As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections and Ekiti State prepares for its upcoming gubernatorial polls, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has called for an end to the “winner-takes-all” political culture, describing it as a recipe for instability.
Speaking yesterday as the Chairman of the Faculty of Arts Distinguished Alumni Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Oyebanji argued that “politics without bitterness” is the essential ingredient for a virile and lasting democracy in Nigeria.
Reflecting on his three decades in the political arena, Oyebanji shared how he transformed Ekiti from a state once “notorious for political crises” into one of the most stable in the federation.
He attributed this shift to his deliberate policy of reaching out to opposition parties and differing factions.“Raw power, politics of exclusion, and political intolerance are a recipe for instability and rancour,” the governor stated.
“Election does not have to be a war, and winners do not have to take it all.”
READ ALSO
He urged political actors to embrace the Omoluabi ethos—a Yoruba philosophical concept of integrity and character—to build consensus and reduce the inflammatory rhetoric that often leads to electoral violence.
The guest lecturer, Sam Omatseye, Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers and a 1985 OAU History graduate, presented a paper titled “How to Make a Democrat.”
Omatseye offered a provocative critique of global governance, arguing that true democracy is more of an “idealism” than a reality.
He noted that: “Many nations claim the title of democracy without practising its core tenets. Even established democracies, like the United States, often fall short of democratic ideals. The transition from a republic to a true democracy requires the “most important ingredient” often ignored by scholars.”
Omatseye challenged the audience to view democracy as an aspirational journey rather than a finished product, noting that “the democrat has always been half-born” and must be allowed the space to grow.
The event also saw participation from the Osun State Government. Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by Commissioner for Education Dipo Eluwole, commended the faculty for fostering intellectual discourse.
He reaffirmed Osun’s commitment to investing in tertiary education as the bedrock of national manpower development.
The lecture, held at the historic Oduduwa Hall, drew a high-powered audience, including Habibat Adubiaro, Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Bola Oyebamiji, APC Chieftain, Olabimpe Aderiye, Ekiti Commissioner for Education, senior academic staff, youth leaders, and student organisations from across the region.
The consensus from the lecture remained clear: for Nigeria’s democracy to strengthen, the focus must shift from the pursuit of raw power to the art of inclusive governance and respect for the rules of the game.
