Much Ado About Defection [Part 1]

written by Omogbolahan L.A Babawale, Abuja 

The spate of defection/decamping by political players and which has gained prominence in Nigerian politics is an age long syndrome. It dated back to the 2^nd Republic when the Premier of the Western Region then, Chief Samuel L. Akintola, in the heat of a serious crisis that rocked the Action Group (AG-a Pan-Yoruba political front) under the headship of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo defected and formed a new party-The Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) which later was to over government from the AG-led government of Chief Awolowo.

Ipso facto, the political arena has continued to witness the power –play of all sorts. The current Republic is not left out of the menace. The polarization of Alliance for Democracy (purportedly the followers of Awo’s credos), a party that ushered in the South-Western governors in the 1999 general elections. And just like the Awolowo/Akintola feud of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, the Bisi Akande/Akinfenwa leadership tussle caused a major setback for the party which eventually led to the breakaway of some notable political juggernauts in the Yoruba caucus. And so was the emergence of the Action Congress under the headship of Chief Bisi Akande.

The fact remains that a good number of reasons account for the prominence of this political aberration which is becoming a cankerworm in our political life.

….THE WHY

Just like some political analysts x-rayed what led to the collapse of the 1^st Republic; prominent among the factors given was the lack of political culture among elites to sustain democracy. The desperate attempt bring into play, various ideologies characterized by self-ego, rather than unity of purpose. The failure to play the game according to the rules as well as ethno-cultural inclination of individuals and groups. The world itself is dynamic, so is the Nigerian political terrain continue to align itself with its dynamics. A sitting governor for instance continues to remain in power as long he has the state machineries at his beck and call. However, when the situation seems going out of hand and thus he is seen to be losing grip of his return ticket consequent upon conundrums between him and the party.

Godfatherism is as old as politics itself in Nigeria. There are political players who do not aspire or contest for any elective office (s), yet they dictate the pace in the political stadium. They tell who gets what, and in return, they partake in the sharing of the public resources. These so-called godfathers fix whoever they want (godsons and daughters) into office as long as they play by the rules. On the contrary, the office holder/seeker pays the ultimate price! Facts are not far-fetched. The case of embattled ex-governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja and his late godfather, Chief Lamidi Adedibu is still very fresh in memory, so also is that of Zamfara State governor, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi and his former predecessor and political godfather, Senator Ahmad Yerima.

One other key factor is ungratefulness on part of the office holder. More importantly is the case of the Bauchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda and Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State. These are people whom when they were dropped by their party to contest for governorship election of their individual state, sought solace in All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and People’s Progreessive Party (PPA) respectively and was warmly welcomed. But alas, they turned and bit the fingers that fed them!

It is so disgusting that within the spate of two years, the duo of Yuguda and Ohakim could forget the humiliation they went through in the hands of PDP. As for Yuguda, Bauchi State was almost turned to hell when there signs that PDP was at the height of rigging the election again! I read recently in ‘The Nation’ of Tuesday August 11, 2009 (page 16) where a group of sycophants under the auspices of New Face Organization in the FCT (NFO-FCT) issued a communiqué signed by its coordinator, Victor Assam, Publicity Secretary, Greg Nwaowa, just like one Nwosu wrote on page 20 of the same paper, all pointing to the fact that Ohakim should not be crucified for decamping. If Kalu as a sitting governor then could defect from PDP to form PPA, that nothing stops Ohakim as well. But one thing they failed to understand was the antecedents that culminated in Kalu’s action.

A report from some quarters did say that Imo state did not vote for party, rather, they voted for the personality of Ohakim. The question now is if PPA had not provided the platform for him, how would he have been voted for? The bottom line is that it was morally wrong, for whatever reason (s), of him to spite on the face of his benefactor. Shikena!

Only recently did the national chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor said PDP was going to rule for 60 (sixty) years! Nigerians took the statement like a child’s play but what we are witnessing today is a manifestation of that statement. Part of the strategy is to turn the country to a one-party state and this is obviously working in some quarters. Not too long ago did Yar’adua give two of his daughters out in marriage to two serving ANPP governors, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi and Isa Yuguda of Zamfara and Bauchi States. And what was the aftermath of that? Defection! Funny though, but it is the home truth………

…to be continued 

Robot  # 1 | 02.10.2009 08:23

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