One-Party State ‘Impossible’, ‘Unworkable’…NPC, NPN, PDP Tried It But Failed-Gambari

A statesman and international figure, Professor Ibrahim Gambari has allayed public fears about the possibility of having a ‘one-party state’ in the country submitting that it is not only impossible but also impracticable and unworkable.

Professor Ibrahim Gambari, a former United Nations official, who is the Founder of Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, served as Chief of Staff, State House during the second term of late Muhammadu Buhari.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who gave his take on the issue while talking to journalists during the media parley that focused on the activities of the 11-year-old centre, submitted that people still prefer a multi-party system.

‘I’m not at all worried about this country becoming a one-party state. You know what? You can quote me. It will not happen if history is any guide. You know, we don’t even know our own history’ he said.

Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who served as the nation’s Minister of External Affairs between 1984 and 1985, also noted that three dominant political parties had in the past tried to do this but failed because it is impossible.

‘This administration is not the first to try to have a dominant party in Nigeria. Right from the beginning, the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC)  was a dominant party in the First Republic. They were not the ones who caused the crisis in the main opposition, but they didn’t discourage it. In fact, they took sides. Where has that led us? It didn’t lead us to peace or development; it led to chaos.

The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was next. They became so confident they felt that they would be there forever. What happened to that? In the end, it didn’t work. Third one, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not long ago, they were boasting that they would rule for 60 years. Where are they today? So any effort to make this country one- party will not work’ he submitted.

While identifying factors militating against a multi-party system in the country and suggesting what to do to  have a strong multi-party system, the former Chief of Staff also noted that everyone has a role to play 

 ‘History is not on the side of a one-party state in Nigeria or anywhere else. But it will not happen by itself. Multiparty democracy requires commitment and organization, and we all have roles to play’ he said.

Professor Ibrahim Gambari also condemned the idea of getting party nomination and dumping the political party after winning election.

‘We must pay attention to how political parties are organized in this country because if we have strong political parties, nobody will even try to make a one-party state. It will not be possible. But because we have no organized political parties, our political parties have become just vehicles to gain political power. That’s all. Because our constitution does not allow for independent candidates, you have to belong, so it’s a party of convenience.

Political parties are flags of convenience. You know, when you look at ships, you can have an American ship flying a Panama flag. So, political parties are just carrying flags of convenience to gain power, not organized based on ideology or perspectives that make one distinct from the other. 

In the First Republic, if you crossed from NPC to NCNC or Action Group, it was a big deal. There were clear differences. But today, because there is no real distinction, you can move—as I jokingly say—you can be APC in the morning, PDP in the afternoon, and APC again the next day, no questions asked, because there are no consequences.

In some other systems, if you move after being elected under one platform, your seat is declared vacant, and you have to contest again because otherwise you are living under false pretenses. We elected you under one pretense, and now you have decided to dump it’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you