By Mentoring Cmdt Alistair
The recent article by Chief MWA, “The Yoruba Paradox: Makers of Leaders, Masters of Betrayal,” offers thought-provoking commentary on Yoruba political culture. However, it also necessitates a clearer understanding of what democracy truly entails. Politics, at its core, is not meant to be a harmonious chorus of praise-singers. It is designed to be a contest of ideas, personalities, and visions — a space where citizens can freely choose between alternatives. Without opposition, democracy dies; in its place rises dictatorship or authoritarianism.
To label dissent as betrayal is to misunderstand the very foundation of democratic politics. Take, for instance, Prince Adewole Adebayo — referenced in the said article — who has publicly challenged President Bola Tinubu. This is not an act of treachery or hatred of kin. It is, quite simply, politics in action. If his words are sharp or unsettling, they are nonetheless valid expressions of an alternative vision — one that even the President himself has acknowledged. Multiparty democracy demands this kind of engagement. It is what distinguishes free societies from one-party autocracies.
Across Nigeria, including in ethnically homogeneous states, elections remain fiercely contested. In Oyo, Ogun, Kano, Sokoto, Enugu, and Anambra, candidates from the same ethnic or regional backgrounds regularly challenge one another.
Are such contests acts of betrayal?
Of course not. They are the very lifeblood of democracy.
The Yoruba in the South-West regularly contest against fellow Yoruba. The Hausa-Fulani in the North and the Igbo in the South-East do the same. Political ambition does not — and should not — die simply because of shared ethnicity or language. If it did, there would be no elections in states dominated by one group.
During the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, many Northern leaders openly criticised his policies — some with aspirations to replace him. In the 2023 elections, multiple Northern candidates from different parties, including Buhari’s own APC, contested the presidency. Similarly, Eastern leaders have long voiced differing visions for Nigeria, each pursuing power through the democratic process. This is not division. It is democracy in motion — messy, noisy, at times bruising, but ultimately healthy.
To frame Yoruba political competition as uniquely self-destructive is, therefore, misleading. What we are witnessing is not betrayal — it is democratic vibrancy. In fact, the greater danger lies in silence — a silence born of fear, where citizens and politicians are afraid to critique for fear of being branded traitors. Without dissent, there is no accountability. And without accountability, democracy crumbles.
The lesson for Nigeria — and indeed for all of Africa — is not to suppress opposition, but to elevate it. Let it be principled, let it be constructive, and let it be rooted in the desire to serve the people. Political loyalty must never become blind worship. It must instead defend democratic stability while allowing competing ideas to flourish.
Our leaders — and we, the followers — must remember that politics must be driven by honour, principles, and service, not just personal ambition or opportunism. When this balance is achieved, democracy will not only survive — it will thrive. And Nigeria, alongside the rest of the continent, will move forward.
