By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
Former Ekiti State Governor, Segun Oni, has raised concerns over what he described as a gradual decline in Nigeria’s democratic system, warning that the country risks sliding into “organised opportunism” under the guise of multi-party democracy.
Oni made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State, where he offered a broad assessment of the nation’s economy, governance, and political structure.
While acknowledging signs of improved macroeconomic stability, the former governor noted that such gains have yet to translate into meaningful relief for ordinary Nigerians. He linked renewed investor interest to perceived stability, particularly in exchange rate management, but stressed that stability alone does not equate to prosperity.
“I’m not surprised that foreign investors are showing interest because stability attracts investment,” Oni said. “But while we should commend that stability, we are not yet where we should be. The value of the naira remains weak, and that continues to affect inflation and purchasing power.”
He explained that inflation remains closely tied to exchange rate dynamics and domestic production, particularly in agriculture, which he described as Nigeria’s economic backbone. However, he noted that insecurity has significantly undermined productivity in the sector.
According to him, farmers across the country are unable to operate at full capacity due to safety concerns, a situation that continues to drive up food prices and worsen inflation.
Oni commended the efforts of security agencies, especially the military, but urged citizens to support them with credible intelligence to enhance effectiveness.
“We must encourage our security agencies,” he said. “They are doing a commendable job, but citizens must also support them with useful information to improve their operations.”
On the economic reforms introduced by the current administration, including subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification, Oni acknowledged their structural importance but described their immediate impact as harsh on citizens.
“The hardship will not disappear overnight,” he said. “Government must intensify efforts to ease the burden, even though the reforms themselves may be necessary.”
He also weighed in on the issue of palliatives, expressing reservations about direct cash interventions while advocating for structured and institution-based distribution systems through schools, religious organisations, and community networks.
On governance at the state level, Oni declined to make definitive judgments about governors’ performance, citing limited access to internal financial data, but maintained that all tiers of government must do more to address citizens’ needs.
A significant part of his intervention focused on Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He warned that the country may be drifting toward a one-party dominant system, while also criticising the proliferation of weak political parties.
“To be honest, we are regressing,” he said. “Having too many political parties encourages opportunism rather than strengthening democracy.”
Oni argued that many registered parties lack structure and electoral relevance, calling for a review of the system to reduce their number and enforce stricter performance criteria.
He proposed a framework where political parties would be evaluated regularly based on electoral performance, with underperforming parties deregistered to strengthen accountability and efficiency.
“Some of these parties barely campaign,” he noted. “We need a system that sets minimum performance thresholds for parties to remain active.”
Responding to concerns that such measures could limit democratic freedom, Oni insisted that democracy must be guided by structure and measurable participation, not unchecked proliferation.
On emerging opposition coalitions, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he said political realignments are often driven more by leadership failures than ideology.
“Political parties are about people,” he said. “If leadership fails, people move. But creating new parties is not the solution—it’s better management of existing structures.”
Oni reaffirmed his membership of the APC, stating that he remains committed to the party despite ongoing political shifts.
He concluded by calling for comprehensive reforms to Nigeria’s political party system, warning that without structural changes, the country risks recycling the same governance challenges under different platforms.
“We must not be distracted by the noise of new parties,” he said. “If we fail to fix the system, we will continue to repeat the same problems under different names.”
