Between Continuity and Change

                                                                                

                                  President Goodluck Jonathan

                                                                    

                                    Gen. Muhammadu Buhari           

All over the world, a winning team is not changed for a new team just because a minute number of the citizens of a nation want change in order to access governance for selfish and egocentric interest. In other words, a winning team is not changed just for the sake of change. The All Progressives Congress (APC) focused its campaigns on change which is doubtful owing to the fact that the political party in question has not achieved anything spectacular that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has not surpassed. Till this very moment, the APC brands the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as a corrupt political party that has failed in governance yet the saintly political party opened its doors for the supposedly corrupt politicians from the PDP! This is strange.

 It is on record that people like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Chairman of PDP, Chief Audu Ogbe, former Chairman of PDP, Chief Barnabas Gemande, former Acting Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, ex-governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki (now Senator), former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, ex-governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige, current governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former FCT Minister, Mallam El rufai etc. were till recently members of the PDP but defected to the APC. The holier-than-thou APC vowed to combat corruption yet it has not prosecuted anybody in the APC led states for corruption since 1999 or is everybody in the APC is a saint? But what change is the APC talking about? A change to elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who dismantled a democratically elected government on December 31, 1983? I do not think Nigerians want this type of change.

It may interest discerning Nigerians to know that when the aforementioned persons where in the PDP they were perceived by the opposition political party as corrupt politicians. The governors among them were regarded as failed politicians that did not perform in their various states. However, as soon as they defected to the APC, they are being addressed as governors that performed while in office! So, to be a performing governor all you need to do is defect to the APC then you will be called a performing governor or incorruptible person. It is noteworthy that if all PDP members that are being demonized as corrupt and non-performing political office holders should defect to the APC today they will all be admitted into the party and also be called incorruptible persons!   

Few gullible Nigerians have been deceived by this slogan called change without carefully analysing the content and motive behind the clandestine demand by the few individuals who will benefit enormously from any change that may occur; will there be any change? So, some naïve Nigerians have joined in the clamour for change without plausible reasons for demanding for a change. Ask these credulous Nigerians why they want a change they simply say “We just need a change” without adducing any convincing reasons. Those who gave one or two reasons said PDP has been in power for 15 years so another political party should be allowed to take over power. The second reason they usually give why they want PDP out of power is that the PDP has not achieved anything since 1999. One question this writer will like to ask the few Nigerians holding this opinion is this, which political party deregulated the telecommunication sector that opened the door for private telecommunication companies in the country? Is it not the PDP? With the deregulation of the telecommunication sector, we now have many private telecommunication companies in the country that are providing employments and quality services to the citizenry. This is why Nigerians can now make calls across the world from the comfort of their bedrooms; this was not the case when the telecommunication sector was under the sole control of the government. Additionally, it has given birth to internet services leading to the use of social media whereby Nigerians now use email, twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Skype etc. to communicate among themselves.

The Freedom of Information Act of 2011 which Nigerians now enjoy was enacted under the PDP led government. This Act enables Nigerians demand for information from anybody or organization without inhibition from any quarters. With Freedom of Information Act, Nigerians now have the right to ask questions without fear and intimidation from those concerned. This is the reason why the demand for accountability from Nigerian leaders is in the increase; it has never been so in recent past. The cry for stewardship on the leadership of the country is resonating from Nigerians on a daily basis; this was made possible by the PDP led government which has given every Nigerian the opportunity to speak their minds on issues that concern them.

Twelve universities have been built under this administration; one of them a maritime university. The maritime sector is an untapped goldmine so the maritime university will provide the required manpower for that sector. The Lagos-Benin Expressway is being rehabilitated. The construction of the East-West Road is nearing completion. The railways are being revamped. The construction of the second Niger Bridge has commenced and will be completed in the near future. The political sphere has also been opened; giving room for opposition political parties to be registered and thrive.

Nigerians cannot be deceived by this call for a phoney change that is being promoted by a few Nigerians for selfish interest and aggrandizement. Nigerians do not want change but continuity as the PDP led government under the able leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan has brought progress, stability and unity to the country. He deserves a second term in office.