The politics of Nigeria is gradually unfolding and defining itself as it can now be proven that Godfatherism, money bags in politics, and the rotation of political powers among some certain cabals will definitely take a long time to be eradicated. The recent deceleration of the former minister for information Professor Dora Akunyili to run for the Senate seat in Anambra central senatorial district under the political party (APGA) with which she has criticized and fought against for years is a sign of seeking safe heavens after evil deeds.
The politics of Nigeria is gradually unfolding and defining itself as it can now be proven that Godfatherism, money bags in politics, and the rotation of political powers among some certain cabals will definitely take a long time to be eradicated. The recent deceleration of the former minister for information Professor Dora Akunyili to run for the Senate seat in Anambra central senatorial district under the political party (APGA) with which she has criticized and fought against for years is a sign of seeking safe heavens after evil deeds.
As former NAFDAC director, a straight forward and dedicated and a non-politically affiliated fighter against fake drugs in Nigeria, she was gradually transformed into a politician when made the Minister for information by the late president Alhaji Musa Yah Adua under the ruler-ship of the peoples democratic party (P.D.P). Her political role during the trying times of the late president and during the re-election of Peter Obi as Governor of Anambra state can not be forgotten so easily. Dora Akunyili, a strong campaigner and loyalist to Goodluck Jonathan for 2011 presidential election under the platform of the P.D.P has decided to join APGA in search for a senatorial seat come 2011. The big question now is why? why is Dora Akunyili now dumping the Peoples Democratic party for APGA to seek the Anambra Central senatorial seat? The answer is very simple and clear. Dora Akunyili has realized that in no way in the history of Nigeria under a credible election will P.D.P win a local government area. She has also realized that APGA being an established political party in Anambra state is a better safe heaven to actualize her selfish political aim by becoming an elected senator.
The situation in Edo state is gradually taking the same step with members of the P.D.P holding sensitive political positions at the National, state and local levels decamping to the A.C.N to contest elections for different offices come 2011. Some of which includes Senator Ozemere who is a siting P.D.P senator that decamped to A.C.N to run for the 2011 Edo south senatorial election. Others include Hon. Patrick Obayiangbon, Hon Samson Osagie and many others. In Edo north for instance, people like Ho. Stanly Odidi, Hon Gani Audu, and most embarrassingly Deacon Domingo Obende who described A.C.N as a sinking ship in 2007 and even sponsored the court cases for P.D.P against Adams Oshiomole during the tribunals now seek to run for the Senatorial seat of Edo north under same political party he fought against in 2007. The big question most Nigerians ask is why? the answer again is very simple. Most of this greedy politicians usually seek save heavens in seeking political political offices and on getting to the office, the turn against their immediate community for selfish financial benefits.
The case of Hon. Alphonsus Igbeke in Anambra north is still very fresh in our memories. He contested the Senatorial seat under the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and his victory was stolen by the P.D.P. After years of legal battle, he eventually won his case and was sworn in as a senator to represent his senatorial district. To the disappointment of his followers. he decamped to the P.D.P within 1 month of his swearing in and abandoned the party and people with which stood by him during his trying times. It is really a very disgraceful trend in our political system and rather unfortunate that the issue of free, far and credible elections in Nigeria can not be achieved with the recycling of this money bag politicians who are bent at nothing less than acquiring political powers in regardless of what they might have to do to get it.
As for Dora Akunyili and other Nigerians who decamp from one political party to another to seek elective positions, it is advisable we borrow a leave from other developed countries where one has to be an active member of a political party for a reasonable period of time before he his allowed to context election under the platform of the political party. Leaders of political parties should stop using ethnic differences, fraternity affiliations, self financial benefits in fielding candidates with bad past track records as against loyal party faithfuls and dedicated individuals with positive past to speak for them. As for me, the issue of a credible election in Nigeria come 2011 is like trying to force a camel through the eye of a needle. We Nigerians have our destiny in our hands as we should all rise up to fight against this politics of deceit, money bags, unloving party faithfuls so as to present credible individuals that will help bring dividends of democracy to its people and also contribute towards the development of Nigeria.
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