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By Lawrence Agbo
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has clarified that the recent gathering of opposition leaders in Ibadan was not targeted at any individual, but aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the National Summit of Opposition Political Party Leaders held at the Government House in Ibadan, Makinde stressed that the meeting was focused on preserving democratic values and ensuring a competitive political environment.
He dismissed suggestions that the Ibadan summit was a coordinated move against President Bola Tinubu or driven by personal presidential ambitions, insisting that the objective was broader and centred on national interest.
“Let me also be clear about what this meeting is not. It is not a gang-up against one man, and it is not about individual ambitions to be president.
“It is about the collective ambition of the Nigerian people to have a democracy properly defined,” Makinde said.
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According to him, the discussions were anchored on safeguarding Nigeria’s multi-party structure and preventing any drift toward a one-party system, which he warned could undermine accountability and openness in governance.
“This is a gathering about something more fundamental, the survival of a system that allows Nigeria to remain open, competitive, and accountable, because democracy without opposition is not democracy, it is a slow drift toward a one -party State and Nigeria must not make that drift,” he added.
Makinde emphasised that a strong and credible opposition remains essential to sustaining democracy, noting that weakening opposition voices—whether deliberate or otherwise—could have serious consequences for the country’s future.
“The truth is simple. No matter how strong any party becomes, no matter how popular any government may appear, the presence of credible opposition is not a threat to democracy; it is what sustains democracy,” he stated.
“If we allow opposition to weaken, whether by design or by neglect, then we all bear the consequences,” he said.
The summit, attended by key political figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, is seen as part of wider consultations ahead of the 2027 elections.
