By Muhammad Mamman
Former minister and political thinker Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has reignited the debate on political allegiance, insisting that loyalty should be anchored to ideals and causes rather than individuals.
In a video shared from the launch of The Loyalist, his newly released memoir, Abdullahi argued that blind loyalty to personalities undermines democratic growth and weakens institutions. Drawing from his personal and political journey, he maintained that enduring progress is only possible when commitment is tied to shared values, principles and national interest.
“Where I come from, loyalty is to a cause, not to personalities,” Abdullahi said in the excerpts, stressing that political movements should outlive individual actors and remain accountable to the people they claim to serve.
The memoir, The Loyalist, chronicles Abdullahi’s experiences in public service, party politics and governance, offering reflections on power, conscience and the cost of staying true to one’s beliefs in a highly personalised political environment.
The book launch attracted politicians, intellectuals and civil society figures, many of whom described the work as a timely intervention in Nigeria’s evolving political discourse, particularly at a time when defections and personality-driven alignments dominate the landscape.
Observers say Abdullahi’s remarks resonate beyond the event, posing a broader question about the future of political loyalty in Nigeria and whether the nation’s democracy can shift from personality cults to issue-based engagement.
