‘WUNTISM’ AND NIGERIA’S POLITICAL THOUGHT

​​​​​Politics is not only about winning elections. At its best, politics is about ideas. It is about offering society a better way of organising itself, solving problems, and improving the lives of the people. Throughout history, every enduring political ideology began as an idea; an idea that was questioned, debated, criticised, refined and, in some cases, embraced.

As Nigerians, we have largely relied on political philosophies developed elsewhere. We speak of democracy, liberalism, capitalism and socialism. While these ideas have shaped modern governance across the world, I sometimes wonder whether our own experiences should also inspire original political thought. Can Nigeria develop an ideology that reflects our realities, our values and our aspirations?

It is this question that has inspired my attempt to introduce what I call Wuntism. I should immediately state that this article is not written to glorify any individual. Neither is it an attempt to create another political slogan. Rather, it is an effort to stimulate intellectual discussion around a leadership philosophy inspired by the values and public service approach associated with Bala Wunti. 

To me, Wuntism is a political and socio-economic ideology built on one simple conviction: the true purpose of leadership is to improve the quality of life of the people. Leadership should not be measured by the length of convoys, the number of political supporters, or even the number of projects commissioned. It should be measured by the opportunities created, the lives transformed and the hope restored.

A society that embraces this philosophy would place service above self. It would value integrity over personal gain, accountability over secrecy, and inclusion over exclusion. It would invest in education, healthcare, agriculture, enterprise, technology and infrastructure because these are the foundations upon which prosperous societies are built.

Wuntism also recognises that the government alone cannot deliver sustainable development. Communities, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious leaders and the private sector all have important roles to play. Development succeeds when citizens become active partners rather than passive observers.

One principle that I consider central to Wuntism is the development of young people. Nigeria is blessed with a youthful population whose energy, creativity and resilience remain largely untapped. Any ideology that fails to prepare young people for leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation cannot secure the country’s future. Investing in human capital is not an act of charity; it is a strategic investment in national development.

Some readers may ask whether Nigeria needs another political ideology. That is a legitimate question. My response is that every society benefits when new ideas are subjected to public examination. We should not be afraid to think differently, provided our ideas are open to scrutiny and constructive criticism.

For this reason, I do not present Wuntism as a complete or final body of thought. I present it as a proposition. It is my humble attempt to provoke discussion among students of political science, scholars, researchers and public policy experts. I hope they will interrogate the concept, challenge its assumptions, compare it with existing ideologies and, where necessary, improve upon it. Intellectual progress depends on such engagement.

Whether Wuntism ultimately gains acceptance is not for me to determine. That responsibility belongs to history, scholarship and public discourse. My role, as a writer and student of leadership, is simply to place an idea on the table and invite others to examine it.

Perhaps this conversation will end here. Perhaps it will inspire further research, classroom debates and scholarly publications. Either way, Nigeria stands to benefit whenever its citizens choose to think deeply about leadership instead of merely talking about politics.

If this article succeeds in provoking that conversation, then it will have served its purpose.

Mukhtar Jarmajo, Chief Executive Officer, Bala Wunti Support Organisation (BWSO)