A big question on coalition

Nigerian politics is never short on drama. Barely months after the 2023 general election, we are already being treated to an out-of-the-ordinary convergence of odd bedfellows former political foes, disillusioned former office occupants, retired military officers, regional kingmakers, and erstwhile warring governors suddenly coming together to “rescue Nigeria.” But from what, precisely? At the root […]

Nigerian politics is never short on drama. Barely months after the 2023 general election, we are already being treated to an out-of-the-ordinary convergence of odd bedfellows former political foes, disillusioned former office occupants, retired military officers, regional kingmakers, and erstwhile warring governors suddenly coming together to “rescue Nigeria.” But from what, precisely?

At the root of their strategy is a single mission: to remove President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. A cursory glance at this makes it appear to be a healthy indication of political rivalry. But beneath the façade, Nigerians must question: is this about creating a New Nigeria or merely opening new pockets for individual profit?

Let’s be honest, the majority of so-called coalition leaders are not exactly new entrants. In fact, they are the ones who are themselves responsible for creating the old order that they are now vociferously opposing. While some of them simply resigned from power with stained reputations, others were Tinubu’s strongest supporters until very recently. Some were even part of the clique that formed APC before they defected when the cake was no longer being sliced their way.

And now, in political irony, the same people are staging photo-ops, issuing joint statements, and experimenting with new coalitions under the aegis of “saving democracy” or “providing alternative leadership.” It is all so altruistic-sounding, but Nigerians heard this tune before. The coalition of 2013–2014 that formed APC included similar selling as a movement of change only to remake the very same elite who had ruled under the PDP mantle.

It raises the question: what fundamentally unites them?

Obviously not ideology because the Nigerian political parties are not deep in ideological differences. The one thing common appears to be a ravenous desire to take the reins from Tinubu, who is also a master strategist and coalition-builder. But even that is not the issue at hand. The real issue is that this new coalition, as its antecedents, is ambitious but visionless.

Where then is the reform master plan for the power sector, educational reform, employment creation, or constitutional rearrangement? Which of theirs has ever owned failure before or issued a public declaration of new values? Without them, any coalition whatsoever noisy or massive is only a collection of political job seekers in new clothes.

For the record, democracy thrives on lively opposition. Tinubu and the APC must be held to account. But opposition without purpose is noise. It must not be another platform for failed policymakers and failed godfathers to transform themselves into messiahs. Nigerians have evolved politically. The days of sweet words without substance are numbered. We are no longer impressed by alliances of personalities, we are looking for alliances of ideas.

If this new alliance is serious about being credible, it has to go beyond tweet-sessions and press conferences. It has to provide an evident agenda with measurable policies. It has to hire professionals, young technocrats, and moral leaders, not chronic jumpers. And most importantly, it has to tell Nigerians: what’s different this time?

Otherwise, the alliance runs the risk of being no more than another elite club belligerent not on behalf of Nigeria, but for new right to gain entry to contracts, appointments, and power perks. We’ve been there before. The devastation is still fresh.

With 2027 approaching, Nigerians must sharpen their questions:

Who are these coalition leaders fighting for us or themselves? Is it about rebuilding the nation or saving personal fiefdoms? And if they do win, what next? Do they have the guts to do things differently?

The coalition must answer these questions straight and straightforward. Not with slogans. Not with rewritten manifestos. But with passion and consistency.

Until then, Nigerians are justified to be skeptical. We have seen this movie a few times already. The actors might change, but the script remains the same unless we demand a different script.

 

Habeeb Daranijo can be reached via [email protected]