Another View on The Southerner Newspaper
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Recently, two states, Enugu and Bayelsa, originally under the control of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, collapsed into the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Before the two states, Delta, Akwa Ibom and others had since joined the APC at the centre. The ‘cross carpeting’ by politicians, especially from opposition political parties to the ruling APC at the centre is mind boggling. Yet, It is the reigning and biggest game within our political drama at the moment.
Interestingly, they do it with rash, reminiscent of okada, Keke or Danfo drivers on Lagos roads who easily and skillfully switch lanes without minding the driving code, road rules nor the dangers it portends.
The movement from one party to another has put a big question mark on the way and manner we practice political democracy in Nigeria. It has proved that our political party system is weak. It has shown that individuals are stronger than political parties. If not, why would a man who won an election under a particular party, abandon the party and move to another without consequences?
Some political analysts have always posited that, we don’t have political parties in the real terms of the word. We only have a group out to satisfy the interests of the financier or sponsor.
The mass supporters and members of the PDP or any opposition parties in states where defections have taken place were not consulted nor carried along before the defections.
In any true democracy, the people have a say in decisions and can hold the leadership accountable. But it is not so in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the people are expected to tag along, good or bad, once the political and financial sponsors speak.
Our political leaders in Nigeria have long murdered ideology. Once in power, they destroy the political rules guiding the party and introduce theirs which is often selfish.
Politicians in the ruling party tend to destroy the opposition that helps to check the excesses, wrong policies and bad governance of the government in power.
Defections for me merely promote political brigandage. We now encourage and harbour political indiscipline thereby making the electoral laws ineffective in our country. We are asked, what kind of people are we?
Change, they say is inevitable. Human beings will always move to where they possibly find comfort. For whatever it is, change is constant. The same thing applies to political interests. No politician fiddles with his political interests. To them, it is basic when doing their permutations. But adhering to rules is as important as breathing. In the interest of justice, peace, unity and development of the society, laws must remain sacrosanct.
Somehow, the easy defection of today’s politicians to another party, especially to the party in control of the national or state government is proof that invites us all to reflect on this ugly reality that is about destroying our politics. Truth be told, it may favour the party in power today but it is to the detriment of our rich political heritage, the free sharing of ideas and views, debates and identifying genuine and committed individuals for tomorrow’s leadership.
Let us not destroy Nigeria because of our personal ambition for power. Like the Igbo will say, let’s not forget that the gods don’t forgive easily. Once they set out for a mission, they are hardly returned mid-way.
There is no political ideology attached to these defections. It has made the political parties vulnerable. There is no sincerity and national interest at heart. It is all geared towards sitting at the ‘dining table’ for ‘stomach infrastructure.’
It is wrong to kill a beautiful idea. It is the chances that multi party system offers that brought the APC and the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to power.
If these defections continue till 2027 we have invariably instituted a political culture that we all will live to regret. Why are we as a country setting aside our fancied political tradition? Why do we want to trade with our well admired and robust political contest involving several registered parties?
Why are those old men and women with rich political history and knowledge not speaking out? Even those dreaming to be politically relevant are not speaking against this evqaabout altering our political system. A one-party state is equal to dictatorship. It will kill ideas, create intolerance to criticisms. We should discourage this trend.
It is evidently clear from all indications that, presently, governance is on recess all over the country. Politicking for 2027, about two years away from now, is what is in vogue. This is Nigeria where governance is secondary. Politics is highly appreciated more than governance.
Presently, in the country, the economy is not doing well. There is hardship and hunger everywhere. Many are dying. Several are frustrated and maimed. Depression is on the increase among citizens. Insanity is on the rise. All due to the grave economic pains people are made to go through. Yet, our political elites are more focused on politics than solving the socio-economic quagmire.
No government with the best interest of the people at heart would lose focus on delivering dividends of democracy and good governance. But here we are, what our leaders have placed on the front burner is politics! politics!! and politics!!!
I have always argued that, if our leaders are seriously thinking of developing the country since 1999, when democracy returned to Nigeria, we should have a functioning railway system alongside other infrastructural projects in the country.
The question of power failure in every nook and cranny of the country would have been a thing of the past. Low and medium houses would have been built in hundreds in the 774 LGAs of the country to cater for the poor.
If good governance is considered foremost by our elected leaders since 1999. If stabilizing the economy is paramount, why do we still not have a functioning refinery? Why are the Aladja and Ajaokuta steel mills comatose? What have we done to revive our rolling mills? Why do corruption and insecurity keep magnifying?
The politicians of this era have turned politics into a business venture, a ‘cash-out’ phenomenon. It is all about making money, buying very expensive automobiles, building estates here and outside and acquiring other personal property and not about any good governance for the country and its teeming population.
That is why the politicians are all in millions or billions of dollar/naira depending on their political weight. So much money is spent maintaining these politicians rather than on security, social and economic infrastructural development that would reduce poverty and contribute positively to citizens’ lives.
We don’t have honourable men and women in leadership positions. We only have leaders with special interests in building an empire for themselves.
Our legal system ought to be hard on politicians jumping from party to party before, during and after elections for any slightest excuses. Our electoral act should make it difficult for winners and losers to easily cross carpet to another party.
It is because of the deliberate sidelining of the rules by politicians and the court looking the other way that has made it easy for these men and women in politics today to jump out of their initial political party that brought them to power to another.
Nigeria must be stopped from descending into a one-party state. It is dangerous and democratically backward. It is destructive. We should encourage multi-party system in Nigeria to support our constitutional rights to freedom of association and expression. It deepens democracy, promotes good governance and accelerates political development.
Nigeria’s democracy should be an example for the rest of Africa and the world. But this undemocratic and coercive defections negate every principle of democracy. How can Nigeria pride herself as model of democracy in Africa? How can we frown at countries with military rule in our continent?
Nigeria is not a small country in Africa and, by extension the world. But the way our government runs has set us back. It is deeply regrettable that, those of us who fought for this democracy are crying in our silent corners. Was this the kind of democracy we almost got killed for? This political ‘jumpology’ is detrimental to our democracy.
Recently, two states, Enugu and Bayelsa, originally under the control of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, have collapsed into the hands of All Progressives Congress, APC.
Before the two states, Delta, Akwa Ibom and others had since joined the party at the centre. The ‘cross carpeting’ by politicians especially from opposition political parties to the ruling APC at the centre is mind boggling. Yet, It is the reigning and biggest game within our political drama at the moment.
Interestingly, they do it with rash, reminiscent of okada, Keke or Danfo drivers on our Lagos roads who easily and skillfully switch over lanes without minding the driving code, road rules nor the dangers it portends.
The movements have put a big question mark on the way and manner we practice political democracy in Nigeria. It has proved that our political party system is weak. It has shown that individuals are stronger than political parties. If not, why would a man who won an election under a particular party, abandon the party and move to another without consequences?
Some political analysts have always posited that, we don’t have political parties as in real terms. We only have a group to satisfy the interest of the financier or sponsor.
The mass supporters and members of the PDP or any opposition in the states were not consulted nor carried along before the defections. In any true democracy, the people have a say in decisions and can hold the leadership accountable. But it is not so in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the people are expected to tag along, good or bad, once the political and financial sponsors speak.
Our political leaders in Nigeria have long murdered ideology. Once in power, they destroy the political rules guiding the party and introduce theirs which is often considered selfish.
They tend to destroy the opposition that helps to check the excesses, wrong policies and bad governance of the government in power.
The defectors are merely promoting political brigandage. We now encourage and harbour political indiscipline thereby making the electoral laws ineffective in our country. We are asked, what kind of people are we?
In life, change, they say is inevitable. Human beings will always move to where they possibly find comfort. For whatever it is, change is constant. The same applies to political interest. No politician fiddles with his political interest. To them, it is basic when doing their permutations. But adhering to rules is as important as breathing. In the interest of justice, peace, unity and development of the society laws must remain sacrosanct.
Somehow, the easy defection of today’s politicians to another party, especially to the party in control of the national or state government is a proof that invites us all to reflect on this ugly reality that is about destroying our politics. The truth be told, it may favour the party in power today but to the detriment of our rich political heritage, the free sharing of ideas and views, debates abd identifying genuine and committed individuals for tomorrow’s leadership.
Let us not destroy Nigeria because of our personal ambition for power. Like the Igbo will say, let’s not forget that the gods don’t forgive easily. Once they set out for a mission, they are hardly returned mid-way.
There is no political ideology attached to these defections. It has made the political parties vulnerable. There is no sincerity and national interest at heart, it is all geared towards sitting at the ‘dining table’ for ‘stomach infrastructure.’
It is wrong to kill a beautiful idea. It is the chances that multi party system offers that have brought the APC and the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to power.
If these defections continue till 2027 we have invariably instituted a political culture that we all will live to regret. Why are we as a country setting aside our fancied political tradition? Why do we want to trade with our well admired and robust political contest involving several registered parties?
Why are those old men and women with rich political history and knowledge not speaking out? Even those dreaming to be politically relevant are not speaking against this evil about altering our political system. A one-party state is equal to dictatorship. It will kill ideas, create intolerance to criticisms. We should discourage this trend.
It is evidently clear from all indications that, presently governance is on recess all over the country. Politicking for 2027, about two years away from now, is what is in vogue. This is Nigeria where governance is secondary. Politics is highly appreciated more than governance.
Presently, in the country, the economy is not doing well. There is hardship and hunger everywhere. Many are dying. Several are frustrated and maimed. Depression is on the increase among citizens. Insanity is on the rise. All due to the grave economic pains people are made to go through. Yet, our political elites are more focused on politics than solving the socio-economic quagmire.
No government with the best interest of the people at heart would lose focus on delivering dividends of democracy and good governance. But here we are, what our leaders have placed on the front burner is politics! politics!! and politics!!!
I have always argued that, if our leaders are seriously thinking of developing the country since 1999, when democracy returned to Nigeria, we should have a functioning railway system alongside other infrastructural projects in the country.
The question of power failure in every nook and cranny of the country would have been a thing of the past. Low and medium houses would have been built in hundreds in the 774 LGAs of the country to cater for the poor.
If good governance is considered foremost by our elected leaders since 1999. If stabilizing the economy is of paramount, why do we still not have a functioning refinery? Why are the Aladja and Ajaokuta steel mills comatose? What have we done to revive our rolling mills? Why do corruption and insecurity keep magnifying?
The politicians of this era have turned politics into a business venture, a ‘cash-out’ phenomenon. It is all about making money, buying very expensive automobiles, building estates here and outside and acquiring other personal property and not about any good governance for the country and its teeming population.
That is why the politicians are all in millions or billions of dollar/naira depending on their political height.
So much money is spent maintaining these politicians rather than on security, social and economic infrastructural development that would reduce poverty and contribute positively to citizens’ lives.
We don’t have honourable men and women in leadership positions. We only have leaders with special interest in building an empire for themselves.
Our legal system should be hard on politicians jumping from party to party before, during and after elections at any slightest chances. Our electoral act should make it difficult for winners and losers to easily crossover to another party.
It is because of the deliberate sidelining of the rules by politician’s and the court looking the other way that has made it easy for these men and women in politics today to jump out of their initial political party that brought them to power to another.
Nigeria must be stopped from descending to a one-party state. It is dangerous and democratically backward. It is destructive. We should encourage multi-party system in Nigeria today support our constitutional rights to freedom of association and expression. It deepens democracy, promotes good governance and accelerates political development.
Nigeria’s democracy should be an example for the rest of Africa and the world. But this undemocratic and coercive defections negate every principle of democracy. How can Nigeria pride herself as model of democracy in Africa? How can we frown at countries with military rule in our continent?
Nigeria is not a small country in Africa and, by extension the world. But the way our government runs has set us back. It is deeply regrettable that, those of us who fought for this democracy are crying in their silent corners. Was this the kind of democracy some of us almost got killed for?
There are dangers ahead while we all keep mum to allow this democracy walk into a one party state. It is not favourable and must be discouraged. The present leadership of APC must work hard to meet the expectations and yearnings of Nigerians and not use its precious time building a one-party state structure that would ultimately not augur well for the country.
Our social, political, economic and security needs are in quantum. That is more than enough to occupy the President’s time. Several Nigerians are losing trust in the electoral process because of the fallouts from INEC-declared results.
There is no security anywhere in Nigeria. Many are kidnapped, some survive while others get killed. People are slaughtered like chickens on daily basis and nothing happens. Individually, we are squarely on our own. In my small estate, the men hardly sleep every night because of night marauders. We have joined the Security Guards to provide security for ourselves and family.
The government should be more occupied working round the clock to provide essentials for the people. It’s so sad and disappointing that, Nigeria is under fire while the ruling party, APC is more occupied with politics of 2027. So sad!
Let us realize that there is no position that is permanent. Power is always transient, just for a moment. Certainly, the people in power today, will not be there in the next six years or thereabouts. Questions would be asked, how and what did we do to challenge this ugly trend? Did we shield the truth or argued against it?
Nigeria has never been a country of conquered people. There has always been the courageous and outspoken resistance against intimidation, tyranny, u democratic forces and political merchants.
We are at a moment in our political history, we must counter any form of political slavery. Nigeria is not for sale. And, no individual or group can buy or pocket her.
If our colonial masters couldn’t suppress us with all their education, exposure, science and technological know-how; If the military failed to turn the country into their barracks with all their armoured tanks, and firepower and brutality then, no one individual or group, no matter how political savvy can ever turn Nigeria into a conquered or captured territory.
