Overview
During President Tinubu’s visit to Anambra, the governor, Professor
Soludo emphasized that All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and All
Progressives Congress (APC) share ideological foundations in progressivism and
called for unity among progressive political forces in Nigeria. He stated that
APGA has historically collaborated with the government at the centre,
reaffirming its support for Tinubu’s administration and suggesting that 2027
should be a time for all progressives to unite.
While some viewed this as a signal that APGA might align with
APC in the future, Soludo later clarified that APGA remains committed to its
independent identity. His remarks sparked discussions about whether APGA would
formally merge with APC or simply maintain a cooperative stance.
This analysis examines Professor Soludo’s comments, critiques
the APC administration, and explores the connections between APC (the tablets),
APC (the political party), and APGA (the political party).
Outline:
- APC, the Tablets
- Ideological Foundations in Progressivism
- APC, the Political Party
- APGA, the Political party
- APC + APGA = APC
- The Parallel
- APGA, the Political party vs. APC, the Tablets
- APGA, the Political Party vs. APC, the Political Party
APC, the Tablets
In Nigeria, APC tablets were a popular over-the-counter
medication used to relieve pain and fever. The name APC stands for Aspirin,
Phenacetin, and Caffeine, which were the three main ingredients in the
tablet. It was widely used for treating headaches, fever, and general body
aches.
However, Phenacetin was later banned in many
countries, including Nigeria, due to its links to kidney disease and other
health risks. As a result, APC tablets eventually disappeared from the market, at least in Nigeria.
APC tablets were part of everyday life and cultural
memory of Nigerians, of course, those who grew up with that and lived it out. I’m
not talking of the younger generations who never experienced the magic of APC.
It really was a household name. APC tablets were almost like a
universal remedy back then, if you had a fever, headache, or body pain, that
little tablet was the go-to fix. It was deeply woven into Nigeria’s cultural
memory, even long after they disappear from the shelves.
Ideological Foundations in Progressivism
Progress is often framed as forward movement or improvement,
but history is full of cases where things introduced as
"advancements" later revealed unintended consequences. APC tablets
were once seen as an effective and convenient solution, yet phenacetin, the
very ingredient contributing to their success, ultimately caused harm, forcing
a re-evaluation of what "better" truly meant.
This applies far beyond medicine, technologies, policies, and
even societal shifts can be branded as progressive, but their long-term effects
tell the real story. Some innovations genuinely improve lives, while others,
despite initial promise, can lead to setbacks.
Real progress isn’t just about moving forward; it’s about moving meaningfully forward. It’s not just innovation for innovation’s sake, but advancement that genuinely improves lives, systems, or understanding without causing harm in ways we fail to anticipate. A strong definition of real progress might include:
- Sustainability: Ensuring that growth benefits people long-term, not just in the immediate future.
- Ethical Impact: Progress should uplift and empower, not exploit or marginalize.
- Inclusivity: Real advancements make life better for everyone, not just a select few.
- Adaptability: Progress isn’t a rigid destination; it requires reflection and adjustment as new insights emerge.
Real progress is not just about making digital spaces
technically compliant, for example, but ensuring they truly empower all users.
Therefore, progressivism is rooted in the belief that societies, governments,
and institutions must evolve to promote justice, equity,
and innovation. It is driven by three core ideological pillars:
Social Equity & Inclusion
- It advocates for equal opportunities across economic, racial, gender, and disability lines.
- It emphasizes accessibility, ensuring
systems work for everyone,
not just the privileged.
- It supports policies that address systemic inequalities rather than maintaining the status quo.
Adaptive Governance & Policy Reform
- Progressivism embraces policy evolution based on emerging knowledge, much like accessibility standards refine digital spaces.
- It prioritizes transparent governance: leaders
must be accountable to public
needs, not power consolidation.
- It encourages technological integration to make government more responsive and efficient.
Economic & Structural Transformation
- It rejects rigid traditionalism when economic models fail to serve broad societal interests.
- It favors structural reforms that empower lower-income groups, promote sustainability, and balance corporate influence.
- It often intersects with scientific advancements, ensuring progress aligns with ethical responsibility.
Progressivism
is fundamentally fluid and adaptive, responding to societal shifts in ways that
uphold inclusivity, accountability, and meaningful change. While its
definitions vary across movements, its foundational goal remains; progress must
be real, not just rhetoric.
APC, the Political Party
The APC, the political party was formed in 2013 as a merger
of opposition parties (a faction of APGA, the Action Congress of Nigeria, the All-Nigeria
Peoples Party, and the Congress for Progressive Change), promising political
change.
They marketed themselves as a progressive force, yet has
faced criticism over governance, defections, and internal conflicts. Some
critics argue it has become a refuge for politicians seeking power rather than
genuine reform. Others have described it as a party rife with internal
contradictions, where incompetence and opportunism coexist easily.
APGA, the Political party
The All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was founded in 2002
as a political party in Nigeria, advocating for nationalism, federalism, and
progressivism. In the 2003 elections, APGA won a small percentage of votes but
gained recognition when its presidential candidate, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu,
secured 3.3% of the vote. The party made significant strides in Anambra State,
where it has maintained governance since 2003, solidifying its influence in the
South-East. In 2013, a faction of APGA merged with other opposition parties to
form the All-Progressives Congress (APC), though APGA itself remained
independent. Over the years, APGA has faced internal leadership disputes but
continues to hold seats in Nigeria’s legislature and governorship positions.
APC + APGA = APC
The APC tablet and the APC political party in Nigeria share a
name, but their trajectories tell a deeper story about perceived progress and
unintended consequences.
APC, the Tablet (Aspirin, Phenacetin, Caffeine) was once a trusted
remedy for fever and pain, widely used in Nigeria. Eventually banned due to phenacetin’s
harmful effects, showing how something initially seen as beneficial can later
be recognized as dangerous. Its disappearance marked a shift in medical
standards and public health awareness.
The Parallel
Both APCs started with promise, one as a cure, the other as a
political movement. Over time, both faced scrutiny: the tablet for its harmful
ingredient, the party for its political maneuverings. We can argue that not
everything labelled as progressive truly leads to progress, real
advancement requires long-term benefits, ethical integrity, and inclusivity.
Real progress is not about flagging off 700 kilometres highway
project, it’s not just about introducing something new; it’s about ensuring it serves
people well over time. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is planned to be 700 kilometres
long. It will connect Victoria Island in Lagos to Calabar in Cross River State,
passing through nine coastal states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa,
Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River. Construction began in March 2024, and the
first phase, a 47.47-kilometer stretch, is expected to be completed by May 29,
2025. The entire project is estimated to cost between $11 billion and $12.5
billion, with a funding structure based on Engineering, Procurement,
Construction, and Financing (EPCF).
The question to ask is: Is this progressive when almost all existing
federal and state highways are deathtraps? In politics, just like in medicine, intentions
don’t always guarantee good outcomes.
A solid framework for evaluating real progress in governance
would need to focus on impact over rhetoric, not just promises of change, but
measurable benefits felt by the people.
The All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) stands apart from
both APC, the tablet and APC, the political party in several ways, despite
sharing a similar acronym.
APGA, the Political party vs. APC, the Tablet
- APC, the tablet was once a trusted remedy but later banned due to phenacetin’s harmful effects.
- APGA, as a political entity, has no direct health implications, but its longevity suggests it has adapted better than the APC tablet, which was phased out.
APGA, the Political Party vs. APC, the Political Party
- Origins & Identity: APGA was founded in 2002 and has historically
been associated with regional nationalism, particularly in the South-East of
Nigeria. APC, on the other hand, was formed in 2013 as a merger of opposition
parties, aiming for broader national influence.
- Political Influence: APGA has maintained stronghold governance in Anambra State
since 2003, whereas APC has had a more dominant national presence.
- Philosophy: APGA leans towards progressivism, federalism, and Pan-Africanism,
while APC brands itself as a progressive coalition, though its governance has
faced criticism.
Conclusion
APGA’s survival suggests that adaptability and regional
loyalty can sustain a political movement, whereas APC (both the party and the
tablet) faced challenges due to controversial ingredients, whether in medicine
or governance.
APGA has maintained a clearer ideological consistency over the years, unlike APC, which evolved from a merger and has faced shifts in direction. It seems APGA’s regional and ideological roots have kept it stable, whereas APC has had to manage broader, sometimes conflicting interests.
References
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