Tinubu And The Conspiracy To Turn Nigeria Into One-Party State -By Gozie Irogboli

Since 2015 when the then Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, naively allowed himself to be rigged out of office by the reactionary elements in the country under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC), masquerading as democrats, reformers and anti-corruption crusaders, the nation’s progress and democratic fortunes have nosedived precipitously, bringing the once thriving African giant to its knees, buffeted by all forms violence, terrorism, economic hardship and socio-political crisis. And from the moment Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared his intention to contest for the presidency in 2022, he left nobody in doubt as to what his intention was. From his infamous emi lo kan speech to his grab-it, snatch-it and run-with-it directive to his political thugs and to the electoral violence precipitated by his minions in Lagos and other parts of the country, it was crystal clear that his intention was to grab power, ensconce himself in office at all costs because he feels he is entitled to it. And the steps he has taken so far since grabbing power in 2023 show that he has no intention of working for the overall interests of the nation.

Without doubt, Tinubu has wielded the presidential power in the most autocratic and undemocratic manner unprecedented in the history of this country, trying by all means to suppress opposition, agitations, protests, dissenting views and such other activities that are necessary ingredients of democracy. There is total absence of checks and balances as the judiciary is compromised and the National Assembly has become the rubber stamp of the presidency. All the pressure groups and the main stream media have been bought and pocketed. The opposition political parties have been infiltrated with aim of making them redundant, while the state institutions appear to serve the primordial interest of the president and not the people.

Thus, the news last week of the former governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the incumbent governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and the entire Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) structure in the state, regarded as one of the strongholds of the PDP, defecting to the APC, did not come many as a surprise. And there are indications that other states especially in the south would follow. It is also insinuated that one of the conditions given to Siminalayi Fubara, the embattled governor of Rivers State controversially suspended by the power-hungry Tinubu, for return as the governor is a defection to the ruling APC. Before now, there have been reports of defections of elected representatives of the people from the opposition parties to the APC. And curiously, none of those defectors lost their respective elective positions contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

The defection of Okowa to the APC is seen as an attempt to escape the corrupt trial initiated against him by the EFCC. Recall that the loquacious erstwhile APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole once told the bewildered Nigerian nation that once you join the APC your sins are forgiven you. Clearly, the mass defection to the ruling APC was not as a result of the freewill of the defectors neither is it based on principle or ideology. It wasn’t that the ruling party is doing well to warrant that. It was purely based on inducement, intimidation and arm-twisting. It is also fraudulent and misleading to tag these induced mass defections to the ruling APC as North-South power tussle. It is purely about the inordinate ambition of one man who wants to govern a nation of 200 million people as his private estate.

It is insinuated that Tinubu’s intention to capture the oil-rich Niger Delta States in order to control the nation’s main sources of revenue is the main reason behind all these induced defections to the APC. Tinubu wants to maintain tight grip on the nation’s revenue sources; one of the reasons for the dubious tax reform bill also. It is believed that the Asiwaju wants to create his dynasty where he can rule unfettered. He wants to appropriate Nigeria and make it his private estate just as he did in Lagos State. All his efforts so far are targeted at how to finagle the 2027 election that is two years away from now. His children and members of his family are being positioned to occupy sensitive political offices. There are indications also that if he succeeds in continuing after 2027, he might amend the constitution to perpetuate himself in power or place himself in a position where he can rule the nation by proxy by dictating who becomes the president or who gets political appointment just as he is currently doing in Lagos State.

Consequently, Tinubu has ignored the plethora of problems confronting the nations and continued to pursue personal agenda, using poverty, propaganda, ethnicity and religion, force and coercion as his tools. He has tactically avoided tackling the nation’s security challenges despite the billions budgeted annually for defense because it seems that he is also using insecurity as a weapon of governance. So, instead of planning how to improve the fortunes of the citizenry, the Tinubu government is planning the next election with the state institutions and resources. And, instead of attracting investment and promoting economic progress, they are attracting terrorist and destroying investments of those who holds different political views.

With the gale of defection to the APC, Nigeria is gradually and dangerously on the verge of becoming a one-party state with its unsavory consequences. In a multi-cultural entity like Nigeria one-party system will spell doom for the nation already imperiled by a plethora of problems created by unscrupulous politicians and inept leadership. One party-state structure invariably means disenfranchisement of the electorate since there are choices. It will create cynicism and apathy in civil participation. In practice, one-party system means suppression of opposition, limited accountability and absence of checks and balances. There will be a reign of impunity, abuse of human rights, suppression of freedom of expression and inability to address disparate interests which will stifled economic development. Indeed, one-party structure will signal the final knell of democracy in Nigeria and the enthronement of despotism.

Given these frightening scenario, it is worrisome to me that some who should know the inherent danger ahead of turning the country into one-party political entity are appraising this induced mass defection to the ruling party as a sound strategic political move just as they had hailed Tinubu’s ill-advised removal of petroleum subsidy without cushion in 2023 as a bold decision. I must remind these sycophants that they are doing great disservice to the country by supporting wrong policies. Leadership is not about dominance or subjugation of the people. It is not about pursuing primordial agenda but general interest. It is about inspiring the people; engaging the people productively for the attainment of common goals. Tinubu’s greed and selfish tendencies constitute a serious impediment to the advancement of the nation. And to the meliorists and the apologists who believe that Tinubu will fix Nigeria, it is farcical and delusional to hold such view in the current prevailing situation in the country.

From all indications, Tinubu has given Nigerians the worst form of political leadership in the annals of the nation. His tactics and Mephistophelean policies portend grave nature to the survival of this nation and should be checked if this country must continue to exist as one indivisible entity. It is not out of place to say that if the effort Tinubu is putting into pursuing personal agenda and suppressing opposition and opinion, is put into real governance, this country will be transformed progressively.

Therefore, this unhealthy development in the nation’s political sphere is something that must not be ignored by well-meaning Nigerians desirous of the progress of this nation. Nigerians should act now to salvage the nation before it becomes irredeemable. I expect Nigerians to bury their differences and unite to form a common front against tyranny and oppression. There is no need to perendinate about it. The survival of democracy and the future of the nation is at stake. Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion should unite and take back their country. They should not leave it in the hands of the opposition alone. The opposition is already drained of energy and incapacitated. However, I expect the opposition and the other political interest groups to come together to form a coalition of a mega party that will effectively challenge the monster, APC, that is riding roughshod on the beleaguered nation.

Gozie Irogboli

(goziei@yahoo.com)

An economist, banker, a novelist and public policy analyst