Connect with us

Opinion

2015 Election And Defection: What Do People Say?

Published

11 years ago

on

Following the victory of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the last presidential polls, there has been massive defection of politicians from their former political parties to the APC across the country.
This development has become worrisome to some people who think that it might lead to the death of opposition in Nigeria’s democracy.
How do Port Harcourt residents view the issue? Our Chief Correspondent, Calista Ezeaku and photographer, Ibioye Diama went round the city to find out.

Mr Kelvin Sunju Ibiama – Politician
Well, we know very well that every human being will want to join the moving train. Nobody wants to sink with the sinking boat. So it’s part of the game. It is not unacceptable even though the winners will always want to say the losers that will come in shouldn’t come to displace them to benefit from the struggle. So it is a welcome idea. I know defection did not start today. So the massive defection is expected also considering the fact that APC is now the majority party that has won over 20 states. More will cross over through tribunal, through making sure that they remain in the moving train and you cannot stop people from moving from one party to the other except it will be enshrined in the constitution. For now, there is no embargo on defection from one party to another.
That said, I think the massive defection that is going on in the country now is a welcome development because if we all tilt to one side, the fight will be less. For instance if you look at second tenure elections, the fight is usually less than what we see during transition or free elections. The second tenure is always softened based on the fact that most people have accepted defeat, most people defected during the first tenure and all that. So if we all tilt to one side it will lessen the fight and create a more peaceful atmosphere for the electorate.
I am not saying opposition should be killed but if majority is on one it lessens the fight. It will Reduce violence in our elections. When there are strong oppositions definitely, the opposition plays a positive role in any democratic government. For instance, when we were all in PDP, what we heard was “carry go” when you shout PDP they would say “carry go, no shaking.”
But today, because of strong opposition you no longer hear carry go or no shaking. Every party now works. So when there is strong opposition, you know you cannot sleep until you get it right.

Mr Wosa Sunday Okedi- A Banker
Well, the issue is that Nigerians don’t play politics as sportsmen. They see politics as a do or die affair which is very bad. If you belong to a political party and at the end of the day that party does not win election, that does not mean that you should defect from your party to the winning party. Remain in your party and embrace the party that won. All we need is a peaceful atmosphere and development of the state and the nation.
Unfortunately, most of our politicians are extremely selfish. Their main reason for defection is to benefit from the ruling party and they go there they start to suppress other people. They are all the same people, moving from one party to another. The parties all have the same ideology, that is why the politicians can defect from one party to another easily. If they have different ideologies, the ideology of a particular party may not suit the members of another party, then they will not have any reason to defect. But because they have the same ideology, it is easy for them to move from one party to another.
I’m afraid, the massive, constant defection will affect our democracy if not checked. It will not allow our democracy to grow the way it supposed to grow. It will kill opposition and may lead to one party state which is not good. Opposition parties makes the ruling party to be up and doing. Opposition make the party in power to do something for the people and to fulfill their campaign promises.
So, the National Assembly should enact a law that will make it difficult for people to be jumping from one party to another. The law should state that once an election is conducted, there will be no room form defection. There should be a time frame for defection. If you don’t move from this period to this period, don’t move again, because your movement at this period may endanger our democratic process.

Mr Bestman Dinwee – Driver
What is there is that everybody has his own choice and there is nothing wrong with defection. Definitely everybody will not move to APC or PDP. There will still be those that will choose to remain in their parties. And that is why I condemn the recent warning by the publicity secretary of APC – Lai Mohammed that PDP member should stop defecting to APC. People have the right to join any party of their choice at anytime. Any where you see something coming out you go. There are so many reasons why people decamp. Somebody can give you some money to decamp from your party to another. Majority of our leaders do not help us, so anywhere you see help, you go.
But as I said earlier, it is a personal decision. For me, my party remains my party. PDP is the party I like and that is where I will remain. Others can decamp at any time, it is not my own problem. The important thing is that I’m still there and I don’t think anything will make me change my mind.

Miss Joyce Loveday – Businesswoman
For me, it is not good for politicians to be jumping from one party to another. They should remain in their parties because I strongly believe that after the tenure of the in-coming elected officers the pendulum will surely swing to another party’s direction. If all the PDP members move to APC simply because APC will be the ruling party, it means they don’t want the existence of PDP. Despite the fact that I don’t know much about politics, I don’t think it should be played in that way.
When this side is bad, you run to the other side, when the other side is bad, you run to this side. What about those people that remained in their party, whether good or bad? If your house is not in order, you don’t run away, instead you stay in it and think of how to put it in order. You have to think of how to forge ahead because if   there are no failures, there will be no success. When you fall, you try to rise up and move on. We are all bound to make mistake but when you make mistake you try and correct them and forge ahead.
However, in as much as I will want politicians to remain in their parties even when they lose, I will also want the winning party to carry members of other parties along, because there are good people in the opposition parties who can help in moving the nation forward. I believe people jump from one party to another because the ruling party controls almost everything but a situation where qualified people will be given appointments irrespective of their party affiliation, the rate of defection will reduce. The party at the top should ensure that everybody is carried along. The state, the nation belongs to us all and whichever party that wins should ensure that those that lost are carried along.

Chief Moses Daniel – Retired Civil Servant
I look at it as a fraud. I say is a fraud because this people are not sincere to themselves. You are in a party and you’ve nurtured the party up to an extent and it happens that your party did not win in an election and you defect to another party to do what? You should make sure your party grows instead of dumping it for another party.
Actually, I think our system encourages defection because our system is such that if you don’t belong to a rulling party, you will not partake in anything on the federal level. If you don’t belong to a rulling party, you will not be carried along. But I think that whether your party wins or not you are supposed to remain in your party because you don’t know tomorrow. The equation might change tomorrow.
This defection is actually affecting our democracy because it is the same people that are moving from one party to another. They are defecting to enable them go and make the same mistakes they made in their former parties that they couldn’t deliver. If you know yourself and you are a person of high principles, you have to remain in your party whether it wins or not because a looser today might be a winner tomorrow.

Mr Ikiriko Karibi Victor – Civil Servant
In the first place they say that success has many fathers and loosers are orphans. So I believe that those defecting from other parties to APC are doing so to see whether they can get money from the in-coming government. Secondly, they may also go there to cause problem because other people struggled to build up the party and they are now going there to go and cause confusion.
I think the law should take its course in this matter. For instance, we hear that in Ondo State, the court ruled that those who dumped their parties to other ones should vacate their seats. And so, if the law makers come up with a good law then the issue of defection will be reduced to the barest minimum because if nothing is done about the massive defection it might result to a one party system. I will also support the decision of the APC that politicians should remain in their parties. APC should close their doors against the defectors because if they don’t do so, everybody will join the party and we may end up with one party system.
And let me use this medium to advice those defecting to think twice because it might have adverse effect on their individual personalities. Let me give you an example, if Tonye Princewill had remained in ACN after contesting the governorship election under that platform perhaps Dakuku wouldn’t have be the governorship flag bearer of APC in the last election. Because he moved from one party to another, nobody has trust in him again. But for those who are consistent in their parties, they get better opportunities in future. So I will advise members of other political parties to maintain membership of their parties, nurture them into strong oopposition parties instead of drifting to the ruling party.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Opinion

Monthly Environmental Sanitation Imperative 

Published

6 days ago

on

May 18, 2026

By

Quote: “A clean environment is not a government gift; it is a civic duty that protects our health, preserves our cities, and reflects our national character.”
For many Nigerians who grew up in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, the last Saturday of every month followed a familiar pattern. Roads were deserted, markets closed, and residents swept compounds, cleared gutters, cut overgrown weeds, and disposed off refuse. The monthly environmental sanitation exercise became a national ritual that promoted cleanliness, discipline, and civic responsibility. As an environment correspondent about two decades ago, I joined officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Environment on sanitation monitoring tours across Port Harcourt and surrounding communities. Although enforcement officers were sometimes accused of excesses, the exercise succeeded in creating public awareness about the importance of keeping our surroundings clean. Over time, however, the practice faded away in many states.
In its absence, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, blocked drainages and environmental neglect became increasingly common. Today, heaps of waste line roads, markets and motor parks, while gutters clogged with plastics contribute to perennial flooding. Given the mounting environmental challenges facing Nigerian cities, there is no better time to revive environmental sanitation. Its return is no longer a matter of nostalgia; it is a practical necessity for public health, environmental safety, and sustainable development. Poor sanitation remains a major cause of disease. Stagnant water and uncollected waste create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, flies and rodents, increasing the risk of malaria, cholera, typhoid and other infections. Floodwaters contaminated by refuse also expose communities to serious health hazards.
Rapid urbanisation has worsened the situation. Cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja are expanding faster than their waste management systems can cope. As populations grow, so does the volume of waste generated daily. Monthly sanitation exercises can help rebuild environmental consciousness. Beyond cleaning streets, they remind citizens that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility. They also offer an opportunity to educate children and young people about hygiene, public health and community participation. Critics argue that the old sanitation policy restricted movement and was sometimes abused by security personnel. Those concerns were valid, but they do not invalidate the concept itself. Rather than abandon it, governments should reform the programme to make it more humane, participatory and transparent.
That is why the recent decision by the Lagos State Government to reintroduce monthly sanitation deserves commendation. Even if participation is largely voluntary, the move sends a strong signal that environmental responsibility must be taken seriously. Other states should emulate this initiative. In Rivers State, the Rivers State Waste Management Agency has intensified efforts to improve waste collection and restore Port Harcourt’s reputation as the Garden City. Reintroducing monthly sanitation would complement these efforts and deepen public involvement. At the federal level, policies such as the Digital Waste Marketplace, the Plastic Waste Policy and the National Waste Management Network are commendable. However, environmental sanitation remains one of the most direct and visible ways to mobilise citizens toward cleaner communities.
The exercise, however, must be supported by efficient waste management infrastructure. Citizens cannot be expected to maintain clean surroundings if there are inadequate waste bins, irregular refuse collection, and limited recycling facilities. Governments at all levels should invest in modern waste management systems, properly fund sanitation agencies, and promote recycling programmes. Waste sorting should become standard practice to reduce the volume of refuse ending up in landfills and drainage channels. Countries such as Singapore, Sweden and South Korea have demonstrated that waste can become a valuable economic resource. Recycling industries in these countries create jobs while protecting the environment. Nigeria can adopt similar strategies and turn waste into wealth.
Environmental laws must also be enforced consistently. Regulations against illegal dumping exist in many states but are rarely implemented. Offenders should face penalties, but enforcement must be fair and free from extortion. Urban planning is another critical factor. Poor drainage systems, overcrowding and inadequate sewage infrastructure worsen sanitation problems. Governments must prioritise road construction, drainage maintenance and orderly urban development. Markets deserve particular attention. They generate enormous quantities of waste every day, yet many lack organised disposal systems. Local councils and market associations should work together to establish effective waste collection arrangements in commercial centres. Religious institutions, schools, traditional rulers and civil society groups also have important roles to play.
Environmental responsibility should be taught and reinforced as a social value. Community leaders can help change attitudes by consistently promoting cleaner habits. This issue is even more urgent in an era of climate change. Flooding, erosion and extreme weather events are already threatening many Nigerian communities. Poor waste disposal worsens these challenges by blocking waterways and reducing urban resilience. A clean environment also offers economic benefits. Well-maintained cities attract investors, tourists and businesses. Reduced disease outbreaks lower healthcare costs and improve productivity among workers and students. More importantly, cleanliness reflects national values. A nation that allows public spaces to deteriorate projects an image of disorder and neglect. Nigerians deserve cleaner streets, healthier neighbourhoods and safer communities.
Reviving environmental sanitation will not solve all environmental problems overnight, but it can serve as a powerful starting point. Combined with effective waste management, public education and stronger infrastructure, it can restore environmental consciousness across the country. Ultimately, environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility. Government must provide leadership, infrastructure and enforcement, while citizens must demonstrate discipline and civic commitment. From disposing of household waste properly to keeping drains free of obstruction, every Nigerian has a role to play. If Nigeria is serious about protecting public health, reducing flooding and building livable cities, the return of monthly environmental sanitation is a step whose time has come.
By: Calista Ezeaku
Continue Reading

Opinion

God’s Intentionality in Ecological System

Published

6 days ago

on

May 18, 2026

By

Quote:”Every component of creation is interdependent, demonstrating that God designed nature as a balanced system in which each part contributes to the wellbeing of the whole”.
 
From the very first chapter of Scripture, the Bible presents a profound truth: creation was not accidental, random, or without meaning. The universe emerged from the deliberate counsel of an all-wise God who fashioned every aspect of life with purpose and precision. The heavens were stretched out by His command, the earth was carefully positioned, the seas were bounded, and every living creature was assigned a distinct role within a perfectly coordinated ecological system. When God surveyed His completed work, He pronounced it “very good,” affirming that creation was whole, harmonious, and exactly as He intended. The natural world remains a visible testimony to God’s intentionality. The sun provides warmth and energy at the right intensity to sustain life. The moon governs tides and seasons. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Rivers irrigate the land and quench thirst. Bees and butterflies pollinate crops. Birds disperse seeds. Animals maintain biodiversity. Every component of creation is interdependent, demonstrating that God designed nature as a balanced system in which each part contributes to the wellbeing of the whole. Nothing was made without significance, and nothing was left to chance. Among all created beings, humanity occupies a unique and privileged position. Unlike plants and animals, man was created in the image and likeness of God. This divine imprint endowed human beings with intelligence, moral consciousness, creativity, and the capacity for relationship with their maker. It also established mankind as the steward of creation. God granted humanity dominion over the earth, not as a license for reckless exploitation, but as a sacred trust to cultivate, protect, and preserve the world He had declared good.
Dominion, in God’s original intention, was to be exercised with wisdom, compassion, and responsibility. Human beings were meant to care for the land, use natural resources judiciously, and ensure that all forms of life flourished in accordance with divine order. The earth was to be managed as a trust from God, not plundered for selfish gain. Unfortunately, this divine mandate has been grossly misunderstood and widely abused. It is deeply regrettable that man has deviated so drastically from God’s original intention. Instead of stewardship, humanity has too often embraced greed. Instead of preservation, there has been exploitation. Instead of gratitude to the Creator, there has been reckless consumption and abuse of the environment. Across the world, forests are felled indiscriminately, rivers are contaminated, and fertile lands are stripped of their productivity.
 Species disappear as habitats are destroyed. Air pollution threatens public health, and climate change disrupts weather patterns and livelihoods. What God created as a life-supporting ecosystem is increasingly treated as a disposable commodity. In Nigeria, the consequences are especially painful. Oil spills in the Niger Delta have devastated farmlands, poisoned rivers, and destroyed fishing communities. Poor waste management clogs drains and contributes to flooding. Erosion eats away homes and roads. Illegal mining and logging scar the landscape. In many cases, communities suffer while those responsible evade justice. At the root of much of this destruction is corruption. Funds earmarked for environmental protection, sanitation, and erosion control are often diverted for personal enrichment. Regulatory agencies are compromised through bribery.
 Powerful individuals and corporations place profit above human welfare. Corruption thus becomes not only a moral failure but an assault on God’s creation. This environmental abuse is also a tragic expression of man’s inhumanity to man. When water is polluted, children fall sick. When farmlands are destroyed, farmers lose their means of survival. When rivers are contaminated, fishermen are plunged into poverty. When floods and erosion displace families, communities are torn apart. The burden of environmental degradation falls most heavily on the poor and vulnerable, while future generations inherit a diminished world. Yet, despite humanity’s failures, there remains hope for restoration. God’s purpose for creation has not changed. He still calls His people to responsible stewardship and righteous living. When individuals and nations return to God’s principles, they begin to view the earth not as an object to exploit, but as a sacred trust to preserve.
Responsible stewardship means protecting natural resources, planting trees, reducing pollution, disposing of waste properly, enforcing environmental laws, rejecting corruption, and treating others with justice and compassion. It requires governments to act with integrity, businesses to operate ethically, faith communities to teach creation care, and citizens to take personal responsibility for the environment. Creation care is therefore more than an environmental concern; it is a spiritual obligation. Our treatment of the earth and of one another reflects the sincerity of our reverence for God. To exploit nature, oppress the vulnerable, and enrich ourselves through corruption is to rebel against His purpose. To protect creation and uphold justice is to honor the Creator and participate in His original design. The world God made was declared “very good.” It is our solemn duty to ensure that our actions preserve rather than destroy that goodness.
By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
Continue Reading

Opinion

Confronting National Development In Chinese Style

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 13, 2026

By

Quote: “China’s rise was not a miracle. It was the result of deliberate planning, disciplined execution, and a national determination to make poverty reduction the foundation of national development.”
A short TikTok video by @ancientchinaforever recently offered a compelling summary of China’s remarkable transformation from one of the world’s poorest nations to a global economic powerhouse. In just a few minutes, it captured a lesson that developing countries like Nigeria cannot afford to ignore: meaningful development does not happen by chance. It is the product of vision, consistency, and a deliberate commitment to confronting poverty. In 1981, according to the World Bank, nearly 88 percent of China’s population lived in extreme poverty. The country was overwhelmingly rural, industrially weak, and lacking in modern infrastructure. Millions of people had limited access to quality healthcare, education, and basic social services. Yet China refused to accept poverty as its destiny. Its leaders made a strategic decision to treat poverty reduction as the starting point of national development.
 Rather than relying on slogans or isolated welfare programmes, they created a coordinated system that mobilised government institutions at every level toward one overriding goal: improving the living conditions of ordinary citizens.
This was the turning point in China’s history. Poverty alleviation became a national mission. Clear targets were established, responsibilities were assigned to provincial and local governments, and officials were evaluated based on measurable results. Data was used to identify poor households, monitor progress, and adjust strategies where necessary.In effect, China built what may be described as a national development machine.The first major reforms focused on agriculture. Through the household responsibility system, farmers were given greater control over their land and allowed to sell surplus produce after meeting government quotas.
 This policy created incentives for productivity and innovation. The results were dramatic. Agricultural output rose significantly, rural incomes increased, and millions were lifted out of poverty.With food security improving, China turned to industrialisation. The government established Special Economic Zones, most notably in Shenzhen, to attract foreign investment and promote export-driven manufacturing. What was once a small fishing community quickly transformed into one of the world’s leading industrial and technology hubs. Factories created millions of jobs, drawing workers from rural areas into expanding urban centres. China soon became the manufacturing capital of the world, producing electronics, textiles, machinery, and consumer goods for global markets.The revenue generated from industrial growth was reinvested in infrastructure and human development.
China understood that development requires more than factories. It demands modern infrastructure that connects people, goods, and markets. Massive investments were made in roads, railways, airports, seaports, electricity, and telecommunications.
Today, China’s high-speed rail system, modern cities, and efficient logistics networks stand as visible proof of decades of purposeful investment. Equally important was China’s commitment to education and healthcare.Schools were expanded, literacy improved, and vocational training equipped workers with the skills needed in a modern economy. Healthcare reforms reduced preventable diseases and protected families from being pushed deeper into poverty by medical costs.These investments ensured that economic growth translated into tangible improvements in living standards.
Another defining feature of China’s development model was policy continuity. Through successive Five-Year Plans, national priorities were clearly outlined and pursued over decades. While leaders changed, the core development agenda remained consistent. This stability encouraged investment, strengthened institutions, and allowed long-term projects to be completed. Unlike countries where each administration abandons the policies of its predecessor, China sustained a clear sense of direction.The results have been extraordinary. According to the World Bank, China has lifted more than 800 million people out of extreme poverty—the largest poverty reduction effort in human history. A broad middle class has emerged, and the country has become the world’s second-largest economy. Chinese companies such as Huawei Technologies and Alibaba Group now compete at the forefront of global innovation.
China’s journey has not been without challenges. Rapid industrialisation has contributed to environmental degradation, regional disparities, and demographic pressures. However, these challenges do not diminish the scale of its achievement. They underscore the complexity of transforming a nation of over one billion people. For Nigeria, China’s experience offers valuable lessons. First, poverty reduction must be treated as a strategic national priority rather than a campaign promise. Second, development requires long-term planning and policy continuity. Third, sustained investment in agriculture, infrastructure, education, and healthcare is essential. Fourth, institutions must be strengthened to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes. Finally, leadership must combine vision with disciplined execution. Nigeria is richly endowed with natural resources, entrepreneurial talent, and a youthful population.
What remains missing is a coherent and consistent development strategy that places national interest above politics. China’s transformation demonstrates that development is not a matter of luck. It is the outcome of clear priorities, effective institutions, and unwavering commitment. For countries still grappling with poverty and underdevelopment, China stands as compelling proof that when a nation confronts its challenges with strategic intent and collective discipline, extraordinary progress is possible.
 Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
Continue Reading

Trending