Professor Mike Ozekhome warns that Nigeria risks becoming a one-party state if political complacency and weak opposition continue.
He urges Nigerians to take back their power and speak up. He says people should not allow one party to control everything.
Renowned constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Mike Ozekhome, has voiced strong concerns about Nigeria’s political direction, warning that the country may soon resemble a one-party state. He expressed these views during an interview on Channels Television’s “Hard Copy” program, which aired on Saturday.
According to Ozekhome, Nigeria is steadily drifting towards authoritarianism due to the shrinking space for political opposition and the lack of ideological diversity. He warned that without immediate corrective actions, the current political landscape could mirror the characteristics of a dictatorship.
“In a one-party state, dictatorship reigns supreme. Everybody will agree. National Assembly pocketed, judiciary will be pocketed, and everybody will be saying ‘yes, yes, yes,’” he said.
The senior lawyer criticized the frequent political defections happening across the country, describing the behavior of politicians as opportunistic and lacking firm ideological commitments. He compared the situation to food items made from the same base, saying, “It’s like beans, akara, and moi-moi; they’re the same.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, Ozekhome mentioned how the former ruling party, the PDP, once boasted about staying in power for 60 years. However, it was removed after just 16 years. He warned that a similar level of overconfidence under the current administration could pave the way for authoritarian rule.
He raised concerns about the growing influence of President Bola Tinubu, who he said is strategically placing loyalists in significant positions within government institutions. Ozekhome noted that if the opposition remains divided, the next presidential election in 2027 might see little to no real competition.
Ozekhome also highlighted the public’s growing indifference toward national issues, likening it to a “Stockholm Syndrome” where the people begin to sympathize with those who are suppressing them.
In his closing remarks, he urged citizens to reclaim their role in shaping the country’s democracy. “The power is yours; it is not theirs,” he said, calling on Nigerians to stay vigilant and actively participate in preserving democratic values.
