Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, former Governor of Edo State and immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, has issued a stark warning that Nigeria is perilously edging toward lawlessness under the current leadership of the three arms of government. His comments reflect deep concerns from legal and civil society quarters about the state of governance and respect for constitutional order.
Speaking in a public address, Osunbor criticised what he described as creeping institutional decay in the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, arguing that a series of political actions and legal interpretations undermine the rule of law and weaken democratic norms. He expressed particular disquiet over recent political developments, including the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, which he characterised as a serious violation of constitutional governance.
The former governor’s remarks have sparked debate about Nigeria’s legal and political trajectory, especially as citizens and experts voice increasing concern about selective enforcement of laws, executive overreach, and shrinking space for opposition and dissent. Osunbor’s warning comes at a time when public discourse is already tense over national security challenges, economic pressures and public trust in state institutions.
Legal analysts say such commentary from a figure of Osunbor’s stature as a seasoned jurist and administrator underscores broader anxieties within Nigeria’s legal community about the integrity of governance and the need for urgent institutional reform to safeguard democratic stability. Critics of his position, however, argue that perceived lapses should be addressed within constitutional frameworks rather than through alarmist rhetoric.
