Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians - Winding Road from Country to Nation is a book aimed at making politicians aware of the damage done to the country as a result of their difference in ideologies, political intolerance, love of public office, maladministration, embezzlement of public fund, tribalism, breakdown of law and order, mismanagement of the economy among others. It was borne out of my observation of the continued omissions and errors by political parties and politicians which led to the collapse of the first, second and third republics, hence, the need to call the attention of both political parties and politicians to the task of ensuring nation building. The Nigerian political parties have now become organizationally incoherent and undisciplined through tradition. Each party is rocked by different crises ranging from nepotism to struggle for power and with no one to call their attention to the major responsibility of achieving unity through cohesion and integration. Having been granted independence on a platter of gold as described by a person no less than late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, its political leaders have lost sight of the need to stop all the political violence and selfish-interest in steering the ship of Nigeria in a way that could metamorphose into a real nation. Today the Nigerian political system is nothing to write home about. All the political parties have continued to thread in the steps of early political parties which caused the collapse of the first, second and third republics. This is the rationale for writing the book in order to raise the consciousness of politicians and provide guidelines in planning for the future. The unique feature of this study is its examination of the political parties from pre-independence to the present day and identification of pitfalls of the political parties during this period. The first chapter of the book which is the introduction gives a general idea of politics, governance and what is to follow. Chapter two examined the political events of the first republic as well as the activities of the parties that existed during this era. Its sub-topic includes: Pre-colonial and colonial history, National Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC), The Northern People's Congress (NPC), The Action Group (AG), The Federal Election and Collapse of the first republic. The third chapter which is entitled: Political Parties in the Second Republic (1979-1983) looked at the registered political parties during this period, the elections and what led to their collapse. Chapter four examined the short-lived third republic. Its sub-topics includes: The Social Democratic Party (SDP), The National Republican Convention (NRC), The party system in the Abortive third republic, The 1993 General Elections. The June 12 struggle, international reactions to the June 12 crises as well as the aftermath of the annulment of June 12 elections. Political Parties in the current republic was the main focus of the fifth chapter while chapter six provides guidelines for planning for the future in order to avoid the mistakes of the past which Nigeria still bears its consequences. It is important to state that there is a dangerous correlation between the political events of the early republics and what is happening in the current republic. This will ultimately influence the course of political events in the future if political parties and politicians do not become conscious.
About the Author: Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola received both his first and second degrees from University of Lagos in Nigeria. He is a keen political observer, a concerned Nigerian and someone who is passionate about the achievement of nationhood in Nigeria. He drifted into politics many years ago. Aregbeshola has researched many historical books; observed trends in Nigerian politics and democracy and read the different happenings in the Nigerian newspapers. He decided to embark on this book project in order to serve as a platform to pass across the message about nation building, growth and development of Nigeria. "Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians: Winding Road from Country to Nation" is a book calling the attention of political parties and politicians to the major responsibility of achieving nationhood through cohesion and integration. The dangerous correlation between political events of the early republics and what is happening in the current republic as revealed by his study makes writing this book of great importance to him.