By Olabode Lucas
In recent days, the buzzword in the political space in Nigeria is the word ‘coalition’. This is as a result of the coming together of some prominent politicians who claim that they are disillusioned with the present political situation in the country and are bent on taking political power from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the coming elections in 2027. They vow to send back President Tinubu from Aso Rock to his base in Lagos. These politicians in order to achieve their political aims are operating in a coalition, first under the unregistered African Democratic Alliance (ADA), and now under the registered African Democratic Congress (ADC).
These prominent politicians include Atiku Abubakar, David Mark, John Odigie Oyegun, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, Sule Lamido, Aminu Tambuwal and other political heavyweights who are implacably opposed to the APC and the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Looking at the antecedents of the people in this coalition, one cannot but describe the coalition as one made up of men of yesterday, as virtually all of them have occupied one high position or the other in the past. Atiku Abubakar was the vice president of this country for eight years (1999-2007). David Mark was equally the president of the Senate for eight uninterrupted years while others had been governors or top political office holders.
My dictionary describes ‘coalition’ as ‘a temporary group or union of organizations usually formed for a particular advantage’. The present coalition under the aegis of ADC is formed for nothing more than the acquisition of power in 2027. Formation of a coalition of political parties is not unique to Nigeria. For example in the United Kingdom in 2021, the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party formed a coalition government and even in our country, from 1954 to 1966, the NCNC and NPC formed a coalition government to rule Nigeria at the federal level.
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Although the Nigerian Youth Movement, founded in 1934 by Eyo Ita could be regarded as the first multi-ethnic organization in Nigeria, the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons (later Citizens) formed in 1944 was certainly the first political party formed from a broad-based coalition of various interest groups which included cultural associations, nationalist parties, labour unions and religious organisations. At its inception, the NCNC had Herbert Macaulay as the president and leader, Ven (Dr,) J. Olumide Lucas as the vice president and Dr, Nnamdi Azikiwe as the secretary. In the leadership, the labour unions were represented by the fiery Michael Imoudu, popularly known as Labour Leader No. 1. The aim of the newly formed party was to provide a veritable platform to fight for independence of Nigeria from British colonial rule. The party survived from 1944 to 1966 when the military took over political power in Nigeria and dissolved all the political parties. In its 22 years of existence, the party was in the forefront for the agitation of Nigeria’s independence. From 1952 to 1966, it was the government party in the Eastern Region and formidable opposition party in the Western Region from the same 1952 to 1963. From 1954 to 1966, it formed a coalition government with Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) at the federal level.
Another notable coalition of parties that came out in Nigeria was during the political strife that characterized the political scene in the early 60s which eventually led to the coup of January 1966. During the Action Group crisis of 1962, the party was split into two warring factions. One faction was under the leader of the party, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, while the other faction was under the deputy leader, Chief S. L. Akintola. The Awolowo’s faction of the party teamed up with the NCNC after the party had been decimated in the West to form nationally, the United People Grand Alliance (UPGA). The Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP), under Akintola subsequently teamed up with the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) to form Nigeria National Alliance (NNA). The coalition of parties subsequently squared up to contest the 1964 federal election. The election was marred by massive irregularities and the controversies over the election consequently threatened the corporate existence of the country. However, the leaders of the country eventually reached a compromise to form a broad-based government at the federal level. The NCNC joined the NPC and the NNDP in this government and left its coalition partner, the Action Group high and dry in the opposition. The crisis generated by this electoral malfeasance in 1964 hastened the country’s march to inglorious military rule in January 1966.
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The ungodly annulment of June 12 1993 presidential election led to the formation of a pro-democratic group called National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). The coalition was formed for the revalidation of the results of the freest election in the country’s history and won by Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola. The coalition also wanted the military to give up power and restore democratic rule in the country. The group included notable Nigerians such as Wole Soyinka, Bola Tinubu, Dan Suleiman, John Odigie-Oyegun, Abraham Adesanya, Ayo Adebanjo, Ndubuisi Kanu, Kayode Fayemi Alani Akinrinade, Arthur Nwankwo of Eastern Mandate Group and many others who showed courage in the face of tyranny of the military exemplified by the malevolent Sani Abacha. It was a pan Nigeria pressure group which operated within and outside Nigeria. The struggle was grim and bitter, and the fiendish Abacha left no stone unturned to liquidate members of this patriotic group until he himself expired on June 8, 1997. His death consequently led to a series of actions which culminated in 1999 to the democratic dispensation we are having now in the country.
Recently President Tinubu honoured some of the members of NADECO for the roles they played in the enthronement of democracy in our country. The coalition was the finest example on how Nigeria could come together to fight despotism, dictatorship and bad government.
Another landmark coalition that has profound effect on our political trajectory was the one put up by Ahmed Bola Tinubu, our present president in 2013. The coalition involved mainly the opposition parties to the government of the PDP at the federal level. The parties involved in the coalition were, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led by Tinubu with its stronghold in the Southwest, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) led by Muhammadu Buhari with stronghold in the North, a breakaway faction of PDP with sprinkle of followership all over the country and a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Southeast. The coalition of parties named All Progressive Congress, (APC) was put together in February 2013 and it was able to dislodge the ruling PDP from power at the 2015 presidential election. This was unique because this was the first time an opposition party will take over rein of government from an incumbent party in government in our country. This coalition was the platform used in making Buhari president after three failed attempts. The party formed at that time is still in power with the election of President Tinubu in 2023.
The country has also witnessed a coalition of trade unions to press for better wages and improved conditions of service. In 1963, the main trade unions in the country, United Labour Congress (ULC) led by H.P. Adebola, the Nigerian Trade Union Congress (NTUC) led by the Fiery Wahab Goodluck, Labour Unity Front (LUC) led by the veteran trade unionist, Michael Imoudu and Nigeria Workers Council (NWC) came together to form Joint Action Committee (JAC) to successfully press the Tafawa Balewa federal government to grant wage increase to the workers. By coming together the unions were able to thwart the divide and rule policy of the government to get what they wanted from the government of the day. It was a golden and finest hour of trade unionism in Nigeria because unity of purpose was rare among trade unions in Nigeria before this time.
The division among the trade unions in Nigeria persisted until the military administration of Olusegun Obasanjo, when in 1978 all the trade unions came under one umbrella called Nigerian Trade Union Congress with 42 industrial unions.
In view of the ongoing gale of defections of opposition members to the ruling party, the APC, many Nigerians are apprehensive that Nigeria would soon turn to a one-party state. Multiplicity of parties is essential for the growth of democracy anywhere democratic form of government is practiced. We need at least a strong opposition party for democracy to thrive in this country. Time will tell whether the newly refurbished ADC with many heavy weight politicians of yesterday would be able to fulfil this role and also be strong enough to dislodge APC from power in 2027 as APC did to PDP in 2015.