Without a doubt, Nigeria’s best days are behind it even with the most positive optimism, the economic future of the most populous black nation on earth has never been bleaker. Post independence politics, despite being fraught with infighting, tribalism, coup d’etat and civil war, still appear to be the greatest political savoury of the country.
Since the history of government, the consent of the governed is repaid with a political vision aimed at improving the livelihood of citizens. Historically, great leaders have been known for their political ideologies. Nigeria’s past leaders especially in the first republic held progressive political philosophies. In the golden era of Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo when each of these political trail blazers identified with a political ideology. Political ideology forms the basis for a country’s social and economic development.
In contrast, the modern day political elites in Nigeria clearly lack the ideological tenacity to lead the governed out of the doldrums. Our nation is depressed, there is a huge level of anxiety throughout the length and breadth of the country, even the country’s motto of Unity, Faith, Peace and Progress has become meaningless, the centre ground of Nigerian politics is in existential crisis, the resultant of a black hole in political ideologies. The state of the country is bedevilled by underdevelopment and corruption, perhaps those are the hallmark of the closest inkling to any political identity the modern political class hold.
Sir Tafawa Balewa was prominent for his political ideology to balance the interest of the three regions that made up Nigeria in the 60s. He hoped to nurture a national identity as well as promote the rights of all citizens. His ideology also included the devolution of power from the center down to the regional government, whether or not you approve of his style, at least he stood for something, he had a vision for his country.
Nnamdi Azikiwe’s political philosophy centred around social regeneration, economic determinism, mental emancipation and national political resurgence. His political thought was so popular not only amongst his Igbo clan but was also celebrated nationally so much so that his ideas was named “Zikism”.
Obafemi Awolowo on the other hand was rich in political thought and ideologies. He stood for educational emancipation and mental resurgence. He promoted limited public ownership and limited central planning in government, he believed the regional government should wield more powers as they are most closer to the people and understands their immediate needs. He wanted the government at the center to channel Nigeria’s resources into education and infrastructural development.
No political leader since this golden era has been identifiable with any meaningful governing ideology, whether at national or state level, and therein lies the bane of underdevelopment in the country. Since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, there has been four leaders in Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yaradua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Mohammad Buhari, none of these leaders have been able to demonstrate the political quake to establish the country as a progressive entity despite its abundant resources and manpower. The likes of George Washington, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Nelson Mandela, just to mention a few, were able to make success out of governance because they had the political philosophy to drive them. Donald Trump as unpopular as he has made himself, even he rides on a political philosophy of “America first”, what we have in this part of the world is a parade of disappointment.
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