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The idea of “Progressive” in reference to APC contains a high dose of dishonesty which Nigerians must be clear about. Progressivism connotes reforms. APC is not a reformist party. APC will not stand for any change? APC is an extremist religious political party. As currently constituted, APC cannot be progressive in the true sense of political progressivism. Before one reacts belligerently, one must understand the mindset of the top personalities that currently constitute APC. We cannot deny that APC is replete with staunch religious traditionalists or conservatives who do not intend to utter the orthodoxies. If APC heads any government in Nigeria, it would compromise of the same cabals who have ruled Nigeria in the past and who have no intention of uttering the existing order within the political and civil institutions.
APC as data currently suggest seems to be another name for Islamic conservative movement. Can a party so constituted argue for a political reformation or transformation? Can it argue for social progressivism? Perhaps not! Progressivism often borrows policy ideas form liberalism and liberal thinking. Will this be possible with APC considering the caliber of religious persons within the party? . Buhari, an outstanding leader of APC for example does not have progressive agenda on anything. He is an uncompromising religious conservative.
A political party that is predominantly comprised of die-hard Islamists will find little or no room to incorporate progressive thinking within the stratagem of its governance including social and cultural policies. Many of those in APC have the religious orientations that believe in child brides as preached by Sharia. What is progressive about maintaining the outdated religious pedophiliac instructions within a modern society? In terms of future governance and political dispensations, the claim to progressivism by APC is but a gambit. Let no one be misled. Nigerians need to study what Islamic conformists are slow to modern change before allowing a party like APC into political governance. Knowledge is power. Strict Islamic orientations often inhibit modern sciences, education, equality of women and children, freedom of thoughts and expression. These are all progressive ideals.
As a political ideology, progressivism is a break away from the existing orthodoxy. It does not seem APC is willing to do this. What is progressive about a party that is massively absolving the same political status quos that are decamping from PDP and embracing them as potential reformers? The fact is that APC is not progressive. We must understand that political progressivism looks at the world as fluid and not static as some religious traditionalists do. Progressives approach the world as constantly changing and scientifically evolving in terms of socio-political, cultural, scientific, technological, informative, economic and religious institutions. Progressivism embraces the philosophy of human progress in its true sense. When a political party resembles more like the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt, one must ask the basic question if the party is capable of modern reforms in the true sense of the word.
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