Political economist, and activist, Professor Pat Utomi has lamented the lost of needed opposition voices need to boost democracy in Nigeria as a result of fear of persecution and internal crises.
Utomi, who recently proposed the establishment of a ‘Shadow Government” that was challenged in court by the Department of State Services (DSS), particularly faulted the silence of opposition parties on Electoral Reforms and constitutional violations.
The erudite professor of economics who stated these at the ‘David Oladipo Leadership Roundtable’ themed; “Nigeria and Opposition Politics” in Lagos, noted that the only strong opposition we have today are the few active citizens on social media.
Utomi, who was represented by Dr. Chidi Okpaluba, President of the Centre for Africa Renaissance, Reformation and Development, stressed that outside the social media, no political party is challenging the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government, saying that it was a sad development that political parties have lost their voices.
In the words of Utomi; “If the electoral system is not reformed, opposition parties cannot win elections in Nigeria”.
In his own speech, the convener, Dr. David Oladipo, noted that Nigeria was failing to get value for democracy owing to the fact that opposition parties have become too weak to provide viable alternatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oladipo also noted that opposition parties have abandoned rigorous intellectual work, and thereby reduced their relevance in governance debates.
According to him; “Opposition is not just about shouting. It requires designing policies, proposing solutions and putting forward ideas that can compel the ruling party to act”.
Participants at the event were of the consensus that the absence of a credible opposition posed a major threat to Nigeria’s democratic survival.
The participants therefore warned that without reform and collaboration, the country risks sliding into a one-party state.
