A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former aspirant for the Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency in Ondo State, Balarabe Akinwumi, has expressed concern over the recent wave of defections by incumbent governors from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akinwumi, a lawyer and former aide to ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Oil and Gas, who described the trend as “worrisome”, stressed that the defecting governors may be seeking political cover in order to conceal their purported misconduct, reports The Guardian.
While arguing that the defections reflect a lack of confidence on the part of the governors, as well as a desperate move to align with the ruling party for protection, he maintained that political realignments should not overshadow the need for good governance and accountability.
Akinwunmi, who expressed confidence in PDP’s readiness for the 2027 general elections, emphasised that only a true national coalition comprising Nigerians can effectively sack President Bola Tinubu in an election.
According to him, Nigerians should remain vigilant amid the pervasive fear, insecurity, poverty, and hunger in the country, warning that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat.
He said: “They (governors) are the ones that know what they’re hiding. You know Oshiomole said that if you come to the ruling party, your sins are forgiven. They are the ones that know the sins that they have committed that they want to go back to. So that’s why they are going there, maybe.
“Using governance as a tool of oppression in this country, using the powers of the president as a tool of oppression needs to stop. The president himself is a democrat. He suffered oppression. He was oppressed by the powers that be for many years. And I do not expect that the president or the ruling party should also toll this path of tormentors.
“They (governors) are the ones that know their reasons, but power belongs to the people. In the 2023 elections, at least three governors that contested for Senate under the G5 didn’t even win their own seat. They lost. They lost their own elections. The last election has shown us that power belongs to the people.
“The Labour Party has the structure, but the people were the structure. So how many people can the governor even tell beyond his appointees and beyond their own vote? They’re looking for a place to hang on so that their sins can be forgiven. But again, that is not right, and power doesn’t reside in governors; it resides with the people.”
Akinwunmi further stressed that “There’s too much fear in the system. Of course, we’re not even in the political season yet. But again, in Nigeria, it is two years of governance and two years of politics. That’s why we are starting to talk about this now, because it’s a distraction. But unfortunately, that’s what the system is.
“Everybody needs to be on their feet to do the right things, whether you’re in APC or in PDP. We must be able to at least salvage this democracy in the interest of the people.
“There’s too much hopelessness, there’s too much insecurity, there’s too much poverty, and there’s too much hunger. There’s too much fear in the system. Of course, we’re not even in the political season yet.”
