Politics of turncoats and disloyalty in Benue state.
In the wake of the just concluded presidential plebiscite in Benue state, the law of causality has become evident in the machinations within the political sphere. Events are occurring and these events have remote and immediate causes. It is true that at the federal level, power has been unhinged and shifted from from the "ruling" PDP to the opposition in a surreal political Armageddon. Now the APC holds sway as the majority party by virtue of winning the presidential election and holding the majority of seats in the legislative chambers. What now becomes the fate of the gubernatorial aspirants in both the PDP and the APC in Benue state is akin to the unknown climax of a champions league final between two footballing titans. This is heightened most severely by the fact that the principal of the incumbent government Dr Gabriel Suswam, himself the de facto leader of the PDP in Benue state was defeated by a candidate of the opposition APC, Chief Senator Barnabas Gemade in the zone A senatorial election held last weekend. The outcomes of last weekend's elections were unprecedented in lieu of the political history of the state characterized by the PDP's hegemony spanning over one and a half decade since the return of democracy in 1999. Nevertheless, since the elections, there have been massive movements and shifts in the rhetoric of former PDP so-called die hards who now seem apologetic to the APC cause. Men who used to insult, maim, harass and even kill opposition followers in the state have now turned coats and decamped to the APC in the state. Loyalty has been sacrificed on the alter of vested interest and the promise of financial gain. This now begs the question: is there no honour even amongst thieves?
It becomes obvious that the spate of decamping and the mass exodus of PDP faithfuls is only as a result of a lack of political ideology, honour and inherent virtue among our political elite. These are not men of enlightenment and repute but political prostitutes willing bend over and have their reputation sodomized for rent at the drop of a coin. It is true that most of these politicians are uneducated catamites but i am opposed to the school of thought that believes education is a prerequisite for all the aforementioned virtues of honour, respect, loyalty and most importantly, enlightenment. Enlightenment is acquired and nurtured via a development of the self and a wider perception of reality and existence; this is not imparted in the classroom. The likes of Jato Aka, Shaka Zulu, Jaja of Opobo, Geronimo etc did not acquire the admirable enlightenment that made them famous by learning within the four corners of a western education classroom. Therefore these politicians discussed in this article do not have an excuse for their embarrassing lack of self awareness and their position in the gear works of society.
The beauty of democracy is domiciled in the existence of ideological diversity which gives rise to the existence of an opposition also comprised of various political parties each with a divergent opinion of governance. The opposition exists to check and counterbalance the excesses of the majority party in both the executive and the legislature while also providing the electorate with a viable option or plan B in case the leadership derails from the aspirations and expectations of the masses. We chose to operate a democratic system but why is it that our politicians have refused to make it fully functional by disallowing the existence of an opposition? The popular slogan even among some youths is "i no fit follow opposition oh, i de craze? God forbid" and when you ask why all you get are a litany of reasons all hinged upon the collection of financial stipends and handouts from politicians in the corridors of power. If even the youths of Benue think along these lines then the political future of Benue is marked by doom and gloom.
Loyalty is defined as "faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation" and according to Cicero " Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable, than loyalty". Therefore, if a so-call 'honourable' decamps from the APC to the PDP and then back to the APC all as a result of selfish rent seeking and not because he inherently and religiously believes in the specific ideology for which he solicited for our votes then why is such a man ascribed the title of 'honourable'? Leadership is for the most noble of men (or women) but in Nigeria and most importantly in Benue that is not the case as our politicians are ever ready to break all bonds of kinship and fellowship for the greenback. So if such men are so disloyal to any cause how can we have trust in them to lead, remembering the words by Grace Murray who said "Leadership is a two-way street, loyalty up and loyalty down". In lieu of all the foregone, i am ashamed of the Benue polity and the crop of politicians within the system. This is indeed a system of thieves and wolves swimming in the crimson tide of betrayal and shame.
@judgebushx
It becomes obvious that the spate of decamping and the mass exodus of PDP faithfuls is only as a result of a lack of political ideology, honour and inherent virtue among our political elite. These are not men of enlightenment and repute but political prostitutes willing bend over and have their reputation sodomized for rent at the drop of a coin. It is true that most of these politicians are uneducated catamites but i am opposed to the school of thought that believes education is a prerequisite for all the aforementioned virtues of honour, respect, loyalty and most importantly, enlightenment. Enlightenment is acquired and nurtured via a development of the self and a wider perception of reality and existence; this is not imparted in the classroom. The likes of Jato Aka, Shaka Zulu, Jaja of Opobo, Geronimo etc did not acquire the admirable enlightenment that made them famous by learning within the four corners of a western education classroom. Therefore these politicians discussed in this article do not have an excuse for their embarrassing lack of self awareness and their position in the gear works of society.
The beauty of democracy is domiciled in the existence of ideological diversity which gives rise to the existence of an opposition also comprised of various political parties each with a divergent opinion of governance. The opposition exists to check and counterbalance the excesses of the majority party in both the executive and the legislature while also providing the electorate with a viable option or plan B in case the leadership derails from the aspirations and expectations of the masses. We chose to operate a democratic system but why is it that our politicians have refused to make it fully functional by disallowing the existence of an opposition? The popular slogan even among some youths is "i no fit follow opposition oh, i de craze? God forbid" and when you ask why all you get are a litany of reasons all hinged upon the collection of financial stipends and handouts from politicians in the corridors of power. If even the youths of Benue think along these lines then the political future of Benue is marked by doom and gloom.
Loyalty is defined as "faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation" and according to Cicero " Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable, than loyalty". Therefore, if a so-call 'honourable' decamps from the APC to the PDP and then back to the APC all as a result of selfish rent seeking and not because he inherently and religiously believes in the specific ideology for which he solicited for our votes then why is such a man ascribed the title of 'honourable'? Leadership is for the most noble of men (or women) but in Nigeria and most importantly in Benue that is not the case as our politicians are ever ready to break all bonds of kinship and fellowship for the greenback. So if such men are so disloyal to any cause how can we have trust in them to lead, remembering the words by Grace Murray who said "Leadership is a two-way street, loyalty up and loyalty down". In lieu of all the foregone, i am ashamed of the Benue polity and the crop of politicians within the system. This is indeed a system of thieves and wolves swimming in the crimson tide of betrayal and shame.
@judgebushx
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