By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Former Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has described the gale of defections sweeping across the Nigeria political landscape with the majority moving into the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) as the gathering of sinners.
Dalung pointed out that the gale of defection is not a sign that the ruling party has performed well, stressing that they (the defectors) are sinners, who are seeking forgiveness for their numerous sins.
The defectors, according to him, are only fulfilling what a former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole said regarding corrupt politicians. Oshiomhole, it will be recalled, was once quoted to have said that no matter the gravity of a politician’s sins, he would be forgiven as soon as he joins the APC.
In the words of Dalung, “These are people who have committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people and they are jumping into the APC ship for the forgiveness of their sins. Not that they believe in Tinubu, no; they do not. They are only assembling so that their sins will be forgiven.
“So it is a conclave of political cardinals who have committed grave sins against the Nigerian people and a political party has offered them the opportunity of forgiveness on entrance,” he said.
The former Minister, during an interview at the weekend, stressed that the defections would not add any value to President Bola Tinubu, instead the defectors would create problems in the party in future.
He said: You know there is an adage in Hausa that if animals celebrate the death of a butcher, has the knife also died? If beneficiaries of the mandate of the people are defecting, have the people also defected?
“So there is no value added to Tinubu except that he has compounded the situation in his party and there will be an implosion.”
He also dismissed concern in certain quarters that the entrance of politicians like the former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai into the Social Democratic Party (SDP) could be a potential threat to the presidential ambition of Prince Adewole Adebayo, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
Dalung stated that Adebayo’s political charisma, image and personality within the Nigerian political environment has presented him as an obvious force to deal with in 2027.
He emphasized that apart from that, Adebayo is the only presidential candidate who has consistently maintained a media campaign against the failed and unpopular policies of the current government.
His words, “So, Nigerians are very conversant with Adebayo’s voice, charisma and leadership qualities. So, whether you mobilize the whole politicians into the SDP, you must resolve the question of Adebayo in the SDP as a presidential candidate before any other person.
“This is because nobody has promoted the SDP in Nigeria like Adebayo. After Chief MKO Abiola, you rank Adebayo in the contemporary SDP as the highest. So, the concern as some people are expressing is normal.
“Human beings entertain such fears but the reality is that the name SDP since 2023 has been sustained unilaterally by the doggedness, commitment, dedication and selflessness of Prince Adebayo.
“So, he is a force to beat in whatever political arrangement that the SDP will put on ground to produce a presidential candidate. He is a patriot who did not join politics for himself; he has surrendered the rest of his life to the service of humanity and he did that at his 50th birthday.
“So, he is not into politics because it must be him; he is into politics to ensure that good governance, justice, the rule of law, equity and fairness is reintroduced and reinforced in the governance structure of Nigeria.
“So, even if he loses in a free, fair, and transparent electoral process, he will still be a team player in the struggle for a better Nigeria,” he stated.
While reacting to whether the SDP is still in the coalition talks, he said: “This question will better be answered by the leadership of the party because I can only speak from the perspective as somebody who is aware of the development in the coalition.
“I am aware that the coalition delegation met with the SDP leadership but I am yet to get the details of that discussion. I think that will be made public in due course but like I said earlier, I may not be able to say much about that.”
