that structure. All appointments will be from the parliament, and each appointed person is also elected, equal to the premier. That way, nobody becomes larger than the system.”
He traced the roots of Nigeria’s governance challenges to the abandonment of regional autonomy that characterised the First Republic, arguing that the current centralised arrangement has stripped regions of the capacity to develop according to their peculiar needs and priorities.
Drawing comparisons with past leaders, Fapohunda pointed to figures such as Lateef Jakande, Bola Ige, and Adekunle Ajasin as examples of leadership grounded in modesty and public service, in contrast to what he described as today’s culture of excess and entitlement.
“He was living in his own house; he never lived in a government house,” he said of Jakande. “You don’t have convoys everywhere, you don’t have 50 SUVs following one individual. Leadership was simpler, it was closer to the people, and it was more accountable. Today, the reverse is the case. Leadership has become a display of power and wealth, rather than service.”
Fapohunda maintained that decentralising authority and restructuring Nigeria along regional lines would not only restore accountability but also empower communities to take ownership of their governance processes. According to him, such reforms are essential to reversing the current trend of inefficiency and public distrust.
“Nigeria is too centralised. Everything is controlled from one point, and that is why things are not working,” he said. “If you decentralise and allow regions to function properly, you will see development that reflects the needs of the people. You will see accountability because leaders will be closer to those they serve. Until we make that shift, we will continue to struggle with the same problems.”
He warned that failure to undertake meaningful structural reforms could further weaken democratic institutions and deepen the gap between government and the governed, stressing that the urgency of reform can no longer be ignored.
