In Nigeria, jumping from one political party to another in pursuit of personal political ambition is a celebrated norm. The concept of ideological bent or political leaning is now an aberration.
In Nigeria, we don't even know who is a Liberal, Progressive, Conservative, or Socialist anymore. When the outcome of the Primaries conflicts with their ambitions, they go about fishing for alternative platforms to perpetuate themselves in power.
Reading from my history book, in the First Republic, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of Action Group (AG) couldn't structure a workable alliance with Sir Ahmadu Bello of the Northern People Congress (NPC), because they couldn't agree on Free Education at all levels program and Free Healthcare for those who cannot afford that Papa Awo brought to the table. And Awo worked away.
Ahmadu Bello and Balewa wouldn't take any of Awo's populist appeals, and they went to Dr. Namdi Azikiwe of NCNC, who willingly agreed to align and to be compensated with the post of a ceremonial President, while Balewa took charge as the Premier of the new nation.
In a similar vein, the same scenario played out between Papa Awo of the UPN and Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the NPN in the Second Republic. Papa Awo brought Free Education at all levels and Free Healthcare to the negotiation table, but NPN wouldn't oblige to his demands.
Consequently, the two camps walked away. And as expected, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe of NPP went into alliance with NPN, a negotiation that culminated in the infamous "Accord Concordia," wherein a few Ministerial posts were ceded to the NPP.
About a week before his death, Mr. Dan Agbese of the Newswatch magazine wrote, When (Papa Awo) is gone, he would be remembered as the best President Nigeria ever had. And when death eventually came, the Ikemba of Nnewi, Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared, he (Papa Awo) was the best President Nigeria ever had. Indeed, he was. Many years after his death, we are yet to see another Nigeria so eloquently eulogised or revered in life and death.
That's what being a conscientious and principled leader is about. It is believing in something and standing for something. Papa Awo refused to go into coalition without carrying along his cardinal blueprint for seeking political office. It wasn't about him or his lieutenants, but the people he wanted to serve. That love for the people is missing in the power struggle of the moment in Nigeria. Yes, let them dance naked. It will serve as a deterrent to other opportunists.
