Now, CPC’s idealogy may be put to test
In an article published in the Sunday Trust edition of July 25th titled ‘Buhari Beware,’ the writer highlighted the chameleon nature of Nigeria politicians as he advised Buhari on the need to be cautious in trusting the PDP defectors in Katsina state. The writer, from his account as an insider in the political intrigue of […]
In an article published in the Sunday Trust edition of July 25th titled ‘Buhari Beware,’ the writer highlighted the chameleon nature of Nigeria politicians as he advised Buhari on the need to be cautious in trusting the PDP defectors in Katsina state. The writer, from his account as an insider in the political intrigue of the state, the defectors from PDP to CPC are not to be trusted. According to him, “from all indications, this set of politicians are not the type that Buhari should rely on if he wants the CPC to succeed. They are not in CPC because they love Buhari or the ideology of his political party. Their soul and spirit are in PDP. If they are wooed to the PDP anytime with lucrative offer, they will not hesitate to dump CPC again to rejoin PDP. And this may be at the critical moment of CPC.”
The concern shown by the writer of the said article shows how passionate people are getting committed to the success of Buhari project. For those who have been following the trend of events in Nigeria politics most especially between 2003 – 2007, one will recalled an ugly incident that happened in the year 2006. Few months to the general elections of 2007, Nigerians wake up to receive the shocking news of suspension of Buhari in ANPP by Katsina state chapter of the party. The news was relayed to all the major media organizations within and outside the country.
The perpetrators of the dastardly act were members of the ANPP in Katina-State. Because of enormous resources at their disposal, they hijacked the machinery of the party in the state, and used the platform to address the world press conference where Buhari’s suspension from the ANPP was announced. Although the suspension was later reversed by the national leadership of the party, but without mincing word, Buhari sustained serious political injury. And from that incident up till the time Buhari quit ANPP to form CPC, it has been no longer at ease within the ANPP fold in Katsina State.
The appeal to Buhari to thread with caution from his admirers, is to avert the repeat of history as the nation is getting prepared for 2011 general elections. There is need for Buhari’s political associates to read between the line that the politicians that are defecting to CPC in Katsina State, if given the chance, considering the enormous wealth at their disposal, will not hesitate to hijack the party machinery, and where this is impossible, resort to the creation of confusion and chaos in the party.
In Nigeria , once a PDP member, will always be a PDP member. That is why those who left PDP to form their own political party eventually ended up in returning back to the PDP. It is amusing to note that notable leaders among the defectors are claiming to quit PDP for ideological differences.
It is doubtful if the kind of politicians Nigeria is parading as political leaders can be found elsewhere in the democratic world. The politicians who claim to be pursuing peoples agenda in the day, but in the thick of the night seek personal agenda. Most Nigeria politicians lack integrity and honour and in most cases speak from the two sides of their mouths, that is why Buhari needs to take cognizance of the caliber of people that will hold key positions in the newly formed CPC.
Buhari, we all know him, his political associates will know them. But the so called PDP defectors will later turn out to be liabilities than assets for CPC if precaution is not taken. We have passed through this road before. We suffered in their hands, there is need for every genuine member of CPC to guard the political ideology of Buhari jealously so that it will not be tainted, corrupted or bastardized by the so called PDP born again politicians.
Some of them are boasting of their political experience as an asset to the CPC. But the question is what kind of experience have they gathered over the years? Is it experience in election rigging, political manipulation and subverting people’s wish? Are they talking about experience in abuse of public trust for self enrichment? He who goes to equity must come with clean hands. Let them start by telling Nigerians the source of their sudden wealth. CPC is for ordinary Nigerians who have suffered in the hands of the political oppressors.
There is need for the leadership of CPC to do a proper appraisal of whosoever aspires to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming general elections. The wheat needs to be separated from the chaff. A lion will always give birth to its kind. Born and named PDP members can never be the same as born and named CPC members. Many of the people that are now defecting to the CPC for the purpose of contesting elections have reached the end of road in their former political parties. How can someone explain a situation where a politician joins CPC today, and the next thing you see the following week is his campaign posters?
Where is the ideology? Where is the decorum, where is the interest of the common man that they have always claimed to be protecting? In the forthcoming elections, many politicians will be shocked to the marrow by the time they wake up and realize that the electorate are now wiser. This time around, their money and propaganda will not save them from monumental defeat. The electorate are tired of political harlots.
The major challenge ahead of us as a country is to resolve to touch various sectors of the economy with a view to promoting all round development. There is need to promote responsive government and avoid politicians who have specialty in playing upon the intelligence of the electorate.
By Mohammed Bello, Unguwar Sarki, G.R.A. Kaduna.