A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has described the emergence of a new political coalition as a positive step for Nigeria’s democracy, urging citizens to support it as a necessary safeguard against authoritarianism.
Speaking when he appeared on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Friday, Galadima argued that the formation of such coalitions aligns with democratic norms and the constitutional right of citizens to freely assemble and pursue collective political goals.
He stressed that in a democratic setting, individuals and political groups must be free to express differing views and associate with others to promote their ideals.
According to him, decisions about political relevance or effectiveness ultimately lie with voters.
He said, “In politics, people say, I mean, in a democracy, people are allowed to add their views on any issue, whether positive or negative. For me, personally, I think the coalition is a welcome development.
“It’s one more dissenting voice or one more iron gate against dictatorship. And as a democracy, people are allowed to not only add their views but also associate with whosoever they want. The truth of the matter is that only Nigerians can decide whether somebody is expired, extinguished, refurbished, or rejuvenated.
“Only Nigerians have got that right. And under our constitution, it is the right of people to congregate, assemble, and chart a course, not only for themselves, for the country. I wish members of this coalition good.”
He expressed support for members of the emerging coalition and urged other Nigerians to respect their decision to form a political bloc.
Citing developments in other democracies, such as the United States, Galadima emphasised the importance of dissent and robust public debate.
“I believe all well-meaning Nigerians will support them, and will support their right to congregate, and assemble, and form a political bloc. Because what is happening in this country, if it is not checked? I’ve just heard you talking about America, where we had a robust democracy, despite the fact that Trump had his way on the tax reform in America. The minority had their voice. You spoke of the hours where Hakeem Jeffrey had spoken yesterday. That is democracy. Is it very robust in our country? We need people to be bold enough.”
He criticised what he described as the absence of trust and confidence among Nigeria’s three arms of government and called for greater independence and accountability within democratic institutions.
“Even if you are in government, you must welcome this. People should be bold enough to set their minds. The three arms of government must be able to work independently under an atmosphere of trust and confidence, which we don’t have,” he added. “So if we have any group of people coming up to say they disagree with this, and this is what they believe in, I think we would welcome them and wish them well.”
