THE COALITION OF PERSONAL INTEREST: WHY NIGERIANS MUST REJECT POLITICAL DECEPTION AND FAILED LEADERS

Season 2,

Nigerians are no longer swayed by fine speeches or political theatrics. What the nation needs today is sincerity, strategy, and selflessness — not another deceptive alliance of political retirees chasing power without a clear national vision. The recent coalition being paraded by Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and their fellow political journeymen is nothing but a congregation of ambition without direction.

The most telling indictment of this coalition, however, comes not from critics, but from within — from Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 running mate of Peter Obi himself. Datti’s candid assessment is a reflection of what many have come to realize: Peter Obi is not a team player, not a game changer, and certainly not a visionary strategist.

In Datti’s words:

“I don’t yet see anyone in this coalition who can scheme and plan over 16 years... Everyone seems only interested in their own candidacy... To defeat this phenomenon called Tinubu, you must do the unthinkable... More action, less talk. Because talk is cheap.”

Datti’s message is clear — this coalition is not about Nigeria; it is about personal ambition. He exposed what Nigerians should have noticed long ago: when Peter Obi ran in 2023, none of his cabinet members from his time as Anambra governor joined his presidential train. Today, even Datti, his closest ally during the campaign, is not with him at the ADC coalition. What does that say about leadership? A leader who cannot build lasting relationships cannot build a nation.

And then there are others: Rotimi Amaechi, David Mark, and the endless list of power junkies who disappear into silence while in office and only find their voice when they are out of relevance. What legacy did David Mark leave after presiding over the Nigerian Senate for over 16 years? What infrastructure, education, or healthcare revolution did he champion in Benue State or Nigeria at large? The answer is resounding — nothing.

These same men now reappear in coalitions, trying to rewrite history and cover their failures with press conferences and political stagecraft. Nigerians are angry, not because of opposition politics, but because of recycled leadership that failed the country repeatedly and now wants another chance to bury the future.

This is why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political journey stands out. Tinubu didn’t jump from party to party with desperation. He invested in people, built alliances, backed others — even when it wasn’t his turn. He played the long game. He displayed sacrifice, patience, and strategy — something glaringly absent in this noisy coalition of contradictions.

To defeat Tinubu or APC, as Datti noted, “you must do the unthinkable.” You must be willing to set aside personal ambition and work genuinely for the collective interest of Nigerians. But instead, what we see are individuals seeking power with no plan, vision, or track record of collective progress.

Nigerians must reject this deceptive coalition. It is not a coalition for progress — it is a gathering of political desperados clinging to past glories and failed dreams. The same people who wrecked the system now want to rebrand as its saviours. The time for recycled failures is over.

Let Nigeria move forward — not in the hands of selfish, loud, and inconsistent leaders — but in the hands of those who understand sacrifice, strategy, and service.

_Comrade  Michael Abu, a social activist, theologian, policy political/political analyst, and blogger writes from Orhionmwon LGA, Edo State_