Gombe And The Bootless Political Judas

There was a proverbial saying that goes; when a tree is shaken, it is the rotten fruit that is the first to hit the floor and this saying is also applicable to the political scene especially in Nigeria, for one, when a political party witnesses the slightest turbulence or dissonance it is always the most undesirable, the most disloyal and the most unprincipled members that quickly jump ship to another party structure for a mess of porridge or the fear of persecution by the new ruling regime. There are equally some that could sit on the fence belonging to neither of sides.

In essence, these ‘amala and ewedu’ politicians, or comport seeking, crisscrossed into parties that seems to accommodate and give them opportunity to effectuate and earn wings their selfish agendas, even though their very act of switching loyalties is not burn of any conviction or faith in the selflessness or righteousness of their cause but rather an act of desperation order to save their skins or assume dubious political relevance in the reigning political order.

It’s coherent and convincing that, the apparent triumph of the APC at the federal level and some of the states, was realized by large contribution and support from the aggrieved PDP members who had some double dealings during the 2015 general elections, while after the elections, the same politicians that were supposedly PDP loyalists have shown their true colours by defecting to the former opposition party, APC. However, a close study of some of the recent defectors, particularly in Gombe State will expose them for being political jobbers, asylum seekers, because their defection is of no any weight or substance within the political scenes.

In Gombe State, a gale of defections from the PDP to the APC has been ongoing, which the latter party has been using as a propaganda mechanism to trumpet its doubtful claim to increased popularity among the people despite the economic woes and acute financial hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the APC led government. For instance, former Minister of Transport, Senator

Idris Umar, former Minister of the FCT, Dr Aliyu Modibbo, Former Senator representing Gombe North in the 7th senate, Sen. Saidu Alkali and former PDP youth leader Habu Mu’azu are among the defectors that cross carpeted to the Chief John Odige-Oyegun led party in Gombe State.

However, a closer examination of these dramatis personate of the defection saga would reveal that they may really be of no beneficial value to their new. In blue booking the case of Senator Idris Umar, who was a two-term member of the national assembly and a one term senator under the banner of the PDP, a minister of one of the most strategic sectors of the nation’s economy who no doubt owes a lot to the party for bringing him to fame, fortune, power and prestige. Be that as it may, by defecting, Senator Idris Umar has revealed his fair-weather disposition and lack of principle and grassroots appeal. Because, with his elongated stay at the helm of affairs of the PDP and the huge resources at his disposal, Senator Idris Umar could not forestall the PDP’s woeful performance at the national and state house of assembly elections in his native, Gombe Central Senatorial Zone while it was Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’s staggering popularity that ensured the PDP’s success in the last election.

Being a politician that loves the acquisition of material properties, it is no surprise that another reason for Senator Umar’s shameless defection may have to do with the fear of EFCC seizing some of his dubiously acquired properties, a process that his defection may likely halt given the selective war against corruption posture of the present APC led federal administration. Once you defect to the APC, from the PDP, corruption charges against you will certainly be dropped.

Equally, as for Aliyu Modibbo, whose tenure as FCT minister was unimaginative, lacking in substance and creativity, thus earning him the unenviable reputation of being one of the most incompetent minister in a federal cabinet ever. He has always been regarded as a light weight, below average politician who preferred to hide behind other more durable players in the President Umaru Yar’Adua administration and has never been known to have registered as a PDP member in any ward or district. In fact, his defection to the APC would afford him the opportunity of registering for the first time as a member of any political party. He lacked any iota of clout or influence within and outside the PDP, and could not even deliver his ward not to talk of his local government which the APC carried effortlessly.

Laughable among the defectors Habu Mu’azu, former PDP youth leader and zonal coordinator of the President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organization makes for more obfuscating analysis as the tempestuous youth organizer was allegedly the arrow head of the notorious Kalare thuggery machines that terrorized hapless Gombites during the eight-year reign of a former governor. He assumed a fearsome, brutal and foreboding, larger than life persona throughout the length and breadth of the Jewel of the Savannah. However, with the exit of his boss from government house, Habu probably to avoid retribution or criminal prosecution under a no-nonsense Governor Dankwambo’s administration, assumed a remorseful and apologetic demeanor, meeting with elders and opinion leaders throughout the state where he pleaded for forgiveness, assuring them that he has regretted and atoned for his nefarious past, even building a gigantic mosque as a sign of his new-found religiosity and righteousness.

Though, many of those that he sought forgiveness from, were deeply skeptical of his supplications believing that his ties with his former master, and the remnants of the Kalare gangsters were still strong and unbreakable. His abrupt defection to the APC, to join his former and other former bedfellows has confirmed the suspicions of doubtful elders and opinion leaders in the state who have rightly argued that a leopard can never shed it spot. So, Habu Mu’azu can never let go of his turbulent, brutish and controversial past.

While Senator Alkali’s defections, has been regarded as the most laughable and suicidal trend where he was regarded as the only politician that was taglines as’ Never again’ and he couldn’t make impact even within his ward. Though, many have seen his defection as another asylum seeking due to his role as the chairman Senate committee on air force.

Indeed, it is clear that, the aforementioned cases of Senator Idris Umar, Aliyu Modibbo, Habu Mu’azu and Saidu Alkali, the recent PDP defectors to the APC may not be an asset but rather a shifting of huge liabilities and baggage to their new party.

– Suleiman wrote in from Lagos

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