By Comr. Adetunji Habeeb
In the last quarter of a century, the progressive political family in the South-West and indeed across Nigeria has undergone several transitions. From the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), through the Action Congress (AC) and later the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), to the present structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ideological journey has been long, deliberate, and deeply rooted in the legacy of principled governance.
These political movements were not merely party platforms. They were built on a philosophy, an ideology shaped by the enduring vision of one man whose name still echoes across generations: Obafemi Awolowo.
Awolowo was not just a politician; he was a thinker, a nation builder, and the undisputed father of progressive politics in Nigeria. From the days of the Action Group, his ideas transformed governance in the Western Region. Free education, rural development, infrastructure, social welfare, and disciplined public service became the defining pillars of progressive governance.
Those ideals did not die with him. They were preserved and carried forward by committed progressives who refused to allow opportunistic politics to erase a legacy built on sacrifice, courage, and ideological conviction.
That was why the progressive family reorganized itself repeatedly first under the banner of the Alliance for Democracy, then the Action Congress, later the Action Congress of Nigeria, before joining a historic coalition that birthed the All Progressives Congress.
Each transition was meant to strengthen not weaken the ideological backbone of progressive politics.
Yet today, a troubling sentiment is creeping into the political atmosphere: the subtle attempt to erase, sideline, or politically “exterminate” the very foundation progressives who built the structure that others now occupy.
This is not merely a political concern; it is a moral question. How can a house deny the architects who laid its foundation?
How can a movement forget the very individuals who kept the progressive torch burning during its most difficult years?
Many of the early progressives endured political persecution, electoral manipulation, and institutional suppression simply to protect the ideology they believed in. They stood firm when it was not fashionable. They organized when resources were scarce. They defended the progressive philosophy when the political environment was hostile.
The progressive ideology was never about titles or positions. It was about service, discipline, social justice, and visionary leadership. It was about building institutions that outlive individuals.
When those ideals begin to fade, the movement must pause and reflect. This moment therefore demands a Clarion Call to Foundation Progressives.
The pioneers of the progressive tradition must not retreat into silence. Their voices, experience, and ideological clarity are needed now more than ever. They must remind the younger generation that progressive politics is not merely a vehicle for power it is a moral contract with the people.
At the same time, emerging leaders within the progressive family must recognize that history is not an inconvenience to be discarded. It is a compass that guides the future.
The progressive family must therefore recommit itself to the values that defined its journey from AD to AC, from AC to ACN, and ultimately to APC. Those values equity, competence, social investment, and people-centered governance are what gave progressive politics its credibility in the first place.
The task ahead is not to erase the past but to strengthen the bridge between the past and the future. Foundation progressives must be respected, not sidelined. Their contributions must be acknowledged, not rewritten. Their legacy must be protected, not abandoned.
For if the progressive movement truly remembers where it came from, it will always know where it is going. And perhaps, just perhaps, the spirit of Chief Obafemi Awolowo will look upon the movement he inspired and find reassurance that the progressive torch still burns brightly.
The time for reflection is now.
The time for unity is now.
And above all, the time to defend the foundation of progressive politics is now.
Comr Adetunji Habeeb
Former, Ogun State Board member.
