2015 Polls And Defections

With the re-run of polls in some parts
of Taraba, Imo and Abia States,
where governorship and House of Assembly elections were said to be inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the 2015 polls may have successfully come to an end. But an appraisal of events before, during and after the polls is imperative to assess the nature and quality of democracy in Nigeria.
Notwithstanding the discordant notes on the validity or otherwise of the exercise, the defection of some politicians within the period and even shortly after the Presidential elections, questions their integrity and shames the entire political class.
In the last three weeks, Nigerians have been inundated with reports of defections of many supposed politicians from one political party to another and back. In fact, it was said that some persons ridiculously enough, went to bed as members of one party and woke up as members of another.
In what now seems to be the trend across the country, defections had taken the dimension of a deluge. This worrisome movement is symptomatic of the bread and butter politics that had always seen politicians not having the steam and temperament to be in the opposition. These politicians, most of whom have proven to be spineless men and women of zero political or electoral value, would rather surge to the party in power in a bid to remain politically and materially relevant.
This becomes a real problem as no system can be better than the persons that operate it. It is most unfortunate that many politicians lack conviction, honour, and the simplest understanding of ideology. They, therefore, do not have ideological commitment to any course.
The Tide believes that politics should not be a mere meal ticket as many persons made it to be as they sniff about for the party that is likely to win and actually defect to the party that wins just to share in the booty.
Politicians should be persons desirous of serving the people with identifiable qualities. They should be honourable and capable of growing into statesmen. They should strengthen to drive for democracy.
It is also sad that a lot of political parties are built around individuals, instead of national ideals and values that people can rally round. This is why Nigeria has so many political parties, some not able to produce even a councillor, the smallest political office, anywhere in the country.
There is also lack of internal democracy in the parties to re-assure anyone. Meanwhile the huge benefits for political office holders, including life time retirement benefits and other social gains, underscore the struggle for political offices. Indeed, politics appears to serve the politicians only and not the country nor its people.
Until these issues are properly addressed, mere thugs, job seekers and fortune hunters will occupy State houses and give no service because they lack the spirit and commitment to serve. This is a perfect recipe for the evolution of a one party state and it should be condemned and discouraged.
Worse still, it will endanger the sustenance of democracy in the country and completely erode the value system that once separated the men from the boys. It can, as a matter of fact, deny the people legitimate leadership and return society to the state of nature.
While the political class cannot be trusted to deal with this problem, the people, civil societies and all who wish Nigeria well should not stop at condemning the vice but pursue the formulation of laws that can adequately sanitise and develop the political system.