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NIGERIA DRIFTING TOWARDS ONE-PARTY STATE – OZEKHOME
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CapitalTimesNews / 2 weeks
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- 2 min read
Prominent constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s subtle descent into dictatorship, warning that the country is “gradually drifting towards a one-party state.” Ozekhome expressed his concerns during a recent interview on national television. The renowned lawyer condemned the current political culture of indiscriminate party defections and the erosion of ideological values among elected officials. “It’s like beans, akara, and moi-moi all the same,” he quipped, criticizing the lack of distinction among political actors. According to him, this trend signals the death of a credible opposition and endangers democracy. Ozekhome pointed to the concentration of power in the hands of the current administration, alleging that President Bola Tinubu has strategically installed loyalists across critical government sectors. This, he warned, could render future elections meaningless if opposition voices continue to weaken. “In a one-party state, dictatorship reigns supreme,” he cautioned, adding that once this happens, all arms of government – legislature and judiciary – risk being compromised. The Senior Advocate also expressed deep concern over growing public apathy, likening Nigerians’ silence to a kind of “Stockholm Syndrome,” where citizens, pushed to the brink by hardship, appear too weary to confront those responsible for their plight. Drawing historical parallels, he referenced the collapse of the former ruling party, which once boasted of holding power for 60 years, only to crumble under the weight of its own internal contradictions. Calling for civic vigilance, Ozekhome urged Nigerians to wake up and reclaim their democratic space. “The power is yours, not theirs,” he said pointedly, emphasizing the need for citizens to take an active role in shaping their country’s future.
