Today, as Nigeria marks another Democracy Day, we find ourselves at a crucial junction, a moment where reflection must lead to resolve.

Over the past few days, I’ve been re-reading How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, a sobering study on how democracies often fail, not through sudden coups, but through the gradual erosion of norms, the abandonment of fair play, and deepening polarisation. The authors argue that when political actors lose sight of democratic values, systems may continue to exist in name, but their soul quietly fades.

This reflection has been underscored by recent events.

In the past week, Oyo State had the honour of hosting the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), His Excellency Wamkele Mene, alongside investor Mr Tahir Gobel from Azerbaijan. It was a proud moment, another step toward making history as the first subnational in Africa to formally present an AfCFTA implementation strategy. Our legacy remains the same: to build institutions that will outlive us and to position Oyo State on a path of inclusive growth.

In contrast to this forward-looking moment, we were also reminded of life’s fragility with the passing of Ambassador Ibironke Adefope, a respected elder stateswoman, mother to a serving executive council member, and a personal friend. Her loss is deeply felt. One of the duties we owe to those who have served with distinction is to preserve the values they stood for – integrity, accountability, and national service.

That brings me back to the book.

Levitsky and Ziblatt warn that democracies begin to unravel when these very values are discarded. And here at home, the signs are worrying.

Take the internal crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leading up to the 2023 general elections. What could have been a unifying moment for the party was lost to internal disaffection and a lack of fairness. Core principles of equity, justice, inclusion were sidelined. As a result, trust broke down, key stakeholders disengaged, and the party faltered. It is a microcosm of the larger national concern: that when democratic norms are ignored, even strong institutions become vulnerable.

With another election less than two years away, reconciliation must move beyond symbolism. We need honest conversations – not just within political parties or among citizens, but also with those entrusted to safeguard our electoral process. What’s the point of citizens making a choice if that choice is undermined by INEC? Trust must be rebuilt, one action at a time. To protect our democracy, all parties must return to first principles: fairness in decision-making, equity in representation, and justice in conduct.

On this Democracy Day, let us remember: democracy doesn’t thrive on elections alone. It thrives on the integrity of those who participate in it. 

If democracy is to live in Nigeria, political actors must stop viewing victory as the end and start seeing unity as the beginning.

Happy Democracy Day!

Talk to you again Soon