July 8, 2010
Our country is full of shameless men and women tagged 'politicians’, parading as our leaders. The big and small, the godfathers and their protégés are losing their right senses of reasoning. It is an open truth that any leadership without the availability of enough healthy opposition, from any source, will gradually translate to dictatorship. I once said that our country is gradually returning to the dictatorship era, which subjected us to untold hardship and reduced chances of growth in every sector.
Our country is full of shameless men and women tagged 'politicians’, parading as our leaders. The big and small, the godfathers and their protégés are losing their right senses of reasoning. It is an open truth that any leadership without the availability of enough healthy opposition, from any source, will gradually translate to dictatorship. I once said that our country is gradually returning to the dictatorship era, which subjected us to untold hardship and reduced chances of growth in every sector.
Nigeria has gained certain notoriety from the uncontrolled defection of members of her political class in search of greener pastures. This defection is independent of any good reason or promising future for the nation at the long run. Our politicians are so free to keep defecting, provided their selfish desires are satiated. The satiric episodes of carpet crossing that occurred in recent times, have succeeded in jeopardizing the efforts we have made to democratically grow. It has also tainted the more, our already suspicious image.
It appears that everyone is involved in the mess. It seems that everyone has sacrificed shame and integrity on the platter of fame and personal gains, or whatsoever reason. It is quite appalling. Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) is poised to officially return to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) next week. It was gathered that the official declaration would have taken place but for some logistics problems.
Reports have it that Kalu's imminent return to the PDP is hinged on the pledge he personally made to the new PDP Chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo should Nwodo emerge victorious as the national chairman. Nwodo and Kalu left PDP the same day. Is that a good reason for defecting? It sounds more of returning to ones vomit. As shameless as he may be, he has quickly forgotten the past, together with the healthy opposition coming from the PPA to the PDP. Maybe, he has been promised 'heaven and earth'.
His mantra of defense for daring to nurture such an idea is a merger talk, between the leadership of the two parties. People Deceiving People! OUK should be busy, considering taking a critical look into the recent crisis that rocked his party, in a bid to restoring the peace needed for increasing and maintaining the opposition between political parties, especially that against PDP. Nigerians are earnestly searching and waiting for men of stout integrity, with the ability of resisting any unnecessary compromise and defection, even in strong crises. Can we still lay hold on such men? Evidently, such men are scarce even among the elites and the intellectuals in Nigeria. Political parties also see defection as a means of increasing their numerical strength as well as their political power. They open their doors to anybody, including vagabonds, without considering the aftermath.
Carpet crossing is a big blow on our polity, as it brings disorganization and reduces the strength of the opposition needed to keep our democracy going. Recently, the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Senator Uche Chukwumerije and the National Publicity Secretary of PPA, Chief Ben Onyechere also dumped the party, maybe still considering the best party to defect to. Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim had last year declared for the PDP, after dumping the PPA, the party that brought him to power.
There is currently an unhealthy evanescence of opposition in our country's polity. Surprisingly, we all claim to be patriotic and steadfast in loyalty or principle, whereas we are full of fickleness and quest for personal gains against the general wellbeing of the whole nation. I can only blame our substandard constitution and the deceived masses that voted those men and women into those highly coveted positions.
Without political morality instilled by a potent constitution, politics will only be a do-or-die affair and the survival of the fittest. There will be unnecessary competition, thus warranting useless compromises. Unfortunately, the constitution is not there to do its work, and that is why cross carpeting is on the increase. One should be free to leave a political party anytime, but not with the mandate of the political party he is bidding farewell. It is the work of the constitution. If the problem within a party can precipitate into massive exodus and defection that cannot be checked by the 'power' of the constitution, it obviously shows the presence of a debilitating problem, a deadly cankerworm that should be quickly addressed, unless we want to insidiously return to military rule.
Politics is not and should not be a dirty game or a business venture, as believed by many. It is more than that. It demands sanity, fairness and discipline to actually be democratic. When the existing miniature opposition is completely destroyed, we’ll all be slaves in our own land. God forbid! Let's say 'N0' to Political prostitution.
Nigeria has gained certain notoriety from the uncontrolled defection of members of her political class in search of greener pastures. This defection is independent of any good reason or promising future for the nation at the long run. Our politicians are so free to keep defecting, provided their selfish desires are satiated. The satiric episodes of carpet crossing that occurred in recent times, have succeeded in jeopardizing the efforts we have made to democratically grow. It has also tainted the more, our already suspicious image.
It appears that everyone is involved in the mess. It seems that everyone has sacrificed shame and integrity on the platter of fame and personal gains, or whatsoever reason. It is quite appalling. Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) is poised to officially return to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) next week. It was gathered that the official declaration would have taken place but for some logistics problems.
Reports have it that Kalu's imminent return to the PDP is hinged on the pledge he personally made to the new PDP Chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo should Nwodo emerge victorious as the national chairman. Nwodo and Kalu left PDP the same day. Is that a good reason for defecting? It sounds more of returning to ones vomit. As shameless as he may be, he has quickly forgotten the past, together with the healthy opposition coming from the PPA to the PDP. Maybe, he has been promised 'heaven and earth'.
His mantra of defense for daring to nurture such an idea is a merger talk, between the leadership of the two parties. People Deceiving People! OUK should be busy, considering taking a critical look into the recent crisis that rocked his party, in a bid to restoring the peace needed for increasing and maintaining the opposition between political parties, especially that against PDP. Nigerians are earnestly searching and waiting for men of stout integrity, with the ability of resisting any unnecessary compromise and defection, even in strong crises. Can we still lay hold on such men? Evidently, such men are scarce even among the elites and the intellectuals in Nigeria. Political parties also see defection as a means of increasing their numerical strength as well as their political power. They open their doors to anybody, including vagabonds, without considering the aftermath.
Carpet crossing is a big blow on our polity, as it brings disorganization and reduces the strength of the opposition needed to keep our democracy going. Recently, the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Senator Uche Chukwumerije and the National Publicity Secretary of PPA, Chief Ben Onyechere also dumped the party, maybe still considering the best party to defect to. Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim had last year declared for the PDP, after dumping the PPA, the party that brought him to power.
There is currently an unhealthy evanescence of opposition in our country's polity. Surprisingly, we all claim to be patriotic and steadfast in loyalty or principle, whereas we are full of fickleness and quest for personal gains against the general wellbeing of the whole nation. I can only blame our substandard constitution and the deceived masses that voted those men and women into those highly coveted positions.
Without political morality instilled by a potent constitution, politics will only be a do-or-die affair and the survival of the fittest. There will be unnecessary competition, thus warranting useless compromises. Unfortunately, the constitution is not there to do its work, and that is why cross carpeting is on the increase. One should be free to leave a political party anytime, but not with the mandate of the political party he is bidding farewell. It is the work of the constitution. If the problem within a party can precipitate into massive exodus and defection that cannot be checked by the 'power' of the constitution, it obviously shows the presence of a debilitating problem, a deadly cankerworm that should be quickly addressed, unless we want to insidiously return to military rule.
Politics is not and should not be a dirty game or a business venture, as believed by many. It is more than that. It demands sanity, fairness and discipline to actually be democratic. When the existing miniature opposition is completely destroyed, we’ll all be slaves in our own land. God forbid! Let's say 'N0' to Political prostitution.
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