There was a time when Nigerian politics was driven by conviction, ideology, sacrifice, and genuine commitment to national development. The First Republic remains one of the greatest political eras in our history because the leaders of that generation understood the true meaning of service, honour, and responsibility to the people.
In Northern Nigeria, the legendary Sir Ahmadu Bello provided visionary leadership through the late Tafawa Balewa at the centre. In the East, Dr. Michael Okpara transformed the region through aggressive agricultural and industrial development, while Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe inspired national consciousness and intellectual nationalism. In the West, Chief Obafemi Awolowo stood tall as a revolutionary statesman whose uncommon achievements in education, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructural development remain unmatched till today.
Those leaders believed firmly in their political ideologies. Party loyalty was sacred. It was almost an abomination for politicians to jump from one political party to another because politics was not seen as a business venture or a desperate struggle for personal survival. Their principles meant everything to them. Even after electoral defeat, they remained loyal to their beliefs because their pride was rooted in service, integrity, and commitment to humanity.
There was healthy competition among regions, not competition in corruption, betrayal, or selfishness. Every leader wanted to outperform the other in delivering development to his people. Yet, many would agree that Awolowo led exceptionally because of his extraordinary investment in education, agriculture, industrialisation, and human capital development. His governance philosophy was decades ahead of his time.
Sadly, today’s Nigerian political environment presents a completely different picture. Many political actors now derive pride in becoming serial defectors, moving shamelessly from one political party to another without ideology, honour, or consistency. Politics has become a marketplace of ambition where personal greed outweighs national interest.
It is deeply disappointing that some elected officials who won elections under a particular political platform suddenly resign from that party, join another party, yet continue to hold onto the same office and mandate given to them by the people through the party they abandoned. This is not courage; it is the highest form of political betrayal and moral dishonour. There is absolutely no integrity in such conduct.
In societies where political values are respected, such behaviour destroys reputations permanently. For over two decades that I lived in South Africa, political opportunism of this nature was never celebrated. It was condemned because leadership must be built on trust, consistency, and accountability.
Today, Nigerians must ask themselves difficult questions: how can citizens genuinely trust politicians who change parties at will merely to satisfy personal ambition? How can people believe leaders who stand for nothing except self-interest? Political prostitution should never be rewarded in any serious democracy. Such individuals should be rejected and condemned to political oblivion.
When discussing consistency, resilience, and long-term political vision in modern Nigeria, one cannot ignore the remarkable political journey of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Long before becoming President, Asiwaju demonstrated uncommon courage, strategic foresight, and organizational discipline.
After disagreements with leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), particularly following the famous Ijebu-Igbo meeting where he warned about the dangers of political complacency, Tinubu recognized the urgent need for proactive leadership. Unfortunately, the failure of the AD leadership eventually allowed the Obasanjo-led federal political machinery to capture almost all South-West states, leaving only Lagos standing.
Rather than surrender, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu regrouped with like-minded progressives and formed the Action Congress (AC), successfully defending Lagos against overwhelming political pressure from Abuja. Through persistence, discipline, and strategic coalition-building, AC later transformed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which eventually became one of the strongest opposition political movements in modern Nigerian history.
Most importantly, Tinubu was never desperate to impose himself as presidential candidate during those formative years. Instead, he consistently supported capable candidates and focused on strengthening the progressive political structure. His vision extended beyond personal ambition; he understood that nation-building requires patience, institution-building, and strategic alliances.
His greatest political masterstroke came with the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), when he reached across regions and political divides to unite opposition forces into one formidable platform capable of rescuing Nigeria from the disastrous leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The years preceding 2015 witnessed unprecedented corruption, weak governance, and growing national frustration. The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan struggled to control reckless ministers and agencies, while corruption expanded to alarming levels. Sadly, despite his humble personal story, millions of poor Nigerians continued to suffer under worsening economic and security conditions.
Yet Tinubu remained focused. Even under the Buhari administration, where many believed certain power blocs attempted to sideline him politically, he remained loyal to the party he helped build from the ground up. He supported Muhammadu Buhari through two successful presidential victories before eventually pursuing his own presidential ambition.
His emergence as President was not accidental. It was the result of perseverance, political sagacity, strategic consistency, courage under pressure, and divine favour. Unlike many contemporary politicians who merely hijack existing movements for selfish gain, Tinubu built structures, nurtured alliances, developed leaders, and sustained a political ideology over decades.
Today, despite economic difficulties and painful reforms, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to pursue policies aimed at repositioning Nigeria for long-term stability and prosperity. The hardship many Nigerians currently face did not emerge overnight. It is the painful consequence of decades of economic irresponsibility, weak leadership, policy inconsistency, and governance without direction.
Difficult reforms are never easy, but history shows that great nations are built through courageous decisions, not through populist deception. Nigeria was on autopilot for too many years under administrations that lacked bold vision, strategic ambition, and transformational courage.
The task before Nigerians now is not to destroy ongoing reforms out of temporary frustration but to consolidate progress and continue building a stronger nation. The 2027 elections should not be about emotional experimentation or recycling desperate politicians who lack consistency, discipline, and proven capacity. It should be about consolidation, stability, national development, and rewarding Nigerians with better economic opportunities and improved living standards.
The truth remains that many of those currently parading themselves as political messiahs have neither built enduring political institutions nor demonstrated the resilience and strategic depth required to govern a complex nation like Nigeria. Many simply move from one platform to another in pursuit of personal ambition.
Nigeria deserves better.
If we return to the politics of principle, vision, sacrifice, consistency, and developmental competition that defined our finest political generation, Nigeria can become one of the greatest nations on earth. Our country is blessed with extraordinary human and natural resources. What we need is disciplined leadership, patriotic followership, and unwavering commitment to national progress.
May Nigeria succeed.
May Nigeria rise again.
May Nigeria fulfil her destiny among the greatest nations of the world.
— Bola Babarinde
Former Chairman, APC South Africa Chapter
Convener, APC Renewed Hope Africa
