Group flays gale of defections, says ‘Democracy Up For Sale’

A political pressure group, National Youth Liberation Movement (NYLM), has condemned the gale of defections from the opposition to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the development suggests that Nigerian democracy “is up for sale.” Daily Trust reports that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and other […]

A political pressure group, National Youth Liberation Movement (NYLM), has condemned the gale of defections from the opposition to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the development suggests that Nigerian democracy “is up for sale.”

Daily Trust reports that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and other PDP stakeholders in the state recently dumped the party for APC.

Lawmakers, both at the National Assembly and some states, have also left their parties and joined APC.

There are reports that more governors from the opposition side may soon pitch their tent with the APC.

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Reacting to the development, NYLM said politicians were decamping to the ruling party for personal gains, at the expense of the people’s mandate.

NYLM, in a statement on Thursday by its coordinator, Dr. O. Babalola, said the recent events suggest that Nigeria democracy “is up for sale.’

According to him, we now have politicians without conscience, willing to do anything to remain in power and seek protection for their fraudulent actions.

He accused President Bola Tinubu of paying lip service to protecting citizens, noting that innocent Nigerians were being killed without just cause, “and that the economy is in downturn, the health sector is in comatose, power supply has hit rock bottom with increased tariffs, and the welfare of government and private workers is in jeopardy”.

Babalola, who maintained that most Nigerian politicians were “corrupt, and have turned governance into a money-making venture, where the highest bidder wins,” however, attributed the recent development to the fall of the Roman Empire, where greed and arrogance collapsed the supposed source of wisdom.

The statement read: “The current Nigeria’s socio-economic cum political terrain fills one with worry. The trend of politicians decamping to the ruling party for personal gains, at the expense of the people’s mandate, is alarming. Recent events in Delta, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states suggest that our democracy is up for sale. We now have politicians without conscience, willing to do anything to remain in power and seek protection for their fraudulent actions.

“As innocent Nigerians are killed without just cause, the president pays lip service to protecting citizens. The economy is in downturn, the health sector is in comatose, power supply has hit rock bottom with increased tariffs, and the welfare of government and private workers is in jeopardy. No wonders, where have we gone wrong? Do Nigerians truly deserve this?”

He called on all true democrats and statesmen to stand up and defend our polity, stressing that the present administration mortgages Nigeria’s destiny by bringing in capitalist-minded politicians and businessmen who care only about profiting from the people’s pain.

“We call on all true democrats and statesmen to stand up and defend our polity. We’ve watched closely as the present administration mortgages Nigeria’s destiny by bringing in capitalist-minded politicians and businessmen who care only about profiting from the people’s pain. The power sector, which could rejuvenate the economy, increase foreign per capita income, and attract investors, is instead in a state of convulsions. Nigerians grapple with increasing tariffs while the government seems unconcerned.

“The increased VAT on electricity bills enriches the ruling political class, while small businesses crumble, and companies move to neighboring West African countries. The economy dives downward, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s charges on transactions seem like daylight robbery. Telecom companies, with government support, have increased their rates, and digital TV service providers have followed suit. These imposed decisions have been unwillingly accepted by Nigerians.

“However, we look forward to a democratic revolution that brings in leaders who can hear the people’s voice, feel their pain, and do what’s beneficial for the majority of Nigerians, not just the privileged few,” he said .