“Alliances and partnerships produce stability when they reflect realities and interests” – Stephen Kinzer
The attractiveness and appeal of a new political alliance in the country cannot be overemphasized. That situates the recent clarion call made last week by the former Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, that the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo must ally to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. According to him, the unity of purpose of these opposition leaders which should also include some ex-Governors Nasir el-Rufai, Kayode Fayemi, and Rotimi Amaechi, may be the only way left to sack Tinubu from office in 2027 and save the country from imminent collapse. This political perspective has been in the mind of not a few Nigerians as wishful thinking, but circumstance appears to be turning it into an inevitable way to move this country away from its present unpalatable location.
Lukman, the former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), said in a statement that the APC promised to tackle corruption but graft has persisted under its administration. He then said that “the requirement for high acceptability from all sections of the country should humble all political leaders in the country especially Alh. Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi not to exploit the need for such a united front by imposing their Presidential ambitions.
“Everyone must bury their ambitions, at least not during the negotiation to form the united political front. We must appeal to all political leaders in Nigeria, across all the political parties in the country to commit themselves to forging a new atmosphere of political unity in the country based on selfless disposition, forgiving the misgivings of the past and national reconciliation.
This restorative thinking forms the premise upon which our conversation this week will rest as it has become obvious that new and pragmatic thinking must apply if this country still hopes to keep existing as a realized dream of the 1914 forefathers. The country at the moment is at a crossroads where only sincere and nonpartisan reasoning can move it away from the cliff face.
The stimulating impact of Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, laid the foundation for fresh thinking for a better Nigeria. The 15-month-old reign of Bola Ahmad Tinubu has further underscored the fact that Nigeria must shift or be shifted. What Lukman did by his call was to act as a stimulant by activating the process and to remind these leaders that the ball is actually in their court, how and in which direction they play it will determine the future of the country.
What Peter Obi brought into our politics vividly and which the status quo expectedly is fighting hard to resist is to set the tone for a thought-provoking and inspiring narrative that hopes to ginger the youths.
What today’s Nigeria needs in its political thinking is a narrative that envisions a fresh and innovative approach to politics. That seeks to transform the country’s political landscape and aims to create a better future for the country. To inch towards this reasoning, Nigerian leaders must bury their ambition at this critical hour in our political trajectory and explore Progressive ideas and policies for a new Nigeria that is possible, shift away from traditional or outdated political mindsets, build a collective effort for a more just, equitable, and prosperous nation. In so doing, these leaders will be conveying a sense of hope, renewal, and possibility. They will be offering a vision for a transformed Nigeria.
This dream is certainly gargantuan and cannot be achieved by mere wishful desire but by a pragmatic approach. Therefore we must not fail to rethink our future, catalyze innovative ideas, unleash some creative solutions that encourage critical thinking, and challenge the status quo. This must be the path if we desire to ignite fresh perspectives in our political lives.
Any formation by these political actors that aims to create a modern nation must be based on justice and performance, meaning that its narrative must focus on a collaborative effort to achieve justice and fairness. And aim to enthrone a partnership that prioritizes results and effectiveness and has a shared commitment to ethical governance and accountability.
This implies that such a political union must interrogate the moral and ethical foundations of such an alliance. And ensure it has joint efforts to address social and political injustices anchored on delivering tangible results and improvements.
Nigerians would want to see in a future political alliance, a body that will convey a sense of purpose and responsibility, suggesting a more positive and uplifting tone. The collaborative approach in such a union must work towards enthroning the type of progressive governance that prioritizes the greater good.
If such new political creation is intended to upstage and terminate the dominance of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), its strategic alliance from inception must be formed to gain an advantage over opponents. Such a body must be ready to confront frontally the manoeuvres and tactics associated with the APC that enabled them to outmanoeuvre and outpace others and engagingly compromise critical stakeholders like the INEC and the security agencies during elections. Any alliance that fails to thoroughly examine these potential risks and consequences of such collaborations will only be inviting malediction to themselves.
The alliance must imply a constructive and collaborative relationship and must highlight the strengths and positives of the partners for better working understanding. And it must be able to establish a sense of optimism that promises a positive outcome, a tactical and strategic approach designed to gain power. This type of strategy and risks can only be likened to getting a banana from a monkey’s clutches or retrieving a bone from the mouth of a French bulldog or a German Shepherd. The trade-offs and compromises during negotiation must be in pursuit of a shared goal and a clear understanding of the potential consequences of their cooperation on the political landscape. Leaders of such alliances must offer a counter-narrative to negative perceptions or criticisms that are bound to come through the expected intrigues of the ruling party. The positive aspect of the relationship must be emphasized for the public to understand and embrace. All public displays of such alliances should try to delve into the pragmatic aspects of political alliances and the pursuit of power for the greater good of the country.
The reason previous political alliances In Nigeria especially the one that produced the ruling APC in 2014 did not meet the aspirations of the populace is copiously captured in the opening quote to this conversation because they did not reflect realities and interests and as further expatiated by the 43rd President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele: “It has always been based on alliances that don’t have the well-being of the people as their priority” The luxuriant message embedded in this statement is that the people more than any other variables should be the influencing factor in any political cooperation.
Even as political alliance is very desirable to reset this country on the path of real democracy anchored on the people, it’s our prayer that it doesn’t end up like APC or become a ‘Dangerous Alliance.’ A Dangerous Alliance is a beguiling historical fiction novel written by Jennieke Cohen in early England. The thrilling story in the book revolves around Lady Victoria Aston, a strong-willed young lady who is determined to refuse societal expectations and find her path in life but is confronted by the danger of gossip and deceit. What has kept APC’s alliance down and lowly rated by the people is similar, deceit, misrepresentation of truth and absence of Justice.
The takeaway quote from this intriguing novel which I want Nigeria’s opposition leaders who are desiring to ally is that ‘it takes a dangerous alliance to defeat a dangerous enemy.’ If Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso and others do not know that Tinubu and APC are formidable dangerous political enemies, they should go on resisting trade-offs in pursuit of their ambition during negotiations and see themselves end up in more political oblivion in 2027.
The best, God forbid, you do to having Tinubu as Nigeria President beyond 2027 is for the opposition leaders to dispose themselves to make the necessary sacrifice for the sake of the country. Aristotle makes us to note that choice, not chance, determines our destiny and JK Rowling says that “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” God help us.