Unity Party of Nigeria
Encyclopedia
The Unity Party of Nigeria was a Nigeria
n political party that was dominant in western Nigeria during the second republic. The party revolved around the political leadership
of Obafemi Awolowo
, a sometimes polemical but effective administrator. However, the party's main difference with its competitors was not the leader but the ideals of a social democracy it was founded on. Both UPN and PRP
presented the most coherent plan of action during the electioneering campaign of 1979. The party jettisoned building a coalition of comfort in a polarizing political environment but based partnerships on a coalition of like minded advocates of democratic socialism
.
became a political matter to be exploited or used for political gain. The UPN, saw itself as a party for everyone, it was the only party to promote free education and called itself a welfarist party.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n political party that was dominant in western Nigeria during the second republic. The party revolved around the political leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
of Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Awolowo
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was a Nigerian politician, trade unionist, author and statesman. A Yoruba and native of Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria, he started his career as a regional political leader like most of his pre-independence contemporaries and was responsible for much of the progressive...
, a sometimes polemical but effective administrator. However, the party's main difference with its competitors was not the leader but the ideals of a social democracy it was founded on. Both UPN and PRP
PRP
PRP may stand for:* Park Royal Partnership in London* Patriotic Renewal Party or Partido Renovación Patriótica, a political party in Honduras* Peel Regional Police* People's Reconciliation Party* People's Republic of Poland* Personnel Reliability Program...
presented the most coherent plan of action during the electioneering campaign of 1979. The party jettisoned building a coalition of comfort in a polarizing political environment but based partnerships on a coalition of like minded advocates of democratic socialism
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
.
History
The desired goal of the military government of Olusegun Obasanjo to build national political parties led to a gradual weakening of ethnic politics in the second republic. However, an emerging force was beginning to shape the political debate, classSocial class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
became a political matter to be exploited or used for political gain. The UPN, saw itself as a party for everyone, it was the only party to promote free education and called itself a welfarist party.
Views
- The party supported a 30-40% revenue allocation for the Federal Government, 40-50% for the states and 10% for the local governments in debates centering on the intractable revenue allocation mechanism in Nigeria.
- Free education for all
- Free medical treatment
- A progressive program for development of roads and schools
- Constitutional amendments for state creation, which implied longer time needed from initiation to approval.