A
high profile Nigerian politician widely celebrated for high level of integrity
in dealing with corruption has joined the bang-wagon of ‘if you can’t beat
them, you join them’. Mallam Nuhu
Ribadu who was former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) and presidential flag bearer of the former Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN) – a party which metamorphosed into the APC – in the 2011 general
election has decamped from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to
the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
On the eve of the ‘jump’, Ribadu revealed that
‘there was
no difference between the PDP and APC, in terms of the character of the people
who constituted both parties’. Speaking
through his spokesman, Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, He said, “In Nigeria,
especially in politics, you can’t say that this is an exclusive party for the
people who are thieves or this is for good people. This clearly confirms saying
that Nigerians are between the devil and deep blue sea.
We are left without a credible alternative, no choice…..heading
towards one direction (Leadership quagmire). All Progressives
Congress (APC) has failed Nigerians by their inability to provide real and
credible alternative to People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In fact, many believe
that APC is worse than PDP as it is clearly two men party who see their
personal ambition and interest as primary objective of the party.
Politicians in Nigeria have only one interest
which is to capture power and use it to perpetuate themselves and to further
their personal interest. No one is exempted from this. Unequivocally, Ribadu
jumped from APC to PDP just for one reason. To make sure his governorship
ambition is guaranteed. Not for the common man in the street…….time is gone
when they deceive us that their actions are in the interest of the masses.
With selfishness, ethnicity, greediness and
religion at the driving seat of the so called alternative party for Nigerians,
surely APC has sown the seed of its eventual destruction. During the early
stage of the formation of the party, Nigerians were optimistic that they will
soon have a credible party that will be the voice of the people. Presently,
that enthusiasm has gradually faded away due to the level of internal democracy
in the party which is adjudged by many as worse (dictatorial) than that of PDP.
Must
we pray over everything in Nigeria? When are we going to have selfless
politicians that think of the people first? Are we going to continue like this
while few people pocked the wealth of the country without being questioned nor
brought to book? These and more questions are critical issues begging for
answers as we gradually come closer to 2015 elections. Know that your vote is
your power. Don’t sell it because it to a large extent determines the future of
me and you. VOTE WISELY.
