Political scientist Sylvester Akhaine has urged opposition politicians to sacrifice personal ambitions and resolve leadership issues for a strong outing against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Mr Akhaine, of the Department of Political Science at Lagos State University (LASU), said in an interview in Lagos that the opposition needed unity more than an alliance to defeat the APC.
He said unresolved issues of leadership, the presidential ticket, and power-sharing remained major challenges to the opposition coalition’s success.
He said previous attempts by opposition forces to unite failed because politicians did not agree on who would lead or how to work out the alliance details.
According to him, Nigerian politicians, particularly those of the Fourth Republic, are largely driven by the desire to occupy political power rather than by a clear mission to transform society.
“The only mission is to occupy political power without even knowing what to do with the power,” he said.
Mr Akhaine said the situation had led politicians to focus more on personal interests than on building enduring political parties and structures. He said the opposition could not defeat the ruling party unless those who considered themselves capable of leading the country were willing to put aside their ambitions for the greater good.
“Unless the leadership issue is resolved, unless people who think that they are messianic can swallow their own ambition for the greater good of society, the opposition can’t triumph against the ruling party,” he said.
Mr Akhaine, however, said an opposition alliance could still work if the parties were prepared to support one candidate for the presidential election. He cited the 2015 election as an example of how political alliances could change the balance of power in the country.
According to him, opposition parties should also look beyond the presidency and aim to win enough seats to control the National Assembly. Mr Akhaine said a strong opposition presence in the National Assembly could effectively check the executive’s policies.
Mr Akhaine also advised opposition politicians to develop a clear programme that addresses the problems confronting Nigerians, rather than focusing only on winning political offices. He said the major challenge before the opposition was how to move from discussions about unity to a workable arrangement that would produce a credible and acceptable candidate.
Mr Akhaine said Nigerians wanted change, but opposition politicians must first show they can overcome their differences and present a united front. He urged the parties to focus on issues that affect the people and convince voters with clear plans to transform the country.
(NAN)