APC, PDP Cabals And The Choice For A People’s President

OPINION

Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Abubakar Atiku

By Frank Oshanugor

The circuit show of shame with the search for Nigeria’s next president which began with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries few days ago ended on Wednesday 8th June, 2022 with the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

While the camps of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who won the PDP and APC presidential primaries respectively are still basking in the euphoria of their victory, Nigerians outside their camps not enthused by the so called victory would undoubtedly be praying in their closest that God will not allow either of the two candidates to become our president in 2023 as they largely played part in creating the situation that brought unimaginable hardship to Nigerians.

To many Nigerians, the emergence of Atiku and Tinubu as presidential candidates did not come as a surprise as they have often boasted that with their money power they would always have their way. Regrettably, Nigeria’s political space is imminently occupied by politicians who are lacking in integrity. They deliberately threw away their honour for Atiku and Tinubu’s dollars.

It is only in Nigeria that so called political delegates in an election will sell their constituencies and those they represent for thousands of dollars as happened in the PDP and APC presidential primaries. The so called representatives of the people are nothing but ‘sell out’ whose penchant for filthy lucre from those desperate for power has become legendary.

Nigeria has never been so bad as we have witnessed in the past few days. It is quite unimaginable that people we once held in high esteem could easily relinquish their position for whatever reason that makes them think that without Atiku and Tinubu, Nigeria will not move forward. What a show of shame for lust of money to turn the delegates away from the path of honour!

While some Nigerians with discernible instinct could take with a pinch of salt the inglorious outing at the PDP presidential primaries, same cannot be the case with the just concluded APC primaries where the likes of Ekiti Governor; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Akwa Ibom former Governor Godswill Akpabio, former House of Representatives Speaker; Dimeji Bankole, Ogun State former Governor; Ibikunle Amos could all boldly announce their eleventh hour withdrawal for Tinubu.

One wonders what had prompted them in the first place to spend the sum of N100million each to buy the nomination and expression of interest form only to suddenly step down for Tinubu. By their action, Fayemi and his ‘step-down’ colleagues clearly showed that they could not be trusted by Nigerians on whose behalf they had earlier put themselves forward for the presidential job. Fayemi and Co, have just gone on trading and only God knows how much Tinubu spent in buying their “step down.”

Even though the likes of Pastor Tunde Bakare, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Rochas Okorocha, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Dave Umahi, Rotimi Amechi were defeated in the election, the honour that went with their refusal to be bought over is more valuable than the millions of dollars corruptly shared in buying the conscience of delegates.

Now that the cabals in PDP and APC have chosen to hold Nigerians to ransom through the emergence of Atiku and Tinubu, the choice is left for the same Nigerians to either take their destiny in their hands and vote for a corrupt-less candidate like Labour Party’s Peter Obi or join their destiny destroyers to continue promoting a society of primitive accumulation that leaves the average Nigerian poorer.

Written by: Frank Oshanugor

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