Opinion

For the records: Speech delivered by Dr Abayomi Arabambi at the official launch of the alternative movement

The Great Deception Scam – Why Nigerians must reject the failed architects of our misery now posing as redeemers under the banner of coalition

As the first light of dawn struggles to pierce through the thick smog of our political landscape, we find ourselves at the most critical juncture in our democratic journey. The great Camerounian philosopher Fabien Eboussi Boulaga once warned: “In Africa, we do not have leaders who fail and retire. We have leaders who fail and recycle.” Never has this been truer than in Nigeria today, where the very architects of our national collapse now shamelessly present themselves as messiahs.

SHELL

Our beloved country stands as a paradox – blessed with abundant resources yet cursed by leadership that transforms blessings into burdens. The current administration inherited an economy on life support, a security architecture in tatters, and infrastructure crumbling under decades of neglect. While they work tirelessly to stabilise the patient, the very physicians who poisoned the nation now return with new prescriptions. This can only happen in Nigeria.

Let me be absolutely clear: The Alternative Movement is not opposed to coalition politics. Coalitions built with genuine progressive alliances can be powerful vehicles for change. What we reject – what every sane Nigerian must reject – is the repackaging of certified failures as reformers. As the Akan proverb goes: “The lizard that ruined its mother’s funeral does not get invited to another’s burial.” Yet here we are, watching the same lizards dancing on Nigeria’s grave.

Let us examine these self-made proclaimed redeemers and their concrete records of failures, not through the lens of political propaganda but through the unassailable facts of history.

  1. First comes Atiku Abubakar, the Grand Auctioneer of Nigeria’s Crown Jewels. During his tenure as Vice President and head of the Bureau of Public Enterprises from 1999 to 2007, Atiku presided over what can only be described as the greatest heist of national assets in our history. The Ajaokuta Steel Complex, envisioned as the bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialization, was handed to Global Steel Holdings in a deal so scandalous that even the Obasanjo government later overturned it. The Aluminum Smelter Company (ALSCON) suffered similar fate, awarded to Russian firm Rusal under circumstances that reeked of insider dealing and blatant corruption.

Former President Obasanjo, Atiku’s boss turned most vocal critic, wrote in his explosive memoirs: “Atiku created a parallel government where contracts and approvals were traded like stocks in a bourse.” The Senate’s 2011 investigation uncovered how over $2 billion from privatization proceeds vanished under Atiku’s watch, with no satisfactory explanation till date. This is the man who now preaches transparency! This is the reformer who wants to lead Nigeria! As the Igbo elders say: “Onye ndi iro gbara gburugburu amaghi na ihe na-eme ya n’azu” – a man surrounded by enemies does not know what is happening behind him. Atiku’s entire political career has been one long trail of broken promises and questionable dealings, yet he expects Nigerians to trust him with their future.

  1. And then again, Nasir El-Rufai, the Bulldozer of Abuja’s Poor, the Napoleon of Nigerian politics whose small stature belies his towering arrogance. As FCT Minister from 2003 to 2007, El-Rufai’s so-called “urban renewal” programme rendered over 800,000 Nigerians homeless according to Amnesty International reports. The man who allocated people’s land to cronics and even boasted about it. The tears of displaced families became the foundation upon which El-Rufai built his reputation as an “effective administrator.”

His tenure as Kaduna Governor from 2015 to 2023 exposed even more disturbing tendencies. Under his watch, Kaduna became Nigeria’s killing fields, with the Southern Kaduna crisis claiming over 3,000 lives according to Council on Foreign Relations data. His own commissioner resigned in protest, accusing him of “fueling ethnic tensions through divisive policies.”

The same man who couldn’t maintain peace in a single state now wants to unite Nigeria? As the Hausa proverb goes: “Kaza ta yi kama da taka, ta ce ta yi sallah” – the hen stepped on dung and claimed it was performing ablutions. El-Rufai’s entire political career has been one long performance of false piety over the rotten eggs of his failures.

In his memoir My Watch, former President Olusegun Obasanjo delivered a scathing assessment of Nasir El-Rufai, his once-trusted protégé who served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Obasanjo described El-Rufai as “brilliant but deeply flawed,” accusing him of possessing “a toxic combination of intellectual arrogance and operational high-handedness” that made him “utterly unsuitable for consensus-building leadership.” The former president particularly criticized El-Rufai’s tenure as FCT minister, noting that while he achieved visible urban renewal, his methods were “needlessly brutal and lacking in human compassion,” creating lasting resentment among displaced citizens. Obasanjo wrote that El-Rufai’s “scorpion-like temperament” and tendency to “burn bridges rather than build them” ultimately limited his effectiveness as a leader.

Obasanjo reserved his harshest criticism for what he termed El-Rufai’s “pathological disloyalty and opportunism,” revealing how his former minister later turned against him in ways that “exposed his fundamental character flaws.” The memoir recounts how El-Rufai, after benefiting enormously from Obasanjo’s patronage, subsequently “stabbed his benefactor in the back” by

publishing damaging accusations in his own book while simultaneously seeking reconciliation when it suited his political ambitions. Obasanjo characterized this pattern as emblematic of El-Rufai’s “transactional approach to relationships,” concluding that such “moral flexibility disqualifies him from the kind of transformative leadership Nigeria desperately needs.” These blistering assessments from a former president who once promoted El-Rufai’s career provide damning testimony about the Kaduna politician’s fitness for higher office.

  1. And what of Peter Obi, the Agbotikuyo and self-appointed minister of Disaster announcement, Hypocritical Accountant, the Merchant of False Prophecies and failed data analysis professor, during his tenure as Anambra Governor from 2006 to 2014, the state witnessed some of its worst security crises in recent memory. The infamous Onitsha market massacres occurred under his watch, with over 100 traders killed in sectarian violence that his administration proved woefully unprepared to handle.

The 2013 Ezu River incident remains a dark stain on Peter Obi’s governance record, with over 20 mutilated bodies—mostly young men with bullet wounds and bound hands—found dumped at the Anambra-Enugu boundary. Victims’ families and Amnesty International alleged extrajudicial killings of MASSOB members by security forces under Obi’s watch. While his administration first blamed “cult clashes,” leaked police memos later revealed security briefings on the operations

The Anambra Truth Commission documented his government’s failure to prosecute implicated officers. This unresolved atrocity contradicts Obi’s human rights posturing, exposing what activists termed “the hypocrisy beneath his progressive image.” Justice remains elusive for victims’ families.

His much-touted “frugality” didn’t prevent his administration from ranking among Nigeria’s worst in healthcare delivery according to the WHO 2014 report, nor did it stop the decay of public infrastructure across the state.

As Labour Party leader, he has failed spectacularly to account for over N12 billion in campaign donations as alleged by party leadership . The party has fractured into three warring factions under his so-called leadership, with accusations of high-handedness and financial opacity flying from all directions. This is the man who wants to unite Nigeria? This is the accountant who couldn’t balance his own party’s books but promises to fix Nigeria’s economy? As the Yoruba elders say: “Eni to mo iroko ti ko mo iya, oun naa ko mo ipele” – he who knows the iroko tree but not its strength does not know the ipele creeper either. Obi’s entire political persona is built on carefully cultivated myths that crumble under the slightest scrutiny.

We cannot forget David Mark, the Anti-Democrat in Democrat’s Clothing, the man who infamously declared during the June 12 crisis that “democracy is a waste of time.” As Senate President from 2007 to 2015, he presided over the most corrupt National Assembly in Nigeria’s history. The 2015 Farouk Lawan $620,000 bribe scandal happened under his watch, exposing the rot at the heart of our legislative institution. Now he wants to lead a “democratic” coalition? Now he poses as a defender of democratic values? As the Igbo say: “Egbe bere, ugo bere, nke si ibe ya ebela, nku kwaa ya” – let the kite perch, let the eagle perch, whichever denies the other a perch, may its wings break. Mark’s entire career has been about denying democracy a perch while pretending to be its champion.

Then there’s Rauf Aregbesola, the Salary Destroyer, the man who turned Osun State into a laboratory of failed socialist experiments. As governor from 2010 to 2018, he left behind a staggering N170 billion in debt and 34 months of unpaid salaries. Pensioners died waiting for their entitlements while he built white elephant projects like the N14 billion “mega schools” that now stand as empty monuments to his vanity. Workers became beggars, teachers turned into petty traders, all in the name of some half-baked “progressive” agenda. This is his idea of governance? This is the model he wants to replicate at the national level? As the Urhobo proverb says: “Oshareki vwo erha, o na ghwu” – the crab says it has a doctor, yet it walks sideways. Aregbesola’s entire governance philosophy has been one long sideways walk away from accountability and common sense.

Fellow Nigerians, the Efik say: “A man who brings ant-infested firewood into his hut should not complain when lizards come visiting.” We invited these men into our national hut, and they filled it with the ants of corruption, incompetence and division. Now they return with new promises, hoping we’ve forgotten their past. They form coalitions not out of love for Nigeria but out of fear of irrelevance. They preach unity after years of fueling division. They promise transparency after decades of operating in shadows.

The great Thomas Sankara warned: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness.” What we’re witnessing today isn’t madness – it’s the height of political insanity! These men represent everything wrong with our polity: they privatized profit and socialized poverty; they weaponized ethnicity and religion; they institutionalized corruption; they commercialized governance; they bastardized democracy.

As the Kikuyu say: “When elephants fight, the grass suffers.” For too long, we the people have been the grass beneath these political elephants. No more! The Alternative Movement offers something truly radical – not just new faces, but new ethos: competence over connections; merit over mediocrity; accountability over impunity; service over selfishness; Nigeria over nepotism.

To the youth: They will call you “inexperienced.” Remind them that the only experience these “elders” have is experience in failure! To the women: They will tokenize you. We will empower you with real representation! To all Nigerians: The Yoruba say “oti ja’le, a ki ja’k’ole” – we may be down, but we’re not defeated. Our redemption begins today!

As we launch this movement, let us remember Fela’s words: “Many people no know, Nigeria is a very rich country. But the leaders… na him be the problem.” Today, we say enough of leaders who are the problem. It’s time for leaders who are the solution! The great Zik of Africa warned: “Show me a country’s leaders, and I will tell you the character of its people.” For sixty years, we have been shown charlatans. Today, we demand statesmen!

Let me conclude with the wisdom of our Igbo ancestors: “Mgbe onye nwere nsogbu kpọtụrụ aka n’ọkụ, ọ ga-ama na ọ dị njọ.” When a troubled person touches fire, he will know it’s hot. Nigeria has been in the fire too long.

The Atiku Abubakar wholesome participation in looting the Nigerian Customs, the david Mark diversion of  funds meant to fix our telephones system claiming phones are not meant for the poor and later helped to crush Chief MKO victory and democratic hopes on June 12 must be well rooted in our hearts

We must not forget in a hurry how Abubakar Malami, SAN, violated Nigerians human rights and looting of the treasury under Muhammadu Buhari’s watch including banning @Twitter

The political misfits and inconsequential Malam Nasir El-Rufai massacre of thousands of Shiites and fueling religious genocide in Southern Kaduna is also very much alive in our mind

We must not forget How PeterObi at the Tin Can Ports working for military Despots Gen Sani Abacha whom he helped to cleared goods for even he knows that the same Abacha was dismantling Nigeria Democracy through the annulment of June 12 1993 Presidential Election. A man who uses Medical ambulances vehicles to transport money from Anambra to Lagos under the guise of buying vehicles for traditional rulers when police intercepted the convoy

Its an open secret that Alh Sule Lamido and the SDP traitors sold out MKO Abiola and the will of the Nigerian people during June 12 struggle.

The irritant and irresponsible Chibuike Rotimi AMECHI gambled away Rivers State funds and abandoned the mini-rail project already paid for and almost succeeded in using over 200milion Nigerians as collateral for Chinese loan

Today, we begin our journey out of the flames! Join me as we march forward to reclaim our nation – not with violence but with vigor, not with bitterness but with hope, not with recycled failures but with fresh possibilities.

For as the Proverbs say: “No matter how long the river flows, it will never forget its source.” We will never forget that Nigeria belongs to us all. The alternative platforms is our best options presently rather than those bunch of political dissidents’ merchandise and vampires.

Most importantly, this coalition of politically displace politicians in their self-deception scam thinks that speaking in a loud voice with dramatic gesticulations makes them an intelligent person.

They engages themselves in the acts of making false statements with boldness and arrogance which they know of course that their various individual constituents will believe them because they don’t read or seek for facts.

What difference does it make to us as a Nation then, when the same set of people who brought our country into this catastrophical mess are also the ones forming new alliances?

They are just showcasing their frenzied desperation to grab power purely for their self-aggrandizement thinking they can cause a return to their felt- entitled dependency on state resources and patronage.

ADC (Association of Deranged Confusionist ) adoption by this group of political merchants simply underscores the depth of those mercenaries self-serving motivations and their various coalition partners in their quest for power solely for selfish exploitations, and not for the interest of the people and Nigeria masses

Let me remind Nigerians that in 2014 this same set of coalitions out of hate effusion, bigotry, religious extremism, threat of violence, racism and bitterness against Dr Goodluck Ebere Jonathan brought in Buhari administration who successfully demoted, plummeted, destroyed and designated our country as poverty capital of the world between 2015 to 2023.

Lastly “once bitten, twice shy” is a well-known proverb that all Nigerians knows to means a negative experience which all of us must be very cautious of in the future.

The ugly economic and political catastrophe of 2015 to 2023 suggests that such a bad experience is enough to make all Nigerians hesitant or fearful about repeating a similar situation in 2027

This desperate coalition consists of greedy selfish self-centered old political despots who hold the views that political power is their birth right. The alternative belongs to Nigerians who are yearning for a new names, fresh ideas, new faces and progressive values

Ideology of hate without facts and empirical evidence of solutions by the coalition is a disaster in waiting  for our Nation.The alternative must therefore begin to look inwards to support the best person for the jobs in 2027 , a person with verifiable  track records and visible achievement

The alternative platforms only allegiance must be to to the oppressed, the disenfranchised Nigerians , the cheated, the ordinary people and the silenced who as a matter of urgency needs a new lease and means of livelihoods and must be freed from national nightmare and disgrace created for them by these shameless characters

The alternative must aligned it’s stand as a vanguard against injustice and Institutionalized slavery . We must epitomise a coalition of truth and revolutionary team to restore the dignity of the Nigerian people from these evil doers.

The time is now. The movement is here.  The future begins today.   God bless you all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Dated: 3rd July 2025

Arabambi is Nigerian ubiquitous politician and National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party

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