ABEOKUTA – The Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has issued a bold challenge to Nigeria’s opposition forces, urging them to move beyond ethnic sentiments and establish formal, ideologically driven political parties to save the nation’s democracy.
Showunmi who spoke on a radio programme in Abeokuta on Friday, argued that the current political landscape dominated by the APC, PDP, and Labour Party, requires a fundamental shift toward institutionalized politics rather than personality-driven movements.
Showunmi emphasised that those seeking to challenge the status quo must stop “trying” and start “becoming.”
He called on emerging political groups to formally apply for registration and build structures based on clear ideologies.
”They need to become a political party and apply for registration and try to create an ideological political party,” Showunmi stated.
“If you are a political party, let the best of us arrest the rest of us so that we should run Nigeria.”
He warned against the “tribal and ethnic mindset” that he believes currently hampers Nigerian governance.
He posited that for Nigeria to function as a single entity, its leaders must embrace a unified national identity.
He suggested that if the country cannot move past tribalism, it may be time to reconsider its structure entirely.
”We have to take Nigeria, become one Nigeria from a non-tribal, non-ethnic mindset,” he said.
“If we want to run an ethnic country, it’s better to break the country up so that those who are in the tribe can make up their mind that in their tribe, this is their culture.”
The Convener’s “The Alternative” movement advocated for a “meritocratic” approach to leadership selection.
Showunmi called for a more disciplined and competent political class ahead of future electoral cycles.
