Political defection is
like animal migration. But while animal migration might be triggered by
the need for food, better living condition and breeding purpose,
political defection might be triggered by fear, failure, future
opportunity, desertion of a cause, loss of focus or bid to serve a
ethnic, group or selfish interest.
The media has been inundated
of late by news of political defection by politicians especially
elected persons. In Akwa Ibom, for instance, the Senator representing
Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District reportedly announced his defection
from PDP (from which platform he was elected) to APC the ruling party at
the Federal Government.
Also in late February, 2017 Hon Emmanuel
Ukoette a House of Representative Member was also reportedly
crossed-carpet to APC. Sometime this year 6 PDP lawmakers in Kogi State
reportedly defected to APC.
On October 25, 2016 2 PDP lawmakers in
Plateau State namely Yusuf Gagdi (who was deputy speaker) and Na’anlong
Daniel (Minority Whip) reportedly defected from PDP to APC.
History of
defection in Nigeria dates back to 1941 when Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe pulled
out the Ibo members from NYM with Samuel Akinsanya and his group of
Ijebu Yorubas. The reason given was that NYM lost its nationalistic
bearing.
Since then there have been various defections climaxing in the
defection of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku from PDP while still
holding the office of VP. Alh Atiku no doubt needed an alternative
platform with which to further his presidential ambition.
However, the reasons given by defectors of current dispensation are as
open to speculations as their mode of migration.
By James Abang
The fact that all of
them migrated from PDP which formerly controlled the federal government
to APC which presently controlled the federal government raises a lot of
questions about their understanding, faithfulness and commitment to
democracy.
Is it a case of where the grass seems greener? It would have
made more sense if the party in power was delivering dividend of
democracy to the people. But variables on grounds have not confirmed
that.
Let us take just one index like unemployment to measure
APC government deliverability. In December 2014 unemployment rate was
6.2% according to Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Two years into APC
administration it has risen to 13.9%. When you convert that into
figures vis-à-vis estimated census figure of 160m, it translates to
about 22.24m Nigerians of working age but unemployed.
This is a time
bomb. In any sane society the scorecard of the party to defect to should
be an issue for consideration. Most other economic indices under this
government share the same bed.
Against this background you begin to
wonder why anybody would defect to a party with this failure rate but
instead of hiding his face in shame would organize a carnival to herald
his defection.
Maybe Nigerians have bent over backward to the extent
that they cannot stand straight again to see or reason normally. Or the
defectors are so intelligent and understand Nigerians to the extent that
they can always take them for granted.
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