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...
Senegal Offers Africa a Rare but Powerful Reminder of What Democratic Maturity Looks Like
Abioye Tosin Lawrence, Publisher Oriontimes Online Newspaper
In politics, loyalty is often mistaken for wisdom, and enthusiasm is frequently confused with strategy. As Osun State inches closer to the 2026 governorship election, the political temperature is rising once again. Alignments are shifting, rhetoric is hardening, and young political actors are becoming increasingly vocal.
Yet, amid this energy, there is a troubling pattern: a growing tolerance for politics without principle, and participation without dignity.
There is nothing inherently wrong with defending a political party or supporting a candidate. Democracy thrives on competition.
However, what is at stake is not participation, it is the manner of participation.
Too many young elites in Osun and across Nigeria are slowly normalizing a political culture that reduces elections to warfare rather than civic responsibility.
Elections are not battles to be won at all costs, they are constitutional processes meant to reflect the will of the people in an atmosphere of order, fairness, and restraint.
This is where Osun’s rising political class must pause and reflect.
The Senegal Lesson: When Democracy Chooses Calm Over Chaos
In 2024, Senegal offered Africa a rare but powerful reminder of what democratic maturity looks like. The election that brought Bassirou Diomaye Faye to power, following the dramatic political climate that preceded it, ultimately concluded in a largely peaceful and orderly transition.
Despite tensions, institutional respect and civic discipline prevailed.
That outcome was not accidental. It was the product of a political culture that, however imperfect, still values national stability above personal ambition.
For young political actors in Osun, this contrast is important.
While Senegal demonstrated restraint in a high-stakes transition, Nigerian subnational politics too often drifts toward hostility, misinformation, and the dangerous personalization of electoral contests.
Osun’s Political Reality: Strength Without Discipline Is Instability Waiting to Happen
Osun State remains one of Nigeria’s most politically engaged states. Defections, endorsements, and strategic alignments have become routine features of the political landscape.
Parties are often stronger than the individuals who temporarily occupy them.
However, strength without discipline is not stability, it is volatility in disguise.
When political loyalty overrides principle, democracy begins to lose its moral compass. The danger is not just electoral defeat; it is institutional erosion.
The Role of Osun’s Young Elite: Between Influence and Irresponsibility
The most critical variable in Osun’s 2026 political equation is not the candidates themselves, it is the young elite who amplify narratives, shape public perception, and increasingly influence digital and physical political spaces.
These actors must ask themselves difficult questions:
* Are we building democratic credibility or political tribalism?
* Are we encouraging civic participation or electoral hostility?
* Are we informing the public or inflaming tensions for partisan gain?
Leadership begins long before electoral victory. It begins with conduct, language, and restraint.
A political culture that rewards aggression over ideas will eventually produce leaders who govern with the same aggression.
Conclusion: Osun Must Not Mistake Noise for Strength
As the 2026 governorship election approaches, Osun stands at a familiar crossroads. One path leads to a peaceful, issue-based contest that strengthens democratic institutions.
The other leads to heightened tension, political distrust, and post-election bitterness.
The lesson from across Africa is clear. From Senegal’s relative calm under Bassirou Diomaye Faye to other emerging democracies, political maturity is not defined by the intensity of competition, but by the dignity of participation.
Osun’s future will not be decided only at the ballot box. It will also be shaped in the conversations, commentaries, and choices of its young political actors.
Power will always compete. Loyalty will always shift. But only discipline preserves democracy.
And in 2026, that may be Osun’s most important test yet.
Abioye Tosin Lawrence is Publisher of Oriontimes Online Newspaper and author of Voices from the Fire: My Journey Through a Hollow Empire.
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