Falana Urges Religious Bodies to Save Nigeria's Democracy

At the 25th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture held at the MUSON Centre in Lagos, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, called on religious bodies to take an active role in preserving Nigeria's democracy as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections. Falana emphasized that religious institutions must not remain passive, especially when government actions impact the lives and rights of their members and the broader Nigerian populace.

He urged churches to extend their focus beyond spiritual matters to include oversight of public resource management at all government levels. Falana advocated for religious organizations to scrutinize government budgets and monitor the execution of projects funded by public money, asserting that such involvement would enhance accountability and good governance.

He stressed that democracy encompasses more than just elections, highlighting the importance of accountable leadership, effective public service, and citizens' welfare and security in a functioning democratic society.