On this Democracy Day, I had intended to rest my pen. I wanted to leave the fate written on the walls of history to speak for itself. I thought perhaps the sacrifices of those who fought for democracy were enough testimony. Yet, in the final hour, a thought stirred within me, compelling me to write a message to all of us who have come together to form this sovereign nation called Nigeria. My message is particularly for those who believe that the business of Nigeria lies in the hands of a powerful few. Perhaps they are influenced by what the German sociologist Robert Michels described as the "Iron Law of Oligarchy" ,the tendency for power to concentrate in the hands of a small elite. Looking at our politics, our institutions, and our economy, one may be tempted to believe that the destiny of Nigeria is determined only by those who occupy powerful offices and influential positions. But history tells a different story. Nigeria does not belong to any president, governor, politi...
Amidst ongoing speculation and misleading narratives, it is important to clarify the facts surrounding the departure of Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Contrary to claims being circulated, Hon. Oke was not suspended from the PDP, nor was his decision to exit driven by any dispute over an electoral ticket.
According to a statement from the Public and Media Communication Office of Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Federal House of Representatives, his departure is rooted in deeper issues of principle, governance, and inclusivity. Hon. Oke is still midway through his current four-year mandate and had not entered discussions regarding any new political ticket.
The primary concerns prompting his departure include the lack of infrastructural development in his constituency—Ijesa North—despite years of advocacy, as well as the erosion of democratic values within the party's state structure. A growing sense of exclusion, a concentration of influence within a single political family, and the marginalization of his constituency all contributed to his decision.
Once a platform for progress and broad-based representation, the PDP in Osun has, according to Hon. Oke’s camp, evolved into a closed system where appointments and party decisions no longer reflect the diversity of the electorate. The environment has become increasingly intolerant of dissent, stifling free expression and undermining internal democracy.
Hon. Oke's exit should be seen not as a political maneuver, but as a principled stance. It is a protest against the failure to deliver on core democratic ideals and a refusal to remain complicit in a system that no longer serves the people he represents.
His decision underscores a call for renewed political culture—one that places service above self-interest, equity above favoritism, and transparency above political convenience.
In summary, Hon. Oke was not pushed out—he made a conscious, deliberate choice to step away from a political structure that, in his view, no longer reflects the values of fairness, development, and inclusive governance.
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