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By Sunday Ani
The former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has advocated a renewed commitment to the foundational principles that shaped Nigeria’s independence, emphasising that governance rooted in the public good, rather than transactional politics, should define the nation’s political direction.
He made the call during a meeting yesterday in Osun State, which brought together members of Afenifere, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), among other prominent national figures.
Addressing participants at the gathering, he highlighted that Nigeria was founded as a negotiated federation, with leaders from the North, East, West and South collaborating to secure independence during the Lancaster House constitutional conferences.
He explained that the country’s early political parties were established to drive development plans grounded in equity and inclusion, but noted that military intervention derailed that trajectory.
“Since then, our political system has largely reflected military influence and post-military tendencies,” he said.
Adebayo stated that the Osun meeting was convened to revive a unifying national philosophy based on social democracy.
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According to him, the objective is to ensure that both political aspirants and citizens clearly understand the responsibilities embedded in the social contract of governance.
“Our aim is to deliver the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerians through a system that contrasts sharply with what we see today,” he added.
He stressed that the effort transcends the SDP and Afenifere, focusing instead on restoring the core values that underpinned Nigeria’s early political development.
Referencing legacy political groups such as the Action Group, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC), the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, later the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), Adebayo noted that they were all driven by a shared commitment to national service and progress.
“We are uniting these philosophies to remind Nigerians that the essence of politics is governance; good governance. It should not be reduced to a pursuit of personal gain or treated like a casino by self-serving politicians,” he said.
He reiterated that politics must once again serve as a vehicle for advancing the welfare of the people, rather than a means for individual enrichment.
