Defection: Saraki, Ortom,Tambuwal, Ahmed and others, a replica of 2014.

JUST like yesterday when the crisis rocking the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was extended to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chaired by Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state.

The federal government led by Dr Goodluck Jonathan believed to be supporting the then Governor of Plateau state, Jonah Jang as factional chairman all in the interest of second term ambition of President Jonathan.

The development prompted pro Amaechi to form New PDP, a formidable force under the party and later extended to the members of National Assembly.

When the negotiations for mega party that comprises Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP), Congress For Progressive Change (CPC) and factional group from All Grand Peoples Alliance (AGPA) began, it was with the aim and mandate of taken over from PDP led federal government at all cost.

After series of meeting with stakeholders of all political parties involved which later gave birth to a new political party called All Progressives Congress (APC)

Immediately after the formation of APC, some Governors,Senators, Federal and State lawmakers under the aegis of nPDP decamped to APC making the progressive fold much stronger.

With more defections rocking the PDP then, APC became formidable opposition party with high hope and expectations

In the build up to 2015 elections, APC held its registration exercise across the country followed by wards, local and state congresses and National convention where former Governor of Edo state, Chief John Odigie Oyegun was elected as Party’s National Chairman who took over from Osun state former Governor, Chief Bisi Akande as Acting Chairman.

In fact it was a real war when the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal announced his defection from PDP to APC at the floor of the house despite the majority group of PDP.

To some politicians then, the defection of Waziri Tambuwal, Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, Rotimi Amaechi, Muritala Nyako and others was seen as a welcome development to the APC; but how do we describe the defection of some of them to the PDP?

Although, prior to the 2015 general elections, some political scientists and analysts have predicted that merger of the three political parties is a marriage of inconvenient when considering the calibers of people that formed the party.

According to observers of Nigeria political scene, it is only in this country that political scenario always recycling.

Fore Instance in 2014, defection gale heated the PDP when former Bauchi state Governor, Alhaji Adamu Muazu was elected as the National chairman of the party and this also occurred in APC after the emergence of immediate past Governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomole as APC National Chairman.

It is unfortunate that Nigeria civilian rule will be 20 years of uninterrupted, yet
some of the politicians in the country lacks political ideology.

Now that some political gladiators in APC have defected to PDP, the next line of action is for the party to intensify more efforts in its strategy, especially in its reconciliation process.

PDP on the other hands, should not see defection of Saraki and others as something to capitalise on and forget those who stood with the party during trying period.

If they do so, I am sorry, it may be the biggest blow ever in PDP.

With few months to the 2019 general elections and his defection from ruling party to opposition will Senate President Bukola Saraki and his colleagues retained their juicy positions and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara eventually decamped to PDP who will control the affairs of the house?

If the two legislative chambers are controlled by the opposition party only God knows what will be the faith of this country under hide and seek game of politics by our political gladiators.

 

By Akinyode Ishola

(Mega Icon Magazine Political Desk)