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Osa Director, the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo over what he described as a lack of appreciation for pro-democracy activists and the media who, according to him, played a key role in securing Obasanjo’s survival during his incarceration under military rule.
The NDC spokesman made the remarks during an interview on Arise News, on Saturday, 13 June, 2026, while reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey and the contributions of civil society groups and journalists in the struggle against military dictatorship in the late 1990s.
Speaking during the interview, Osa Director said: “By 1999, it was basically the pro-democracy activist and the media that ensured Obasanjo did not die in jail. When he was head of state, he never looked in the direction or even said thank you to the pro-democracy movement and the media.”
His comments come amid renewed discussions about the legacy of Nigeria’s democratic transition and the roles played by political actors, activists, and members of the press in restoring civilian rule after years of military governance.
Director argued that pro-democracy campaigners and media organisations made significant sacrifices during the struggle for democracy, often facing harassment, detention, and threats to their lives. According to him, those efforts helped create the environment that eventually led to the release of political prisoners and the return to democratic rule in 1999.
