Beware of APC and PDP

Sir: There is no better way for Nigerians to attain definite positive change than to jettison the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both of which have perpetrated corruption, carnage, genocide, and economic destruction of Nigeria. The former President, General Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ), was not totally innocent of politicisation of religion, but his was the most minimal compared with his successors, from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who started the unjust attack on Boko Haram; through Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, who truncated rotational presidency, and was using the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to pour invectives on Boko Haram, and led the latter into becoming a full blown terrorist organisation; and the current President, General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) who is pursuing nothing but warfare, even when it has become obvious that he will never be able to defeat Boko Haram. Neither is he able to justify why Boko Haram was attacked in the first instance by his younger cousin, Yar’Adua.

What positive thing can Nigeria ever derive from voting for the same bunch of self-serving people, enriching themselves at the expense of Nigeria’s development and welfare of common Nigerians? How is APC different from PDP? How is GMB different from Jonathan in perpetration of carnage, genocide and economic destruction of Nigeria? GMB is worse in view of the unprecedented terrorism of Fulani herdsmen. Yet, anybody voted-for on the platform of either PDP or APC is a boost to the chances of business as usual. The general elections are coming; APC and PDP are looking for how to use money and propaganda to sway peoples. But remember what will happen after they get power. Voting for APC or PDP in your state election means that you are empowering the same guards that are used to self-aggrandizement, politicization of Christianity and Islam, and general abuse of power.

Neither of the two political parties means well as corporate entities. Agreement for positive change that is envisaged of the Third Force is necessary for definitive change. In Ekiti, for instance, both Governor Ayodele Fayose and the former governor Kayode Fayemi are guilty of bestowing undue advantages on certain Christian and Islamic clerics, when churches and mosques don’t pay tax and they are exploiting the people daily and weekly every Sunday, much more than the government is exploiting the people. How can Nigeria overcome lawlessness and politico-economic disorientation, without certain agreements to be effected by the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), by way of Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), initiated by Obasanjo? Even if you don’t like OBJ’s face, consider the need for a better Nigeria where politico-economic order and discipline will reign. Why, for instance, should the northwest be allowed to serve third term presidency, when other zones are waiting?

Rotational presidency will be the beginning of political sanity; to end unregulated survival of the fittest and might is right. The Third Force should make haste and come up with a political agenda and decide which political party will replace APC and PDP. If APC or PDP gives you money, the usual advice may be followed: take the money but don’t vote for them. But if you take the money without voting for them, they may kill you. So, it is better in my opinion that you don’t take bribe, because it is sinful in itself anyway. Endure suffering for a better Nigeria. Let the owner of luggage carry it, because, as the Yoruba say, those who eat gbii will die gbii. Don’t you concur?
Prof. Oyeniran Abioje wrote from University of Ilorin.