A former member of the House of Representatives, Shina Peller, has stressed the need for a strong opposition to ensure a balanced and functional democracy in Nigeria.
Peller, who represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in the 9th National Assembly, made the remarks on Sunday during a Ramadan lecture.
His comments were contained in a statement the former lawmaker personally signed and made available to journalists in Abuja.
Speaking on the state of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peller said the issue at stake goes beyond the party’s survival and reflects the broader health of Nigeria’s democracy.
“There must be a voice for the opposition to have a functional and balanced democracy. For me, it’s not what I see about the prospect of PDP; it is what I see about the prospect of democracy. What PDP is after is for there to be a balanced democracy,” he said.
He added that leaders must look beyond personal or immediate political interests and consider the long-term implications of their actions on the country’s democratic system.
According to him, several individuals who have benefited from the PDP in the past are now working against the party’s survival, despite younger generations looking up to them.
“There are many people that are fighting for PDP not to survive. These people became governors, they became ministers, but they have younger ones that are looking up to what they want to do. Everyone is writing their own story,” he said.
Peller also called on members of the judiciary to uphold justice and fairness, describing them as key institutions in sustaining democracy.
“If they call you a judge, you must be just. Even in the Quran, it is stated clearly that if you are a judge, you have to be just. These are important instruments in upholding democracy, and people must know this,” he said.
He urged political leaders and public office holders to reflect on their actions and remember that positions, wealth, and influence are temporary.
“They should know that they came to this life with nothing and will leave with nothing. No matter what position, money, or property you have, everything will come to an end one day. There is a day of judgment. They should reflect on that and build a future that everybody will be proud of,” he added.
The guest lecturer, Sheikh Jamiu Ajadi Sanusi, also known as Ami Olorun, in his remarks, charged Nigerians to invest in humanity, especially the youth, for a better tomorrow.
He said, “When you build community, it means you build the entire world. If you lack in building community, mainly the youth and human resources, then you have not built what will come after you.
“I urge all our politicians, traditional rulers, and wealthy men and women in the community to support, build people, help them fly, support their dreams, and secure their future.”
Infighting has continued to plague several opposition parties in Nigeria, raising concerns about their stability and effectiveness. Internal crises, leadership tussles, and factional alignments have weakened party structures and, in some cases, resulted in parallel executives and prolonged legal battles.
At present, both the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party are grappling with factional divisions. Disputes over leadership positions, party direction, and control of structures at national and state levels have led to the emergence of rival camps within the parties.
