Political economist Pat Utomi has lamented the weakness of Nigeria’s opposition parties, declaring that most have lost their voice and relevance in holding the government accountable.
Speaking at the David Oladipo Leadership Roundtable themed “Nigeria and Opposition Politics” in Lagos, Utomi said fear of persecution and internal crises have silenced the opposition, leaving only a handful of citizens on social media to challenge the government.
“The only strong opposition we have today is a few active citizens on social media. Outside that, no political party is challenging this government,” Utomi stated.
He faulted opposition silence on electoral reforms and constitutional violations, stressing that robust debate and constructive criticism are crucial to democratic progress.
On his part, the convener, Dr. David Oladipo, argued that Nigeria was failing to get value for democracy because opposition parties had become too weak to serve as viable alternatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Opposition is not just about shouting. It requires designing policies, proposing solutions and putting forward ideas that can compel the ruling party to act,” Oladipo said.
