As a public affairs analyst and a concerned citizen who deeply loves this country, I find the recent footage of the President’s Chief of Staff advising an opposition figure to “scatter” his own party to be deeply troubling. In a democracy that is still finding its feet, the Office of the Chief of Staff should be the engine room of national policy and stability. It is unstatesmanlike and frankly beneath the dignity of such a high office to see it used as a space for planning the destruction of opposition structures. When those at the highest level of power encourage internal sabotage within another party, it represents a reckless disregard for the political stability our nation desperately needs.
There is a painful irony in this situation that cannot be ignored. Those who today claim to be the heroes and architects of our democracy should not be the ones leading the charge to destroy it. We must remember that the current APC administration began its journey in the trenches of the opposition. If the past administration had employed these same “scatter them” tactics to dismantle the merger that formed the APC, the present government would never have come to power. It is intellectually dishonest to climb to the top using the ladder of a vibrant opposition, only to try and pull that ladder up so others cannot follow.
This is not just about the ADC or Hon. Leke Abejide. It is about the soul of our democratic process. As a commentator, I see this as a move toward predatory politics, where the goal is no longer to win an argument but to dismantle the opponent entirely. For any patriotic Nigerian, this should be a red flag. It turns our political arena into a battlefield where the only objective is to make sure no alternative voice can survive. This does not help the people; it only narrows our choices.
A genuine democracy needs a strong opposition to keep the government in check. When the state itself is seen to be fueling the “scattering” of these parties, it chokes the life out of our multi-party system. We must be honest with ourselves: a democracy without a viable opposition is just a shadow of what it should be. It leaves the common man with no real options at the ballot box, and that is a path I believe no true lover of Nigeria wants us to take.
These political games might offer a quick win for those in power, but they do lasting damage to our institutions. As an analyst, I believe it is my duty to warn that such actions make the rule of law look like the rule of convenience. This destroys the trust that citizens have in the neutrality of our government. For our young democracy to grow and thrive, the internal affairs of every political party must be respected and left to their members, not manipulated from the corridors of power.
I write this not as a partisan player, but as a concerned citizen who wants to see the President’s administration leave a legacy of strength and integrity. True leadership means rising above the small wins of party politics to protect the democratic process for everyone. We cannot afford to sacrifice our national standards on the altar of political survival. The governance of the people must remain our highest priority.
Finally, we must remember that leadership is a sacred trust. When the influence of the state is used to break the opposition, it betrays the silent agreement between the leaders and the led. For Nigeria to truly flourish, our leaders must have the courage to be challenged and the integrity to protect a playing field where everyone can compete fairly. The strength of our democracy should never be traded for the convenience of a few.
Abubakar M. Kareto is a Public Affairs Analyst, Commentator, and a Concerned Patriotic Citizen.
Email: amkareto@gmail.co
