The Emir of Kano, His Highness Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi, has warned that Nigeria risks deeper decline if political actors continue to weaken civil society and suppress dissent.
Speaking at the 15th anniversary of the Enough is Enough (EiE) movement, Sanusi said civil society remains “a critical component of nation-building” and must not be overtaken by political interests.
“In every society, collapse begins when civil society becomes dictated by political society,” he said, citing Italian thinker Antonio Gramsci.
“Political society uses force and also manufactures consent—coercing the media, judiciary, police, and even traditional institutions into its projects.”
Sanusi urged Nigerians to recognise that “the nation belongs to us, not the government,” adding that citizens must take responsibility for shaping the country’s political direction.
He questioned Nigeria’s repeated leadership failures, asking: “When do we realise we have done enough damage to this country?”
He also called for unity among reform-minded groups across religious, business, and political communities.
“You have people everywhere who are fed up with the way things are done,” he said. “What we need is a clear and achievable vision for the kind of Nigeria we want.”
Sanusi ended on a hopeful note, encouraging young Nigerians to step into leadership: “For the next generation, it’s not too early and it’s not too late. Look up to your predecessors and step in now.”
At the same event, elder statesman and former presidential adviser Professor Pat Utomi echoed Sanusi’s concerns, saying Nigerians have been “betrayed by the political class.”
“Democracy can become a kakistocracy,” Utomi warned. “Citizens feel powerless, but they are not. With organisation, they can drive change.”
Utomi recalled how citizen-led pressure shaped movements such as the 1993 Concerned Professionals, arguing that Nigeria’s future depends on renewed civic consciousness and integrity.
“The duty of every generation,” he said, “is to find its mission—fulfil it or betray it.”
