Prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights advocate, Mike Ozekhome, has sounded the alarm, warning that the country is drifting towards a one-party state that could degenerate into full-blown dictatorship.
Ozekhome expressed concerns over the increasing trend of political defections and cross-carpeting by elected officials, which he believes is driven by personal gain rather than party principles. He likened politicians to commodities that can be easily traded.
In a one-party state, Ozekhome warned, “dictatorship reigns supreme,” with the National Assembly and judiciary likely to be controlled, resulting in a lack of opposition. “Everybody will agree. National Assembly pocketed, judiciary will be pocketed, and everybody will be saying ‘yes, yes, yes,'” he said.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria drew historical parallels, citing the PDP’s 16-year rule, which ultimately imploded. He also expressed concerns about President Bola Tinubu’s strategic placements in critical sectors, which could lead to a scenario where Tinubu virtually runs against himself in the 2027 elections if the opposition remains fractured.
Ozekhome urged Nigerians to be resilient and hold their governments accountable, reminding them that power lies with the people, not the government.
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