2027: Nigeria Drifting To One Party State – Sara-Igbe

Elder statesman and former national publicity secretary of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe has declared that with recent developments within Nigeria’s political space, the country is drifting into a one-party state.

Sara-Igbe, who made the declaration in a chat with LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt yesterday, stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had succeeded in coercing all the opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Describing the development as alarming, the elder statesman said it was worrisome that Nigerians find it difficult to learn from history.

“Well, the way things are going, it is obvious that APC has coerced all the opposition political parties, including the PDP itself. They have used the likes of ministers to coerce the PDP and most of the governors from PDP are all moving to the APC.

“This is alarming; it calls for caution because Nigerians don’t learn history.

This is not the first time we have experienced things like this. When everybody praise-singed Abacha to be the President.

“At a point, he was the sole presidential candidate; all the political parties endorsed him. That is exactly what they want to do. If we had learnt from Abacha, we will know that our lives is in the hand of God and God is the ultimate,” he said.

Sara-Igbe stated that with one-party state in place, the tendency of even reviewing the Nigerian constitution to create room for third-term President or life President may come.

The former PANDEF spokesman said: “Then, we see other countries where presidents become sit-tight because there is only one party or the opposition is so weak that they cannot protest or mobilise against the sit-tight leadership. I pray that Nigeria doesn’t go to such extent.

“If we become one-party state, the tendency of even reviewing our constitution to make it third-term President or life President may come. That will not be good for our democracy and that affects most African countries.”