I have always wondered if the recent crop of new age politicians have ideologies or even understand ideologies that their political parties represent or stand for with the way they are always decamping and recamping as soon as they are not nominated or should i use the word selected to run on the platforms of their respective parties. I remember in the last general elections how our so called politicians were just joining every and any party as long as they were the governorship,senatoria whatever candidate,some party seceteriats were set up in some of them's homes.

In most developed democracies and even in our earlier political history,political parties had ideological viewpoints,we all know the world view of republicans and democrats in the United states,The labour and conservative parties in the united kingdom and even of the NPN and UPN in the 70's,even the SDP and NRC both had republican and democratic tendecies in 1993 pols.Members of these parties believe in certain principles and this makes up their party's mandate and manifesto.

Right now most of our political parties have no ideologies,its anything or anyone goes.I believe the rate of decamping that went on in the last elections just goes on to show that they (the politicians and parties) have no idea of what they actually want out of serving the nation,all they want is to get into power and would use any means to get there.One would wonder why Hilary Clinton did not become a republican considering the long and hard presidential tussle between she and Obama, I am guessing this is because she believes in the Democratic ideology of peope welfare as opposed to the free market principles most republicans believe in.I do think out political parties need to go back to the drawing board.

the gospel truth of it is that you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ears,the parties with ideology are there,but they r not given the chance either due to inec and the pdp behemoth labour party has an ideology,they are social democrats,ac does to an extent,fela floated a political party those days and it was an extreme left socialist party,same as gani fawehinmi's party, the point of my preamble is that there were,and have been parties with ideologies,but the pdp and the govt simply would never let them see the light of day, oshiomole shouldnt have had any cause to associate with the likes of tinubu and atiku if not for the logistics that he knows he needs to win which was besides a mass grassroots and state appeal,beacuse he is a labour man,socialist and tinubu and atiku are the opposite

IDEOLOGY! that would only happen if a large chunk of politicians stop being darn political prostitutes. the ideals they currently have are self based.

we have some parties currently that tend to fit into ur point, as lucab said, the labor party which just got their first elected official in the name of governor Mimiko has been around for quite a while but failed to gain the steam needed to make itself known. it has finally put its name out there and hopefully it would grow as we progress.

Pray tell, is there any ideology to good leadership?

Is an intimate knowledge of socialism or conservatism really necessary to understand our problems?

Does a politician need to know the distinction between liberal theology and radical feminism
to understand the problems that ravage our polity?

I support our leader should be well read and articulate, but surely ideology is surplus to requirement.

doyin13:

Pray tell, is there any ideology to good leadership?

Is an intimate knowledge of socialism or conservatism really necessary to understand our problems?

Does a politician need to know the distinction between liberal theology and radical feminism
to understand the problems that ravage our polity?

I support our leader should be well read and articulate, but surely ideology is surplus to requirement.

As sated in my post,i said PART of, not the whole problem,i drew this conclusion due to the way most of our politicians tend to crosscarpet to other parties as soon as what they want(which is often power at all costs) does not come their way or sometimes a disagreement with their political godfathers.

This often shows that ideals and the ideals of the party actually mean nothing to them,anything goes as long as they become governor,senator etc.As someone said these parties are in existence but are not allowed to thrive,i voted the labour party(much to my parents' annoyance)in the 2003 polls as i agreed with what they actually stood for,i could see a mandate.Maybe the use of the word'ideology' was wrong to use in this context but what i am trying to pass across is most times,we do not know what principles parties we are voting stand for.
Take this example, i voted AC in the 07 elections in lagos(i did not vote in the presidential elections and others cos i did know most of the candiates and i absolutely did not agree with principles of those i knew) not because of AC(i do not know what they stand for as well due to some certain elements among them like Tom Ikimi) but because i was impressed by Fashola's vision in the debates.The labour candidate(Femi Pedro) clearly did not stand for labour ideals and just contested on that platform cos he lost the primaries to Fashola.This is a clear example of what i am trying to pass across by saying they lack ideology,i probably should have used the word ideals or principles.

In the words of Femi Adesina of Sun Newspaper, I quote: "The problem with Nigeria is not poverty of purse, it is poverty of purpose." Our leaders lack basic ideology or purpose to effectively lead its people. We have political parties who have no ideology save except for their party logo.

If we are to start getting it right in Nigeria, ideologies of aspirants contesting for elections in whatever capacity in the nation, needs to be checked.

Who says there is no ideology , where would you put the common ideology of looting.

There is an ideology, the question is do they have any positive political cum developmental ideology?

@damiso

I understand the problems you identify, cross carpeting and so on, but I think the solution you propose will only muddy up the situation. I have always thought debates on ideology are often propagated by bored intellectuals and self interested journalists. Ultimately, politicians of whatever ideological hue respond to precepts that often do not include ideology.

Besides, how many constituents in the Nigerian polity understand the intricacies of liberalism or social democracy. There is no ideological divide when it comes to issues which affect our society. There is no left or right when it comes to corruption, the lack of electricity, water etc. That is why the character of the men and women whom we choose to elect is more important. A solid record of achievement or service is a better indicator of an individual worthy of a position of responsibility rather than what ideological position he purports to espouse.