As the 2019 Election draws near, there has been an emergence of a Third Force which threatens to break the domineering nature and two-party system in Nigeria’s Democracy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Nigerian political sphere.
The conception of a Third Force was brought about by the open letter sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in which he asked Buhari to forsake his bid for re-election in 2019.
Obasanjo attributed the need for a new force, to be called ‘Coalition for Nigeria’, to the failure of both APC and PDP.
He opined that this coalition would wrest power from the two main political parties.
Some groups have stepped up to either ensure this is the case or fill that position themselves.
Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), NOT the Third Force
Contrary to popular believe that the CNM is the Third Force the former President referred to, its Founders says it is not.
This coalition said its membership is open to “all Nigerians of 18 years old and above.”
While Obasanjo iterated that the movement would be for youths who are supposed to handle the mantle of leadership in the Country, recent membership have been in contrast.
At the inauguration, several personalities who had held positions of authority in Nigeria were present.
Former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; and a former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmadu Ali, among others, attended the event in Abuja.
Oyinlola, said it was unfortunate that despite the myriads of challenges being faced by Nigerians, the Federal Government did not have a well thought-out plan of action.
On how it would be funded, he said the money to run its affairs will come from the contributions of members at each level.
While registering as a member, the Convener, Obasanjo, said it was imperative to try new ways, since the ones adopted following the Country’s independence had failed.
“If what we have tried in the past has not taken us to the promised Land, we have to try something else and something else is this grass-roots popular movement built from the bottom-up to lead us, I hope and pray, to the Promised Land.”
He however vowed to quit, should the movement change its course to political.
Obasanjo clarified that the CNM is not a third force but a popular socio-economic movement working towards replacing the present leadership in the Country with competent Government.
“Our system so far has not given us what we must have. For the first time, we are building a platform from bottom-up. The movement’s base is the grassroots and the people – all the people.
“It is necessary to make it clear that this movement does not regard itself as a third force. It sees itself as a popular movement that can accommodate all Nigerians irrespective of their political interest or affiliations and will propel Nigeria forward.”
However, a group, Coalition for Nigeria (CN) accused Obasanjo of using the CNM to achieve his third term ambition, while also claiming that the former President stole its idea and name by ‘criminally’ launching the CNM.
Nigerian Intervention Movement, (NIM)
Another group attempting to play this role is the Nigerian Intervention Movement (NIM), which has stated that its priority is the 2019 General Elections.
The co-chairperson of the group and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, while speaking at the launching, said members must be united if they are to displace APC and PDP in 2019.
“We cannot do it alone. It reminds me of when we started the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO; we were exactly seven but confronted this huge military apparatus. Eventually, we became the 12th largest human rights organisation in the world.
‘’I can see so many people without PVCs. So, if we are going to make a difference, the first thing is to get your PVCs. It is of no use going to the mosques on Fridays or churches on Sundays to pray.”
He also noted that the movement would focus on the basics, which he claims are the youths, adding that Nigeria has 30 million youths between the ages of 18 to 40, if 10 million of these youth belong to the movement, they would emerge victorious.
The launching also saw personalities like; Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Col Abubarkar Umar Dangiwa and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Prof Pat Utomi,General Alani Akinriade, Mr Donald Duke, Hajia Najatu Mohammed, Barr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Dr Garba Adamu, Barr Femi Falana SAN, Prof Attahiru Jega, Mr Fola Adeola, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Dr Obby Ezekwesili, Dr AbduJalil Tafawa Balewa, Mr Fela Durotoye among others.
Soyinka urged the movement to be vigilant and wary of “experienced spoilers”, who he claims are part and parcel of the predicament the movement plans to eliminate.
“You must, however, exercise unrelenting vigilance. Prowling around, you already know those who are recurrent interlopers, whose sole aim is to hijack your efforts or infiltrate your ranks with their stooges.”
The Social Democratic Party (SDP)
This party, founded in the late 1980s/1990s which was established to encompass the ideals of a centre left political organization.
It was seen as a moderate party with a flavor for young radical intellectuals and socialists.
After the banning of 13 prospective parties by the administration of Ibrahim Babangida in 1989, three of these parties decided to re-align (The People’s Front of Nigeria, People’s Solidarity Party and the Nigerian Labor Party) to form the core constituency of the new SDP.
According to the National Chairman of the party, Chief Olu Falae, the party was set to re-enact a 1992/1993 victory that saw late Moshood Abiola and Babagana Kingibe emerge victorious in the polls.
He added that the series of defection from other parties to SDP, has proven that the party was the much talked about third force that will rescue Nigerians.
“PDP and APC have failed Nigerians. Nigerians are now looking towards us to make the difference.”
While NIM and SDP are obviously getting set for the Nigeria political scene, only CNM has removed itself, as being a pressure group rather than a political group.
Understanding Pressure Groups
Pressure groups are formed from people with common interest or profession who aim at influencing Government policies in a particular direction.
Some of the influential pressure groups in Nigeria are Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), among others. Interestingly they are almost all ethnic and regional.
Other Pressure groups like the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), as well as National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), are in their actual sense, professional associations.
NLC had contributed to the successful negotiation for a new minimum wage since the Shagari administration in 1981 after an effective general strike. Political pressure groups however do not have such tools at their disposal.
Also, the opposition to the implementation of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), spearheaded by NANS in 1989 led to the introduction of SAP relief packages for Nigerians, particularly the working class. Youthful and restive, NANS usually carries its out via public disobedience which usually snowballs into crime which in turn pressures government which takes the criticism.
These puts political pressure groups in a fix as government has come to be known to only respond to violence. Save Nigeria and Occupy Nigeria movements as well as Bring Back Our Girls have, of relatively recent, introduced effective peaceful protests which yielded results. It remains unclear the path Obasanjo’s coalation wishes to take, but influencing voters and pressuring political parties along general criteria, are two areas yet to be explored in Nigeria.
But Pressure groups affiliations with political parties contribute majorly to it weakness.
In 1989, NLC was involved in an affiliation with the Social Democratic Party. This relationship, which probably arose from a desire to realize the selfish ambition of Pascal Bafyau, the one-time President of the NLC and several labour leaders, did not benefit organized labour unions, instead contributed to a reversal of the political gains made by organized labour in the recent past.
