When Power Turns Predator: The urgent duty to defend Nigeria’s democracy, by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE
Power is meant to protect, not prey. But when power turns predator, democracy itself becomes the victim. It has been proven time and again that circumstances shape how people act and react to issues that affect their lives. Throughout history, societies have aligned with certain paradigms depending on social, cultural, religious, economic, and even technological factors.
Yet one thing remains constant: people of conviction and conscience—those who believe deeply in the righteousness of their cause—do not allow themselves to be intimidated by their traducers. They stand firm, guided by principle rather than convenience.
Today, Nigeria faces a worrying descent toward a one-party state — a deliberate and dangerous drift encouraged by the ruling party. This is not merely a political issue; it is a philosophical one, striking at the very foundations of our democratic existence.
Ontologically, democracy represents a way of being — the recognition of plurality, diversity, and the dignity of every citizen’s choice. When a ruling elite seeks to silence dissent or destroy opposition, it attacks the very essence of democratic existence. A one-party state is not democracy; it is domination disguised as governance.
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From an epistemological standpoint, democracy thrives on the contest of ideas — the freedom to question, debate, and refine knowledge through opposing viewpoints. When only one voice is allowed to speak, truth is lost, and ignorance becomes official policy. The deliberate weakening of opposition parties and the persecution of dissenting voices therefore destroy the intellectual foundation upon which any free society rests.
The axiological dimension — the realm of values and ethics — is where the real danger lies. Democracy is not sustained by constitutions alone but by the moral conviction that freedom, justice, and fairness are superior values worth defending. When people abandon their conscience for convenience, or when fear replaces courage, democracy begins to die from within.
This is why the ongoing defections and political manipulations aimed at entrenching one-party dominance must be resisted by all people of goodwill. History has repeatedly shown that tyranny, no matter how powerful, cannot withstand the united will of a determined people.
The defeat of the then-ruling PDP by the APC in the 2015 general elections is a powerful reminder that no power is permanent. When citizens unite with purpose and conviction, they can challenge and overcome even the most entrenched structures of dominance.
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Yes, the conditions and characters today may differ, but the principles remain the same. Just as David defeated Goliath, history teaches us that determination and moral clarity often triumph over sheer might.
If the current political trajectory continues — marked by defections, intimidation, and the deliberate killing of opposition — Nigeria may soon find itself in a situation of the ruling party versus the people. And as the Hausa saying wisely puts it: “Dan da ya hana uwarsa barci, shi ma ba zai yi ba” — he who deprives his mother of sleep will find no rest himself.
People of conscience must therefore organize, not agonize. The task before us is not merely political but moral and intellectual: to defend the being, knowledge, and values of our democracy.
Ontologically, democracy exists through plurality; epistemologically, it lives through debate and learning; and axiologically, it is sustained by justice and ethical conviction. When these are attacked, what remains is tyranny.
The choice before Nigerians is clear — to either stand by as democracy is strangled, or to rise in defense of freedom. History, once again, will vindicate those who choose courage over silence.
For when the people rise — in truth, in knowledge, and in conscience — victory is certain.
bgabdullahi@gmail.com
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