Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has urged Nigerian politicians to embrace a culture of politics without bitterness, warning that the current winner-takes-all mentality threatens democratic stability and good governance.

Speaking at the Faculty of Arts Distinguished Alumni Lecture of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Oyebanji said elections must never be treated as warfare, but as a contest of ideas in which opponents remain partners in the larger project of nation-building.

He explained that his administration in Ekiti State has deliberately adopted an inclusive style of governance, reaching across party lines and internal factions to build consensus and reduce tension.

“Election does not have to be war, and winners do not have to take all. Raw power, politics of exclusion, and political intolerance are a recipe for instability and rancour,” he said, noting that Ekiti, once associated with political crises, has become one of the most politically stable states in the country.

Oyebanji said he made it a priority on assuming office to engage “all differing political tendencies in Ekiti—both intra-party and inter-party—through inclusion, respect, and solidarity.” Though initially met with skepticism, he added, the approach is now widely accepted and has helped to calm the political space.

The governor stressed that consensus-building, conciliatory communication, and respect for opponents are essential tools for defusing tension and preventing violence, especially in a fragile socio-economic environment.

He called for a political culture rooted in the Omoluabi ethos of integrity, respect, and responsibility, arguing that extreme positions and zero-sum politics only deepen fractures and stall development.

The lecture, titled “How to Make a Democrat,” was delivered by Sam Omatseye, Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, who examined the gap between democratic ideals and political realities. Omatseye distinguished between republics and democracies, contending that many countries claim democratic credentials without fully practising its values.

He described the democrat as “always half-born,” insisting that time, tolerance, and space for growth are crucial in nurturing genuine democrats capable of sustaining institutions.

The event, chaired by Oyebanji, drew a cross-section of political leaders, academics, and youth representatives. Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, represented by Commissioner for Education Dipo Eluwole, praised the university for providing a platform for robust civic and intellectual engagement.

Oyebanji concluded by urging both leaders and citizens to prioritise stability, cooperation, and magnanimity, insisting that only politics without bitterness can secure Nigeria’s democratic future.