EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
By Headlinenews.News Editorial Board
July 2, 2025
A Familiar Circle, A Forgotten Future
In what many political observers have termed a desperate grasp at relevance, a quartet of aging political figures—Tom Ikimi (81), Atiku Abubakar (78), Sule Lamido (76), and David Mark (77)—met in Abuja this week to discuss what they described as “a crucial roadmap to reclaim Nigeria’s future.” But to many Nigerians, especially the youth who form more than 65% of the population, the meeting resembled not a strategy session for national redemption, but a gathering of political relics clinging to past glories and old schemes.
The optics alone tell the story: four political actors, all of whom were active during Nigeria’s tumultuous military-to-civilian transitions, and all of whom have held significant power during the country’s most corrupt, unstable, and inequitable periods. That they are resurfacing now—amid rumors of a “grand opposition realignment” to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027—should raise red flags for every Nigerian who truly desires progress.
The Men at the Table: Yesterday’s Politicians, Today’s Distractions
Tom Ikimi (81)
A founding member of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) and former Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Abacha regime—one of the most repressive and corrupt periods in Nigeria’s history. Ikimi was central to the military-era political engineering and post-1999 party oscillations that destabilized party ideology and structure.
Atiku Abubakar (78)
Former Vice President (1999–2007), serial presidential aspirant (1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023), and a figure eternally linked to privatization scandals, crony capitalism, and party defections. Atiku has changed political platforms over five times in two decades and remains the symbol of transactional politics in Nigeria.
Sule Lamido (76)
Ex-Governor of Jigawa State and former Foreign Affairs Minister, known more for controversial statements and family-linked corruption cases than for any transformative legacy.
David Mark (77)
Former Senate President and military-era Communications Minister. His legacy is tethered to the Senate’s rubber-stamp culture and years of legislative underperformance. He famously once said “telephones are not for the poor,” a comment symbolic of the disconnect with the Nigerian masses.
Historical Context: The Cost of Recycled Leadership
Between them, these four men have held over 120 years of cumulative political influence. Yet, under their collective watch—from the military transition to the PDP years (1999–2015)—Nigeria’s:
- Unemployment soared (youth unemployment over 30%)
- Corruption was institutionalized, with Nigeria consistently ranking among the top 20 most corrupt countries during their peak years (Transparency International Index)
- Infrastructure crumbled, despite billions in oil revenues
- Education was underfunded, with university strikes becoming a norm
- Healthcare remained comatose, resulting in billions lost to medical tourism
In contrast, despite early economic pains, the Tinubu administration has pushed reforms in agriculture (record food surpluses), infrastructure, tax harmonization, and energy transition, signaling intentional departure from the elite-centric, patronage-driven governance models of these older figures.
Nigeria’s Demographic Reality: The Future is Young
According to the National Bureau of Statistics:
- 70% of Nigeria’s population is under 35
- The median age in Nigeria is 18.1 years
- Over 60 million Nigerian youths are eligible voters by 2027
These numbers do not just indicate a generational shift—they are a declaration of democratic power. For Nigeria to progress, its leadership must reflect its demographics. That means:
- Retiring outdated politicians, not recycling them
- Embracing innovation, not nostalgia
- Encouraging mentorship, not manipulation by fading elites
A Coalition of Convenience or a Plot for Plunder?
The timing and composition of this Abuja meeting suggest not an ideological realignment but a political arrangement driven by self-interest and fear of irrelevance. These are not leaders with new ideas—they are politicians with old grudges and pending ambitions.
Their refusal to retire honorably as elder statesmen, choosing instead to be frontmen for coalitions allegedly led by actors with unresolved corruption allegations, shows contempt for public sentiment and youth aspirations.
“Leadership is not about age, but about vision and legacy. Nigeria must learn to differentiate between the two.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR, National Patriots
Conclusion: Nigeria Must Move Forward, Not Backward
The Abuja gathering may claim to be about Nigeria’s future, but it is firmly rooted in its past failures. The youth of Nigeria must recognize this gathering for what it is: a reunion of yesterday’s power brokers looking for another bite at the national cake.
True national progress will not come from recycled manifestos or familiar faces. It will come from bold, young, dynamic Nigerians who are ready to lead with integrity, innovation, and inclusiveness.
Let us not hand the keys of tomorrow to those who squandered yesterday.
Notable Quotes
“A nation that continually recycles its failures will never realize its future.”
— Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary-General
“The youth are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are the stakeholders of today.”
— Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
“Nigeria is a young country pretending to be ruled by its past.”
— Chika Okafor, Political Analyst
“At some point, even the wise must learn to sit and advise, not to run again.”
— Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR, Governance Consultant
© Headlinenews.News 2025. All Rights Reserved.
By Tola Adeyemi, Political Analyst & Senior Correspondent
RE: ADC IS NOT A ONE-MAN PROJECT — A RESPONSE TO RAUF AREGBESOLA’S “ACCEPTANCE SPEECH”
Dear Party Leaders, Members, and Fellow Nigerians,
While we appreciate the enthusiasm with which Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has delivered his acceptance speech as Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), we must urgently and firmly reject the premise and process behind this appointment — an appointment that lacks due process, transparency, and the broad-based legitimacy expected in a democratic political party.
The ADC is not a private coalition platform to be hijacked by any elite group or individuals—regardless of how eloquent or ideologically polished their speeches may sound. Our party has structures, leadership organs, youth and women wings, and constitutional guidelines—none of which were consulted or respected in the announcement of this so-called “appointment.”
Key Points of Objection:
1. No Legitimate Mandate:
Who appointed Gov. Aregbesola? Which organ of the ADC ratified this appointment? Was the National Executive Committee (NEC) involved? Were state chairmen, youth leaders, and elected national officers consulted?
If the answer is no—as it clearly is—then this “appointment” is null and void.
2. False Coalition Claims:
The claim that the ADC has become the “platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group” is misleading. Our millions of members have not been informed or carried along in this so-called coalition. If anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty.
3. Legal Crisis Still Unresolved:
Let it be known to those who are trooping into our party under this chaotic coalition arrangement that the ADC has been battling unresolved legal crises since the 2023 general elections. These matters remain in court and unresolved. Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive.
4. Incoming Members Must Be Cautious:
We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully. Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain. The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.
5. Legacy of Undemocratic Culture:
Ironically, the speech talks about internal democracy, ideological discipline, and inclusiveness—yet the very process by which Gov. Aregbesola emerges contradicts every word he just spoke. Democracy cannot begin with imposition. The ADC must not become another replica of the broken parties we seek to replace.
6. Party Supremacy Does Not Mean Silence:
The idea that “the party must be supreme” cannot be used as a tool to silence dissent or sideline authentic party stakeholders. Party supremacy begins with consultation and consensus, not executive pronouncements disguised as patriotic rhetoric.
7. Our Youth Are Watching:
For a speech that claims to care about youth inclusion, where was the youth wing of the ADC in all this? Were youth leaders, women leaders, or even ward structures consulted? Or is this just another top-down recycling of elite political control in progressive clothing?
Our Stand:
We stand firmly on the side of accountable leadership, transparent decision-making, and a people-powered party structure. Any process that excludes the very people it claims to serve is undemocratic and must be challenged.
We call on all genuine stakeholders of the ADC—across states, zones, and demographic groups—to reject this attempted takeover of our party.
We are not opposed to coalitions.
We are not opposed to reform.
But we are opposed to hijack, to imposition, and to speeches that sound revolutionary but hide elitist intentions beneath poetic language.
Until a legitimate, constitutionally-backed ADC National Convention or NEC confirms leadership changes, no one has the moral or legal right to speak for our party nationally.
Long live ADC.
Long live the voices of true democracy.
Long live the grassroots members who will not be silenced.
Signed,
Concerned Stakeholders of the ADC
—Youth Leaders, Women Leaders, State Party Executives, and Ward Coordinators Nationwide
📍July 1st, 2025
Dr. Musa Isa Matara IQAM
National Publicity Secretary, ADC (Original)
