At a national summit of opposition political leaders in Ibadan attended by key figures including Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, and Rauf Aregbesola Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde issued a stern warning against the push for one-party
dominance in Nigeria.

Drawing parallels to the historical “Operation Wetie” violence of the 1960s, Makinde cautioned current political actors, stating: “For those that are carrying on as if there’s no tomorrow, they should remember that ‘operation wetie’ started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West.”

Makinde reflected on Ibadan’s historical role in Nigerian governance, noting, “Back in 1950, this city hosted a conversation that helped shape Nigeria’s constitutional future. Those discussions were not perfect but necessary… In many ways, this gathering carries the same responsibility.”

He expressed deep concern over the current political trajectory, adding, “There are open efforts to consolidate legislative control under one party. At the same time, opposition parties are increasingly entangled in internal crises and legal battles that raise serious questions about their ability to function effectively.”

He warned that democratic decline is often subtle: “Because democracy is not destroyed overnight, it is weakened step by step until people begin to feel it no longer works for them.”

He emphasized the vital role of the opposition, asserting: “When opposition becomes ineffective, democracy itself loses meaning. Democracy is not defined by the success of one party, it is defined by the existence of real alternatives. By the ability of citizens to choose.”

Political economist Pat Utomi also addressed the summit, highlighting the severe economic hardship facing the citizenry. Sharing a personal experience to illustrate the cost-of-living crisis, he said: “Let me begin with a simple experience from yesterday. I set out to buy fuel, and by the time I was done, I had spent nearly 250,000 naira just to fill my tank.”

He contrasted this with the income of the average Nigerian: “At the same time, I came across a report showing that a large percentage of Nigerians live on less than 100,000 naira a month. That contrast is not just troubling, it is absurd. If that doesn’t reveal something fundamentally broken in our system, then nothing will.”

Utomi argued that the current reality of rising food prices and insecurity is becoming unsustainable. He stated: “Food prices are rising, insecurity continues to disrupt agriculture, and ordinary people are struggling to survive. Yet we are often told to ‘be patient,’ that things will improve with time. But patience means very little to those who are hungry today.”

Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, he remarked: “In the years leading up to independence, Nigeria was not industrialised, but there was a clear vision. Within a few years, manufacturing began to grow significantly. There was direction, there was purpose.”

Concluding his remarks, Utomi insisted that the nation’s struggle is rooted in a fundamental leadership deficit. “Leadership without character cannot build a nation,” he declared.

He added: “The crisis we face today is not only economic—it is moral.”