Why past mergers failed – Oyeweso

In this interview with TUNDE ODESOLA, a Professor of History, Siyan Oyeweso, takes a historic perspective of the merger

What are the historic antecedents of the merger?

The emergence of All Progressives Congress as Nigeria mega party comprising 4 major political parties is a welcome development in Nigeria political process. For the last 14 years, the Peoples Democratic Party has prided itself as the largest political party in Africa and has also boasted that it was going to rule the country for the next 100 years or at least for the next 60yyears. The practicability or otherwise of this advertised political mission is certainly going to face acid test from the APC. Nigeria now has two major political parties – APC and PDP, while 2 minor parties also exist – the Labour Party controlling Ondo State and All Progressive Grand Alliance controlling Anambra State.

 What happened to similar mergers in the past?

In the First Republic, the National Council of Nigerian Citizens and the Action Group forged what was then known as UPGA which was the United Peoples Grand Alliance as a counterpoise to the Northern Peoples Congress who similarly established Nigeria National Alliance. The UPGA merger failed because the leaders did not reach a compromise on the choice of who would lead the party. In the Second Republic (1979 – 1983), there was a merger which included the political gladiators of the time. They included the ‘beautiful bride’ of Nigerian politics, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria Peoples Party, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Mallam Aminu Kano led the Peoples Redemption Party and the Great Nigeria Peoples Party was led by Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri. These great men came together and formed the Peoples Progressive Alliance against the National Party of Nigeria, but could not reach an agreement on the leadership structure of the alliance. It appeared that in the First and Second republics, Dr. Azikiwe and Awolowo did not forget the bitter political experience they had between one another between 1951 and 1956.

In 1999 the Alliance for Democracy with its presence in the South-West and All Peoples Party also forged APP-AD alliance. The alliance aimed at beating the PDP at the presidential poll. It competed effectively but could not win the election against the PDP. Also in 2007, about 15 parties came together to form the Action Congress but little was achieved and it made no impact on the presidential election. In recent times, the All Peoples Party (APP) and the Alliance for Democracy AD succeeded in fielding Chief Olu Falae as the presidential flag bearer of the APP/AD alliance. Yet it did not achieve its aim to clinch the presidency.

If it didn’t work in the past, how would it work now?

One of the lessons of history is that we must learn from past mistakes and errors. In Yoruba context, a person who refuses to learn from his pitfalls is not just a fool but a great fool. The lessons of history and record of why mergers failed in the past are there for our politicians and statesmen of today to learn from. In fact, the current merger is a watershed in Nigerian history and politics. It is quite different from the previous efforts in two fundamental respects. First this is the first time since party politics began in 1951 when political parties actually merged together after a long period of gestation, meetings, planning and formal registration by Nigerian electoral umpire (INEC). Other efforts before now took the form of alliances and marriage of convenience. Secondly, previous efforts at alliances, linkages, and possible partnership were done very, very close to the election year. However, the current experience in merger has taken a longer period which gives room for consultation, consensus and confidence building and compromise.

Can supposed political strange bedfellows in the merger work together?

Given Nigeria’s political experience, it is incorrect to refer to people as political strange bedfellows. In politics, it is an established principle of no permanent friends, no permanent enemies but permanent interests. Politics is about the art of negotiation and winning people and in fact, masses to your side.

Won’t the country’s legislature be robust and turbulent in the tussle for power between the two major parties?

In the next couple of weeks and months, Nigerian legislature is certainly going to witness some changes. The warm embrace of APC by four PDP governors of Rivers, Kano, Kwara and Adamawa certainly has implications on the composition of the Senate. While it is not so easy for members of legislatures from these four states to change political party, the way and manner they are going to perceive issues and vote in parliament will certainly be different. The lower and upper chambers will certainly walk the tight rope but the experienced ones among them certainly know how to avoid the banana peel. Between January and February 2014, a number of developments will unfold themselves in the National Assembly. We should certainly expect a very robust legislature.

Copyright PUNCH.