The African Renaissance Movement, ARM, has urged the federal government to tread carefully on its current path of monopolising the country’s political order, warning that such a course will only foster monopolistic economic tendencies within the polity.
The group also expressed concern over what it described as ”the dangerous consolidation of power under President Bola Tinubu, as well as his alliance with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, sustained by the alleged complicity of the National Assembly.
A press statement signed and released by the Convener of the African Renaissance Movement, Dr Aliyu Audu, warned that a silenced opposition cripples the moral and spiritual fabric of a nation, noting that the heartbeat of a free country lies in the contestation of ideas, the exchange of diverse ideologies, and the protection of dissenting voices.
The statement called for restraint on the Tinubu-Wike alliance, warning that it could undermine the balance of democracy, open dialogue, internal political competition, and inclusive governance for Nigerians.
The statement read in part, ”We have observed with growing concern the subtle but dangerous consolidation of power currently taking place under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, enabled through his strategic alliance with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and sustained by the deliberate complicity of the National Assembly and segments of the ruling class.
”Liberalization of the economy without political pluralism is an illusion. The heartbeat of a free market lies in the contestation of ideas, the exchange of diverse ideologies, and the protection of dissenting voices.
”When the political space shrinks, the economic space contracts with it. The implication is profound: not only do we lose jobs, but we also lose innovation, morale, and the soul of democratic governance.
”We warn that a monopolized political order breeds monopolistic economic tendencies. And a silenced opposition cripples the moral and spiritual fabric of a nation.
”The democratic framework that supports multi-party elections, open dialogue, and internal political competition is not merely about ballots, it is the engine of wealth redistribution, inclusive governance, and spiritual accountability.”
ARM alleged that the apparent mission of the Tinubu-Wike axis is to ”decimate the opposition and suppress civic dissent,” which would result in regression into authoritarian rule with far-reaching consequences for the nation’s economy, governance, and moral compass.
”We call on civil society, the judiciary, religious and traditional leaders, the media, and all well-meaning Nigerians to rise within the bounds of the law and defend the nation’s democracy from spiritual erosion and constitutional collapse.”
