Still on Politics of Defection
By Akintola Abdulraman
_”The whole history of the world is summed up in the fact that, when nations are strong, they are not always just, and when they wish to be just, they are no longer strong.”_ Winston Churchill
All eyes on the 2019 General elections as politicians sell their political ideas to feed the populace with their ideologies and the plans. In a period of defection from a party to another, Nigerians recall the previous elections of 2015 where an incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was defeated by General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressive Congress (APC).
President Buhari, a former military Head of State, had contested for the presidency three times and failed under different political parties and arrangements. With major defections in 2014 to the opposition party, the then APC gave Buhari the victory.
We are living witness to similar scenarios as several members of the ruling APC have defected to PDP including governors and legislators at national and state level.
The questions begging for answers on this defection saga are so many from moral, social and political angles many things is wrong. Why should loyal party members continue to move from one party to the other ceaselessly? Is that a global practice? Why are politicians after absuning, attacking, defaming and belittling a political party, without sense of shame they still come back to it?
This is to tell us that this country is ruled by just one party in which different people try to play it safe to attain their objectives. These same people have been the one ruling this country years after years and the mantle is being given to their future Family. For more reference, check the Saraki family in Kwara, the Yar’aduas in Katsina, Tinubus in Lagos, the Igbidions in Edo and lately the Adelekes of Osun.
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Today, politics has now taken over, it is either you are in or out; either for or against. But what the populace is clamouring for is just the provision of 24/7 power and water supply, good roads, quality and affordable education and health care services and better infrastructural development.
According to Dr. L. K. Mustapha, he opined that Nigeria does not have three major ethnic groups, neither two major religions, but we only have the religion of the poor and the rich. This is a situation where the rich will continuously render the poor poorer while the rich will continue to be richer.
Considering the bastardisation of the political process by the politicians, It is high time to invite human right activists, educationists and academics and women and youths movements not to only advocate for political discipline but create political platforms where they could play prominent roles.
We cannot wait forever for the failed political class to remake themselves. Increasingly, we’ll have to pursue a third way, a new wave of politically-conscious Nigerians to unite towards building political platform on cherished values of accountability, responsiveness and commitment to positive changes. It may not necessarily be a political party, even a political force could serve the purpose. The progressives exist in the virtual chat rooms, drinking bars, schools and places of worship.
But we need to provide a different avenue to ventilate these values and draw out these progressives.
It is important that Nigeria, and indeed, politicians, take a cue and allow order on the scene. Every democracy requires a virile opposition to keep the government in power on its toes. The politics of bread and butter, which is seemingly being practised at the moment, must be jettisoned. Where possible, the Nigerian people must also not hesitate to apply the relevant sections of the Constitution to call erring politicians to order, in a bid to stem the tide of this dangerous trend.
I strongly believe, there should be regulation to check and sanction politicians who behave like prostitutes with the needles defection.
Let us all put our trust in God, get our PVC and be part of the political decision-making process to make it better. Let us all rise for a better 2019. Don’t ever sit and look. Play your part today and let God judge rightfully. Don’t be a political prey. Never sacrifice your generation.
Akintola Abdulraman
aboudramanea@gmail.com
