By Abdulrauf Aliyu
In Nigeria, politics is many things, but boring is not one of them. We have a political culture where the pot never stops calling the kettle black, where defectors become prophets, and where yesterday’s villains are today’s moral referees. Enter the latest act in our never-ending democratic drama: a new coalition, now aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has declared its intention to challenge the status quo.
Cue the outrage
Almost immediately, spokespersons for the ruling party, unofficial megaphones, and some of their media surrogates began firing off rehearsed talking points. The coalition, they said, is made up of “spent forces,” “recycled politicians,” and most colourfully, “hungry men/women.” According to them, these are the same individuals who brought Nigeria to its knees in the first place, men and women who looted, failed, and now want back in.
Let’s hold that thought for a moment. Because, while that sentiment may generate social media applause, it deserves closer scrutiny, especially coming from the very architects of today’s Nigerian condition.
The Hypocrisy Is Almost Artistic
To accuse others of hunger for power while sitting squarely at the banquet table is rich – pun intended. Nigerian politicians are not monks. None of them are renouncing worldly ambition. Every man and woman who has contested for office in this country has done so with the clear-eyed pursuit of power.
The hunger is not new. It is bipartisan. It is pandemic.
The only difference between those currently holding power and those now trying to reclaim it is that the former succeeded at their last attempt. That’s all. Let’s not dress victory up in moral superiority.
This is why the attacks on the coalition, especially the jabs about “hunger” is not only intellectually lazy, but deeply dishonest. They presume that those currently holding office are there for altruistic reasons, while everyone else is a rogue trying to hijack the system. It’s the political equivalent of a thief accusing another thief of being too greedy.
The Coalition May Be Flawed, But So Is the Status Quo
Let’s be clear: no one is suggesting that the coalition is a messianic force. Many of its members have been around the corridors of power for decades. David Mark was a military governor in the ‘80s, a minister in the ‘90s, and Senate President until 2015. Amaechi has been in politics longer than some voters have been alive. Aregbesola? From commissioner to governor to minister. Peter Obi? A well-known figure who served as governor for eight years. The list goes on.
But if longevity in public life is a disqualifier, then why are we not applying the same standard to those currently at the helm?
This is the elephant in the room: the people shouting “recycled politicians” the loudest are themselves veterans of Nigeria’s political recycling plant. Many in the ruling party today were members of the PDP at some point. Some served under the Military. Others defected and re-defected so often, one wonders if their loyalty lies with the party or simply proximity to power.
So let’s stop pretending. Nigeria is not governed by a new political generation. We are governed by political survivors. And if we’re being brutally honest, survival, not performance, has been the main currency of our politics.
A Nation of Coalitions and Compromises
Let’s not act like coalitions are new, either. The very party that rules Nigeria today was formed in 2013 as a coalition of strange bedfellows: a patchwork of the ACN, CPC, ANPP, and a faction of the PDP. It was hailed then as a genius move – strategic, patriotic, revolutionary. So why is it that when another group of political actors comes together to challenge the incumbents, it suddenly becomes treasonous?
The answer is simple: it’s not about principle. It’s about possession. Once in power, every political class in Nigeria seeks to delegitimize opposition – not by out-performing them, but by out-shouting them.
Yet coalition-building, in and of itself, is not the problem. As Mancur Olson outlines in The Logic of Collective Action, political actors, even in “functioning democracies”, organize based on incentives. Coalitions form because individuals recognize that together they have a better chance at achieving their goals. In a pluralistic democracy, this is not sabotage, it’s strategy.
The real question is not whether coalitions are good or bad. It’s whether they are principled, purposeful, and people-centered.
The Real Hunger Nigeria Should Worry About
Now, let’s talk about the real hunger. Not the hunger for power in abstract terms, but the hunger on the streets. The kind where a litre of petrol now costs more than a gallon of milk in some countries. Where rice is a luxury and stable electricity remains a rumour. Where the naira is doing backflips, while inflation turns every salary into play money. Where businesses are closing and young people are either unemployed, underpaid, or trying to “japa.”
This is the hunger Nigerians feel, not the theatrical power struggles of old men in agbadas.
And this is why the dismissive tone of those attacking the coalition feels both tone-deaf and arrogant. Because while they gloat about holding power, millions are holding empty wallets and hollow dreams. If anything, these economic realities have made the public far more skeptical of those in power than those seeking it.
A Crisis of Performance, Not Personnel
It is tempting to blame Nigeria’s woes on personalities. But our problem runs deeper. We have built a political system where institutions are weak, and loyalty to party is stronger than loyalty to country. A system where elections are won with stomach infrastructure, not structural reform. Where manifestos are afterthoughts and campaign promise evaporate faster than rainfall on Lagos asphalt.
We don’t just need fresh faces. We need fresh thinking.
So, whether it’s the ADC coalition or the ruling party or whatever Frankenstein alliance emerges in 2026, the question must shift from who is in the race to what they represent. What are their plans? What is their track record on transparency, governance, and reform? Have they demonstrated the resilience and discipline necessary for leadership, or are they simply back for another round at the table?
Last Word: Let the People Judge
Thus, let’s not insult the intelligence of Nigerians. The average voter today is far more politically literate than a decade ago. Social media, civic movements, economic hardship, and a more conscious youth demographic have all contributed to a more engaged public. They can tell the difference between noise and substance. Between propaganda and principle.
So instead of mocking opposition groups with playground insults, the ruling party should focus on delivering results. The same energy used in attacking the coalition could be better spent fixing electricity, reducing inflation, securing lives, and ensuring policy coherence.
In the end, Nigerians are not loyal to any coalition or party, they are loyal to survival. If you deliver, they will reward you. If you fail, they will remind you that political power is a loan, not a birthright.
And if both the ruling party and the coalition fail to rise above their usual theatrics?
Well, then they could both find themselves on the wrong side of history, labelled not as leaders or saviours, but as footnotes in Nigeria’s long, painful search for real governance.
Quotes
“So let’s stop pretending. Nigeria is not governed by a new political generation. We are governed by political survivors… survival, not performance, has been the main currency of our politics.”
“We don’t just need fresh faces. We need fresh thinking… the question must shift from who is in the race to what they represent.”
“The real question is not whether coalitions are good or bad. It’s whether they are principled, purposeful, and people-centered.”
