Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has cautioned against attempts to entrench a one-party system in Nigeria, warning that such a path could undermine the country’s democracy.
Governor Makinde made this remark on Saturday while speaking at a summit of opposition political leaders in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Makinde referenced the violent political history of “Operation Wetie” as a reminder of the dangers of political exclusion.
According to the Governor, there are growing concerns about efforts to concentrate legislative power within a single political party, while opposition groups face internal disputes and legal challenges.
“For those who are carrying on as if there’s no tomorrow, they should remember that ‘Operation Wetie’ started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West.
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“There are open efforts to consolidate legislative control under one party. At the same time, opposition parties are increasingly entangled in internal crises and legal battles that raise serious questions about their ability to function effectively,” he said.
He urged political stakeholders not to ignore these developments, stressing that democracy weakens gradually when opposition voices are diminished.
“This is not something that we should treat lightly. I don’t want to think saboteurs are here. Because democracy is not destroyed overnight, it is weakened step by step until people begin to feel it no longer works for them,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of a strong opposition in sustaining democratic governance.
“When opposition becomes ineffective, democracy itself loses meaning. Democracy is not defined by the success of one party; it is defined by the existence of real alternatives,” he added.
The governor also clarified that the gathering of opposition figures was not aimed at targeting any individual or pursuing personal ambitions.
“This meeting is not a gang up against one man. And it’s not about individual ambition to be president; it is about the collective ambition of the Nigerian people to have a democracy that is properly defined,” he said.
Makinde maintained that regardless of how dominant a ruling party may become, the presence of credible opposition remains essential.
“No matter how strong a party becomes or how popular any government may appear, the presence of credible opposition is not a threat to democracy,” he added.
