Nigerians recently woke up to two interesting reports in the media: the return of former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the PDP and the declaration of interest in the 2011 presidential elections by former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. The circumstances that led to these men’s defection and declaration of interest respectively showed that they do not have anything to offer the lot of Nigerians. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s return to the PDP is a confirmation of the saying that in politics “there are no permanent enemies but only permanent interests”. Perhaps Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s interest in becoming Nigeria’s president by all means possible has led to his recent defection to PDP.
Anyone who claims to have the genuine interest of the Nigerian people at heart and have also condemned the PDP’s agenda for Nigeria should not be tempted to go back into such a party. It is unfortunate that Nigerain politics is not based on ideology. Most politicians seek power for their personal agenda and selfish reasons.
As we may recall, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came down heavily in oppossing the PDP as a party during the 2007 presidential election campaign under the Action Congress (AC) but it is not surprising that he has recently joined the PDP besides such has been the case with Nigerian leaders. Little wonder, the Adamawa PDP is resisting the return of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Nigeria has been unfortunate in her quest to ensuring that only honest and credible leaders gets to the seat of power. Most of her leaders are only occupying offices to embezzle and milk the treasury dry. Those who have benefitted from this sorry situation over the years are still not contented with the wealth they have been able to amass while in office. It is sad to imagine that some Nigerians are also encoraging these individuals to come back to power because of their selfish gains.
Apparently, Rtd General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida ruled Nigeria for eight years plus in the 80’s and 90’s. it was during his regime as the head of state that the June 12 election which was adjugded the freest and fairest election in the history of Nigeria was annulled. The same man who was against the restoration of democracy in 1993 is now trying to become the next Nigerian president under a process which he once truncated. Though IBB might have the right to contest but I wonder what light and darkness have in common? This is perhaps the reason why I have decided to title this article “A tale of two jokers”.
Past leaders who have contributed in no small measure to the woes of Nigeria do not seem to amaze Nigerians and make them laugh. One would have expected that their bad records while in office would make them refrain from contesting elective postions in the country but this is not happening because many of them are shameless. They rely on the manipulation of results which is guaranteed by some political party. Worst still, Rtd General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida was reported to have challenged his critics to prove their allegation of corruption against him but who does not know that IBB is an evil genius who always covered his tracks while in office. It is common knowlegde that the $12 Billion oil windfall is still unaccounted for by the regime of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida among other impropriety. Also, the PTDF fund which former president Obasanjo allegedly accused Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of embezzling have been swept under the carpet.
Nigerians must therefore stand against every attempt by these men to foist themselves on us. It is high time we realized that following leaders without ideologies and principles has not and will not pay dividend of democracy. Opposition parties that have over the years gained the support of the Nigerian masses should also be careful in welcoming individuals who lack lack integrity to their parties. These power hungry leaders jump from one party to another all in abid to fulfil their ambition of becoming key public office holders.
Nigerian youths should carefully assess individuals as well as party programmes before supporting them. We must understand that the power to change our beloved country lie in our hands. The youths and every other Nigerian must decide whether we want to continue selling our birthrights to politicians who have failed us in the past or protect them for the future. There is no gainsaying that youths all over the world are instrumental to the election of politicians. This is why Nigerian youths must not allow themselves to be used by politicians who mobilize them for election purposes and turn their backs on them after winning elections.
Anyone supporting IBB, Atiku and other illegitimate candidates in this present day Nigeria is definitely the dumbest person on earth. Nigerians should not be decieved by unscrupulous politicians who aims to return, remain and hold on to power.
