Former Minister of Communications and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has expressed concern over what he described as the party’s gradual departure from the progressive ideals upon which it was founded.
Shittu, who spoke during a telephone conversation, lamented that a political party that prides itself as progressive was increasingly behaving like a “reactionary” party, with little evidence of the ideological principles associated with progressive politics in Nigeria.
According to the former minister, the APC cannot convincingly claim the legacy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the progressive political tradition while failing to give sufficient attention to some of the social welfare policies that defined that tradition.
He recalled that Awolowo’s political philosophy, particularly under the old Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), was built around clear commitments to the welfare and development of the people, including free education, accessible healthcare and other social programmes.
Shittu said the present state of the Nigerian education system should worry every political leader, particularly the huge number of children who are currently out of school.
He expressed concern that leaving millions of children without access to education could create serious social and security problems for the country in the future.
He recalled Awolowo’s warning about the consequences of failing to educate young people, stressing that children who are denied education and opportunities could eventually become vulnerable to criminality and violent groups.
The former minister said the situation should therefore be treated not merely as an education problem but as a national security challenge requiring urgent action.
‘APC Has Derailed’
Speaking about the APC itself, Shittu did not mince words in expressing his disappointment with the direction of the party.
He said the party had, in his assessment, “derailed” from the progressive path it was expected to follow.
Shittu, who was also a governorship aspirant of the APC in Oyo State, said one of the clearest indications of the decline of ideology in Nigerian politics was the manner in which politicians now seek elective offices without presenting clear programmes to the people.
He pointed out that among the governorship aspirants at the time, he was the only one who prepared and presented a manifesto outlining what he intended to do for the people if elected governor.
According to him, many politicians simply want to become governor because they desire the position, without first developing a clear policy direction or manifesto that would allow the electorate to assess their competence, vision and suitability for office.
Shittu said a manifesto should not be regarded as a mere campaign document but as a clear statement of what a candidate intends to achieve for the people.
He extended the argument to the national level, observing that many people aspiring to become President of Nigeria also struggle to clearly explain what they intend to do for the country if given the opportunity to lead.
For him, politics should be about ideas, programmes and service to the people rather than merely the pursuit of political positions.
Shittu said his own approach was informed by the progressive philosophy associated with Awolowo. He explained that while Awolowo was known for his four cardinal programmes, he had developed his own political framework by expanding the four cardinal principles to seven, with the intention of providing a broader policy direction for governance.
He said this was the kind of ideological approach that should guide politicians who genuinely seek public office and want to make a difference in the lives of the people.
The former minister said what was particularly disturbing was the difficulty party members and stakeholders now face in reaching the leadership of the party.
Asked whether he could personally engage the party leadership and express his concerns, Shittu said the problem was that the leadership had become difficult to reach.
He noted that despite his years of service to the party and government—including serving as a state commissioner and federal minister—he could not easily get access to those at the top of the party hierarchy.
According to him, if a party stalwart of his standing cannot readily reach the leadership to offer advice or express genuine concerns, it raises questions about the channels of communication within the party.
He expressed worry that access to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may also be limited for some people who ought to be able to speak frankly with him.
In making the point, Shittu referred to a reported complaint by Senator Ali Ndume, who has publicly expressed frustration over difficulties in gaining access to the President despite his status as a ranking senator.
Shittu’s intervention ultimately raises a larger question about the identity and direction of the APC.
The party emerged from a merger of opposition political forces that presented themselves as an alternative to the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party and campaigned on the promise of change, development and good governance.
But years after taking control of the Federal Government, Shittu believes the party must look inward and ask whether it is still living up to the progressive ideals it once projected.
His warning is particularly significant at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity, unemployment, poverty and the challenge of keeping children in school.
The former minister believes that unless political leadership returns to policies that directly improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians, the country risks allowing social problems to grow into much bigger security and political challenges.
