Good intentions, while noble in theory, are meaningless without competence, accountability, and strategic execution. The All Progressives Congress (APC), from its inception in 2015 to its current chapter under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has proven itself incapable of delivering the kind of governance Nigeria demands in the 21st century. Despite campaigning on a platform of change, integrity, and reform, the party’s time in power has been marked by economic missteps, security failures, and a persistent inability to modernize governance. What began as a movement for change has devolved into a machinery of mismanagement, opacity, and outdated thinking.
When the APC emerged victorious in 2015, it rode a wave of public discontent. Nigerians, weary of the perceived corruption and stagnation of the previous administration, embraced the party’s three-pronged promise: fight corruption, improve security, and revive the economy. Buhari, with his austere image and military background, was cast as a man of integrity—a corrective force to the excesses of the past. The slogan “Change” resonated deeply, and for a moment, hope flickered across the nation.
The Pitfalls of Good Intentions
However, the APC’s tenure quickly exposed the limits of good intentions when not backed by competence and strategic foresight. Buhari’s administration struggled to translate its lofty goals into effective policies. The Central Bank’s fixed exchange rate policy, for instance, was intended to stabilize the naira but instead strangled businesses, fueled a black market, and triggered two recessions. The government failed to anticipate the ripple effects, exposing a dangerous absence of economic foresight. The economic vision lacked nuance, and the consequences were severe.
Security, another cornerstone of the APC’s platform, deteriorated despite initial gains against Boko Haram. New threats, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence, spread across the country, revealing a reactive and outdated security strategy. The government’s inability to adapt continues to leave many communities vulnerable and disillusioned.
The disconnect between the APC and Nigeria’s youth became glaring during the #EndSARS protests in 2020. The administration’s heavy-handed response to calls for police reform highlighted its failure to engage with a digitally savvy generation demanding transparency and justice. The refusal to embrace modern governance tools and approaches further alienated the public. Rather than evolve, the APC doubled down on analog solutions to digital problems, revealing a party stuck in the past.
The transition from Buhari to Tinubu did not usher in a new direction, it entrenched the same dysfunction. Tinubu’s refusal to participate in presidential debates signaled a disregard for public accountability. His administration has operated with even less transparency, making sweeping economic decisions without consultation or clear strategy.
The removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira were executed without safety nets, without a roadmap, and without any form of public accountability. Nigerians were told the pain was necessary, yet no one has explained where the supposed savings from subsidy removal have gone. There has been no audit, no breakdown, no reinvestment plan - just silence, and social media propaganda. The cost of living has skyrocketed, and the government’s response has been to ask citizens for patience while offering no tangible relief.
The APC has demonstrated, time and again, that it is not equipped to govern a modern nation. Its leadership lacks the agility, transparency, and innovation required in today’s world. The party remains anchored to outdated ideologies, resistant to reform, and dismissive of public engagement. It has failed to build institutions, empower citizens, or foster inclusive growth.
Nigeria cannot afford another decade of trial-and-error governance. The stakes are too high, and the consequences too severe. The APC must be relegated, not out of spite, but out of necessity. A nation of over 200 million people deserves leadership that understands the complexities of modern governance, embraces accountability, and prioritizes the well-being of its citizens over political survival.
The APC’s journey from promise to paradox is not just a political failure, it’s a national tragedy. Good intentions without competence are dangerous. Policies without accountability are reckless. And leadership without vision is a liability. Nigeria must move forward, and that means leaving behind the parties and personalities that have proven unfit for the future.