Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has dismissed concerns that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party state, insisting that history shows such attempts are neither sustainable nor successful.
Gambari expressed this view during a media interaction in Abuja, where he reflected on the country’s political evolution and the recurring fears surrounding the dominance of ruling parties.
He said he was not alarmed by current debates, stressing that Nigeria’s political history offers clear lessons.
“I am not at all worried about Nigeria becoming a one-party state. You can quote me on that. If history is any guide, it will not happen,” he said.
According to him, the current ruling party is not the first to enjoy overwhelming political influence, noting that similar dominance existed in previous republics.
He recalled that during the First Republic, the Northern Peoples Congress, NPC, held significant power but failed to foster national stability.
“The NPC was the dominant party at the time. They were not directly responsible for the crisis within the opposition, but they did not discourage it and, in some cases, took sides. Where did that lead us? Not to peace or development, but to chaos,” Gambari stated.
He also referenced the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, in the Second Republic, saying its confidence in perpetual rule ultimately proved misplaced.
He also said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which once boasted of ruling Nigeria for decades, eventually lost its grip on power.
“They felt they would be in government forever, but that didn’t happen. The PDP also claimed it would rule for 60 years. Where are they today?” he asked.
Gambari added that any attempt to impose or drift into a one-party system in Nigeria is bound to fail, arguing that the country’s political diversity and historical experience make such an outcome unrealistic.