“Democracy weakens when opposition is treated as the enemy” – Bode George 

Nigeria’s democratic foundations are actively weakening under the weight of partisan institutions and the silencing of opposition voices, Olabode George, elder statesman and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy national chairman  has warned.

 

Speaking in Lagos during a memorial lecture marking the posthumous birthday of nationalist Herbert Macaulay, George expressed deep concern over a growing trend where political rivals are treated as enemies rather than vital participants in the democratic process. He cautioned that Nigeria is facing a dangerous crisis of public confidence, noting that nations rarely lose their way suddenly, but rather through the gradual erosion of values and the normalization of injustice.

 

According to George, the true strength of a democracy lies not in the authority of its rulers, but in the impartiality and resilience of the independent bodies designed to restrain that power. He emphasised that once citizens lose faith in the rule of law and constitutional limits, the survival of democratic governance is placed in severe jeopardy.

 

“The strength of a democracy is not measured by the power of those who govern. It is measured by the strength of the institutions that restrain power,” George stated, adding that democratic survival depends entirely on public trust.

 

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The PDP chieftain listed several critical warning signs that signal a failing democracy, including weakened political competition, institutions viewed through partisan lenses, and a growing public belief that political outcomes are predetermined. He stressed that while governments, political parties, and individual presidents inevitably come and go, national institutions must remain durable and unyielding to protect the populace.

Reflecting on the deeper systemic issues facing the country, the elder statesman argued that the ultimate peril to Nigeria is not just isolated wrongdoing, but the societal acceptance of it. He concluded that a nation faces its greatest danger when corruption becomes normal, injustice becomes acceptable, and good citizens choose to remain silent in the face of the abuse of power.