As 2023 presidential election beckons, we would be left with no option, but a choice between All Progressive Congress (APC) or People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The likelihood of any strong ideologically inclined political organization displacing this two, isn’t realistic anytime soon. The caption above, wasn’t my initial choice, but, I had to settle for this to accommodate a broader spectrum of subjects. Recall that, a couple of weeks or months ago, an important political event took our own dear vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and the minister of Niger Delta affairs, Godswill Akpabio to Rivers’ state capital, Portharcourt. Gov. Nyesome Wike was the host. It was vintage Wike. The one we all know; blunt and straight to the point.
Hon. Minister, Godswill Akpabio picked a wrong subject at an appropriate event. He may never have anticipated the kind of response he got. Otherwise, he shouldn’t have dared the lion in his jungle. During his opening speech and in his usual comic fashion, he invited his host, Gov. Wike to consider the offer of embracing the All Progressive Congress, APC, in place of his original political platform, PDP. In a subtle style, he attempted to dismiss the relevance of PDP vis a vis what Wike had achieved using the platform. Wike waisted no time in giving it back to Akpabio. He reminded his guest that, the vaunted “uncommon” achievements he claimed he had as a former governor in Akwa Ibom state, was made possible by PDP. Then, he thanked Akpabio for inviting him to team up with the APC but, declined the offer. He however, likened the offer to that of a choice between having cancer or malaria. According to him, malaria as a disease, is treatable but, cancer would most certainly kill as its therapy is as deadly as the disease itself. Therefore, if he is left with an option, he would prefer to have malaria than the choice of cancer. Case settled. And this sets the tone for the subject of this article.
Officially, the business of governance is still on in Nigeria. But, politiking is most central to political actors and associates, with less than two years into elections. From now on, it is one form of political movement or the other. In fact, it started some months back. Gov. Umahi of Ebonyi state, from the South East, for some curious reasons, left the PDP for the ruling APC. Most curious, is the departure of the cerebral Gov. of Cross River state, Prof. Ben Ayade also of the PDP to APC. Then, not so strange is the Femi Fani Kayode recent dance towards the APC. It isn’t strange because, he is known to be a non stable political character. However, this is clearly the most bizarre of all the movements so far, especially, given the venom he had spewed about APC and the key actors of the group in the recent past. Firstly, FFK’s journey can’t be said to be a strategic one. The man can’t win an electoral contest. He knows as much as others know. Given his known political flirtation, no one takes him seriously. Perhaps, the only relevance of all his political mobility over the years, is his legendary rabble rousing trade mark and the meal ticket that comes with it. Besides FFK, politicians also embark on political mobility especially, to the ruling party, ostensibly to avoid prosecution from established cases of corrupt practices. So far, the Umahi and Ayade movements, appears to have the tinge of strategy, looking towards 2023. Perhaps, a presidential or vice president tickets could be on their minds. Disguisedly, the fear of corruption charges after their tenures, might be the motivation. Only time would tell, but, from history and particularly from this clime, ideological considerations had hardly played a role in most of the carpet crossing ever witnessed. In western democracies, when an individual or a group of individuals decide to jump ship, it is always for the sole reason that, they can no long reconcile their common ideological grounds. More often than not, personal interests are hardly the issues.
As we zero down to 2023, what we have seen so far, is only a tip of the iceberg. More movements would come. Some, inspired, some triggered and others coerced. For instance, some years ago, Adams Oshiomhole, a former APC national chairman, in a public campaign, said to politicians and i quote: “if you want your sins forgiven, join the APC”. Credibility is out of the card. That is for the dogs. Ideology plays no role either. In the final analysis, the people do not matter. It is a question of self interest. How sad!
