Obasanjos third force technocrats politicians

You're referring to the "Third Force" movement in Nigerian politics, which was championed by Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President of Nigeria, during his second term in office (1999-2007).

The "Third Force" was a political movement aimed at creating a new political platform that would bridge the gap between the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). The movement sought to attract technocrats, politicians, and other professionals who were not affiliated with either of the two major parties.

Obasanjo's vision for the "Third Force" was to create a platform that would:

  1. Attract fresh talent and expertise from outside the traditional political class.
  2. Promote a new style of politics that was more issue-based and less focused on personal interests.
  3. Provide an alternative to the dominant PDP and ANPP, which were seen as corrupt and ineffective.

Some notable politicians and technocrats who were associated with the "Third Force" movement include:

  1. Atiku Abubakar: A former Vice President of Nigeria and a key figure in the PDP, who later defected to the Action Congress (AC) and later the APC.
  2. Bola Tinubu: A former Governor of Lagos State and a key figure in the AC, who later became a key player in the APC.
  3. Nasir el-Rufai: A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a key figure in the AC, who later became the Governor of Kaduna State.
  4. Nuhu Ribadu: A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a key figure in the AC, who later became the Governor of Adamawa State.
  5. Oby Ezekwesili: A former Minister of Education and a key figure in the AC, who later became a leading figure in the #BringBackOurGirls movement.

However, the "Third Force" movement ultimately failed to achieve its goals, and many of its key figures either returned to their original parties or defected to other parties. The movement was criticized for being too vague and lacking a clear ideology, and it was also seen as a way for Obasanjo to consolidate his power and influence in Nigerian politics.