Nigerian Politics: No Be So Single-Party Go Rule

For Naija politics, e get one fear wey dey always dey linger: single-party system wey fit come control everything. But make I yarn you, no be today we don dey see dis kain fear. Since way back, dem don dey talk am, but e never happen. And as party guys dey defect left and right, some go even think say ruling party don become invincible. But as we sabi Naija, e no dey ever finish like dat.

Omo, if you look back, you go see say Naija politics get plenty sharp turns and unexpected wahala. Na so e dey. E plenty times when people go dey think say one party don kukuma take over, then just like magic, dem go see surprise wey go scatter the whole plan. E no get better example pass three big men – Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, and Sani Abacha. These men na the ones wey the guber elections no fit predict dem swings.

After 1979 elections when Shehu Shagari dey celebrate im victory, the Senate full with all these big guys wey form NPN and UPN. Dem dey think say dem go just rule forever, but before you know, Abacha come do im coup. That one alone show say even if everything dey look stable, something fit happen wey go turn everything upside down.

Fast-forward to late 80s, Abacha try push im agenda for one-party rule but see ehn, before we know, people no gree. The way Nigeria dey, we no fit accept one party dey rule us like say we be chickens. This country dey full with diverse people, and dem too sabi say all those political arrangements no fit satisfy everybody. Even the constitution sabi sey we must dey multi-party so that everybody fit have voice.

Now, let’s talk wetin dey happen now. As some party members dey jump from one party to another, some dey shout say, “E be like say ruling party go dominate.” But Naija na for unexpected things, and we go still see wetin go happen. E fit be say by 2027, all these current moves go just be like ‘naso we go dey manage’ and different parties go still dey contest for power. No come dey mistake say this political shake-up go bring one-party system comot for our case.

The way we dey see our politics na as our food wey everybody go chop together, no be one person go come control the cook pot forever. We dey enjoy the diversity wey our country bring, whether na from Adamawa with all their many tribes, or the pretty small towns in Ekiti. Na the blend of we people wey make our democracy strong. So, make we forget the fear of single-party and just dey enjoy the ride.