AS drama continues to unfold with regards to the mass defection of members of the National Assembly, Nigerians say none of the politicians’ actions was done in the interest of the common man.
Already, the debate is on about which political party currently has the majority of members in the Senate, with both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claiming to have more numbers.
Even President Muhammadu Buhari, who is yet to comment on the certificate forgery scandal involving his Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, more than two weeks after the allegation was made, has weighed in on the matter, explaining why so many lawmakers left the APC, and wishing them luck in their future endeavours.
“I wish all of our party members who today defected, the very best in their future undertakings,” Buhari tweeted on Tuesday evening.
“None of the defecting federal lawmakers has any specific grievances against me or the government I lead; neither do I harbour any ill-feeling towards any of them. I fully respect their freedom to choose what party to associate with.”
A similar chain of events played prior to the 2015 general election which brought the APC into power. Several PDP heavyweights had pulled out of the party to form a faction which they called the New PDP (N-PDP). They would all later use the division as an excuse for their defection into the then newly formed APC. The movement was instrumental to APC winning the general election few months later.
Many who reacted to this development on the social media said politicians are always after their selfish interests and that none of them have the interest of the common man at heart.
Dike Chukwumerije, a performance poet, pointed out,in a facebook post, that none of the defections was in protest of the many things that are going wrong in the present administration.
“Nobody decamped for Leah Sharibu. Nobody decamped for Anka or Rabbah or the blood that flowed in Gwer East. Nobody decamped for the illegal detention of Zakzaky, for the illegal retention of Dasuki, for the outright disappearance of Kanu. Nobody decamped for the jobs that have still not been created, or the power that can still not be distributed. Nobody decamped for the brothers we lost to hospitals we cannot depend on, for the mothers we lost in labour to derelict wards and empty medicine cupboards. Nobody decamped for the unpaid pensioner and the soldier stuck on permanent rotation in Gwoza, for the teachers who work for months without pay and the litigant that cannot afford the cost of Justice. Nobody decamped for the children who beg to clean our windshields at the junction of Aguiyi Ironsi and Kashim Ibrahim… See? Nobody decamped for them,” Chukwumerije wrote.
Here are more reactions on Twitter:
The enemy of my enemy is a useful idiot, nothing more.
Nigerians, remember this as politicians fight. Pick sides, because you must make sure the least worst wins, but don’t fall into the trap of praising or calling them defenders of the people. They are all users. Use them back.
— orwelliANDYstopia (@andyRoidO) July 25, 2018
I think saraki has watched too much of house of cards or game of thrones. ????
Now that all the defection has been defected, what next? I hope you know that they didn’t defect for greater good of the people? It’s all about their interest. It has always been.— Farida Kabir (@reedahkh) July 24, 2018
In the end, after all is said and done, Buhari, Saraki, Dogara, Ekweremadu, Kwankwaso, Tinubu, Oshiomhole, insert-name-here…
The question we should really ask is: will all of this drama be of benefit to the man on the street?
If not, it’s all a waste of our fucking time.
— Chxta (@Chxta) July 24, 2018
What a selfish response! Always absolving yourself. It’s always about you! you!! you!!!
When you lost election under CPC you threw all the other under the bus.
When you met #ChibokParents you told them you had reached the peak
When citizens are being killed you play the victim https://t.co/eOUC0Qp2zI— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) July 24, 2018
This is by far the most malicious government.
Everyone is trying to out do eachother to show supremacy and power.
The defection of some Members of the House of senate to PDP,was not done
for our own interests. APC and PDP are at loggerheads. #Saraki the smart one., pic.twitter.com/NgftnlJXAo— Adaobi ???????? (@Ada_obii) July 25, 2018