Why is a strong opposition a necessary safeguard for democracy?

There are 2 quotes I would like to use to explain myself the first one being. “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” and the second one being “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”.

An effective opposition is necessary to provide check and balances in the government. The founding fathers of the US realized this and created different levels of government. What they did not foresee is other members using legal but non-ethical methods to prevent a law being passed i.e. filibustering a law. “Talking a bill to death” or “out talking a bill”, with unnecessary talking and time wasting as to prevent actual passing a significant bill or law. An opposition can frustrate the government and prevent any law being passed, hence making it ineffective.

Without an effective opposition the government of the day, becomes dictatorial and unaccountable and could pass laws which favor a selected few or a particular tribe or group. As said “Power Corrupts”, unfortunately it does, the so called kings in the past that were said to be “benevolent”, were actually not exposed to real power. In the 1960′s before the first Nigerian military coup, Nigeria had an effective opposition but due to gerrymandering and divide and conquer tactics, imprisonment of the leader on changes of treason, they were able to destroy the effective opposition. This lead to a coup when the people felt that their grievances were not being addressed, the government had become unaccountable and corrupt, they killed all of those which they believed where corrupt. The killings of the politicians which mainly belonged to a particular tribe subsequently lead to civil war. Although the leader may think he is acting in the interest of the people but if they do not have a say in it, they will feel subjugated.

It is great that a pass or siting leader can be called to address the representatives of the people and is held to account for his actions (Chilcot and Tony Blair).

For any sound democracy it is essential that the people believe that they are free to choose their leaders and have the power to remove them if they find it necessary. The absolute monarch of French King Louis XVII could only be removed by violent means, which lead to the French Revolution with widespread death and destruction. So it is essential that there is an effective strong opposition for people to be given an alternative to the government of the day. When majority of the people decided to leave the EU (Brexit) in the UK, it is essential that this is follow through, although the government was against it. A sound democracy with an effective opposition will ensure the desire of the people is follow through.

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