In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed some heavy weight cross-carpeting among the political elites. Perhaps, there may still be more defections in the coming months before the 2019 elections. Those changing parties have adduced reasons and events leading to their decisions, but none is done in the interest of the masses. Assistant Editor, CHINWE MADUAGWU, writes.
Change, they say, is the only permanent thing in life. If you juxtapose that with the saying that in politics there are no permanent foe or friend, but only permanent interests, then, the recent spate of cross carpeting from one party to the other would not be a surprise.
The past few weeks have seen political heavy weights moving from one side of the divide to the other. Such heavy weights include sitting governors, serving senators and house of representative members as well as top party officials, among others.
Worst hit so far has been the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has lost such notable members as Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Senators Bukola Saraki and Dino Melaye. Among others, the party also lost its former National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Ahmed.
On the part of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), notables like Senator Godswil Akpabio, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Tambuwal have decamped to the APC. In defecting, Shehu-Tambuwal was said to have gotten 10, 000 supporters to go with him.
Of course, as Nigerians have come to say, the transfer window is still open, meaning there may be more cross-carpeting in the months leading the elections.
The sumation of the reasons offered by the defectors, irrespective of where they are coming from and where they are going, is that the parties have failed in meeting up with promises to both party members and the citizens.
Announcing his defection from the APC back to the PDP, Governor Tambuwal said the party had failed to live up to its promise to enthrone “purposeful leadership for citizens of our dear country.”
He said the leaders of the party had, as at the time he left the PDP, “represented and symbolized the aspiration of Nigerians for progress and prosperity under one united, indivisible nation.
“Now, almost four years into what ought to be a new order as desired and elected by Nigerians, the nation is unfortunately going through the most difficult and precarious times, since the Civil war; with ethno, religious and regional distrust at its highest ebb.
“This development had often been blamed on political opponents. Meanwhile, there are issues of brazen inequity and capacity and questionable distribution of appointments/projects. This is in addition to lack of statesmanship in responding to national issues, among other things that are far aggravating the anomaly.”
The Governor accused the APC of “not breaking new grounds in any positive sense, but has instead reached historically unprecedented heights of impunity in all manner of vices far above and beyond the challenges, which made some of us to leave the PDP about four years ago to join others to form the APC.
“The party has brazenly turned itself into a sanctuary for the corrupt and a machine for rigging and for the rape of democracy.”
According to him, he returns to the PDP with a clear conscience, “because the party has learnt some bitter lessons and noted what mistakes it must avoid in the future.”
In his own defection speech, Senator Bukola Saraki sited intra party wranglings and ineffective governance as reasons for decamping.
His words; “it is after an extensive consultation with all the important stakeholders that we have come to this difficult but inevitable decision to pitch our political tent elsewhere; where we could enjoy greater sense of belonging and where the interests of the greatest number of Nigerians would be best served.
“While I take full responsibility for this decision, I will like to emphasise that it is a decision that has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist.
“They have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded. All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion.”
He is also convinced that the PDP has learnt its lessons.
Benue State Governor, Dr. Ortom hinged his defection on aparthy from the federal government towards the killings in his state as well as persecution due to his anti-grazing law.
Moving from the PDP to the APC, Senator Godswil Akpabio, claimed ‘national interest.’ His words, “I decided to join the APC at this time because I am a nationalist. In times like this, everybody should support to bring peace to our dear nation; to stop the killings and ensure employment for our teeming youths.”
“Whatever I do is in the interest of Akwa Ibom. I want to leave a legacy in the national interest.”
In all the reasons given, none has sounded truly convincing that he is motivated by the desire to serve the masses and impact them positively.
In a recent interview with the Next Edition, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, a lawyer, said politicians looked out for personal aggrandisement over and above any other thing.
This belief is corroborated by Mr. Nnaemeka Meribe who said it would be naive to think that the politicians defected or are defecting because they care for the people.
In his views, the defections are propelled by selfishness and fuelled by ambitions. “The politicians are aggrieved that their personal interests are unlikely to be protected in their old party hence they are moving to a new party,” he said.
Unfortunately, according to him, “the masses will continue to be the pawns in this game of interest and ambition. But they have the election day to reward each politician and political party according to their deeds.”
He said it was time for voters to realise that they are powerful enough to recall legislators and cause the resignation of members of the executive.
“In our clime, performance of a politician does not move voters as much as ethnicity and religion. These and other primordial sentiments move voters more. I wish the voters will do away with such sentiments and look at track records before voting,” Mr. Meribe said.
Cross carpeting is an acceptable part of politics and should be expected whenever an election is approaching. The issue, therefore, is not that somebody left one party for another. But what should be of concern to any discerning individual is the reason for the movement.
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It is at this time that the masses should seriously ask the question, ‘what’s in it for me,’ not in terms of how much money or quantity of edibles to get your vote but rather, each and everyone seeking elective office must answer to issues and concerns such as; would you make it cheaper and easier for my family and I to access quality health care? Would I be comfortable sending my children to government schools at all levels, would it be possible for me to go to bed and wake up without the power going off, can I entrust my security into your hands, would you make laws that will protect my interests, whatever they are?
If you can’t get a reassuring yes to these questions and other cogent ones, that should tell you to look else where. It is time to look at personalities and their capabilities rather than political parties or religion or ethnicity. At the end of the day, the parties are the same, comprising people moving in and out, often times for their personal aggrandisement.
Now is the time to ask yourself, ‘if I hand over four years of my life to this man, this woman, what are the chances of growth for me’? Ask yourself, ‘from all I know about this fellow, if I establish a big business today, would I employ him or her to run it on my behalf and be confident that he or she would not run it aground’?
Our mumu should be enough as Charlie Boy and his group say. As the man or woman with the vote, you can decide to stop being a pawn in the game of chess and be a king or queen.
Leaders are elected to serve. They should be loyal to those who elected them and not the other way round.
Margaret Chase Smith, a former US Senator once said, “Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.” It is time to scrutinise those who want to serve and ask, ‘what are their antecedents, what can they offer.’
Denise Morrison an American business executive, also said, “I think leadership is service and there is power in that giving: to help people, to inspire and motivate them to reach their fullest potential.”
As 2019 approaches and as the politicians align and realign, the masses should focus on those who have their interest at heart.
