Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has criticised Nigeria’s political class, saying the outcome of the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries has exposed what he described as the selfishness and hypocrisy of many politicians.
Okutepa, in a lengthy post shared on his X account on Wednesday, declared that he no longer had sympathy for politicians, accusing them of manipulating the masses for personal gain while pretending to champion public interest.
“I have no sympathy for any Nigerian politician. If you help any one of them, you are doing so because of God. Almost all of them are selfish and the same,” he wrote.
The senior lawyer argued that many politicians only become vocal when they lose political influence or fall out with powerful interests, despite remaining silent when ordinary citizens suffer injustice and oppression.
According to him, political fights among members of the ruling class are often driven by selfish ambition rather than genuine concern for the people.
“When you see these politicians quarrelling amongst themselves and they appear as if they are fighting for the interests of the masses of the people and come to recruit you with emotional sermons, just know that it is just part of their political gimmick for their selfish interests and as a strategy to remain relevant for survival,” he stated.
Okutepa specifically cited the recently concluded APC primary elections in some states, particularly Kogi East, as evidence of politicians suddenly presenting themselves as defenders of democracy after previously benefiting from the same system they now condemn.
“The just concluded APC primary elections in some states and especially in Kogi East is in point here. Those who could not talk before started talking and pretended to be men now and boasting to fight,” he said.
The legal practitioner also accused some politicians of complicity in political oppression and violence, recalling the killing of Salome Abuh, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women leader who was murdered in Kogi East during the 2019 elections.
“Salome Abuh was slaughtered in 2019 in her home in Kogi East for no just cause. Her killing was tagged political retaliation on national TV. These same politicians are now crying and shouting when the same undemocratic system they used to impose themselves on us has now been used against them in the primaries,” he wrote.
Okutepa lamented what he described as the continued betrayal of Nigerians by political leaders, insisting that most politicians are more loyal to oppressive political structures than to the welfare of citizens.
“The sad thing is that most Nigerian politicians are loyal to the oppressors of Nigeria and are never loyal to the interests of the masses,” he stated.
He further decried the country’s persistent governance challenges, noting that poor healthcare, lack of infrastructure, and economic hardship remain widespread decades after similar issues were highlighted by past political movements and administrations.
“Today hospitals are still the same mere consulting clinics as spoken of by the Buhari-Idiagbon regime of 1983. The slogan of MKO Abiola and Kingibe of 1993 SDP campaign of no water, no road, no transport, no light are still the problems of Nigerians today,” he said.
The senior advocate also blamed Nigerians for tolerating poor leadership, referencing Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti’s popular phrase “suffering and smiling” to describe the country’s situation.
Despite his criticism of the political class, Okutepa expressed optimism that credible leadership could eventually emerge in Nigeria.
“But one day a good leader will emerge even from these crooked generation of politicians and we will get to the promised land. It will happen. Just watch and see it happen,” he added.
