By, Olawale Ogunbusola

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed concern over Nigeria’s drift towards a one-party state, warning that it may pose a threat to democracy.

In his 136th newsletter released on Sunday, Governor Makinde lamented that opposition voices are being fragmented, constrained, or pushed to the margins, and that those who speak up against the trend are beginning to face a public threat.

“When opposition becomes ineffective, accountability weakens, and the everyday challenges we face become harder to resolve,” he said.

The governor stressed that a true democracy must be built on plurality with divergent views and opinion, urging the citizens to remain engaged in protecting the democratic space.

“We are at a point where silence, indifference, or withdrawal could take us in a direction we may later struggle to reverse,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Makinde has announced plans to engage with various sectors to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic space in an inclusive and sustainable way, saying “our democracy will not be protected by silence, it will be protected by those who stay engaged, ask questions, and insist that our institutions work for the people.”