It is painful to watch Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu slip into a one’party state or become victim of state capture.
After the 2023 election that produced 11 state governors namely,
Ademola Adeleke: Osun State
Ahmadu Fintiri: Adamawa State
Agbu Kefas: Taraba State
Bala Mohammed: Bauchi State
Caleb Mutfwang: Plateau State
Dauda Lawal: Zamfara State
Douye Diri: Bayelsa State
Peter Mbah: Enugu State
Seyi Makinde: Oyo State
Siminalayi Fubara: Rivers State and
Umo Eno: Akwa Ibom State.
It is regrettable to say that Nigerians watch the APC and President Tinubu use malicious and mischievous means as well as the Judiciary to capture Delta, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Plateau, Zamfara, Bayelsa States.
Don’t ask me how because you and I all know the waters that passed under the bridge before those governors had their governorship seats “reallocated” to them. And as you read this piece, Zamfara, Taraba and Plateau States are only waiting to be fully harvested into the APC basket.
It is equaly open secret that during the election tribunal battles which would have forcefully snatched the above listed states from the PDP albeit, illegally were spared the wrath of the Supreme Court axe.
These States’ governors were reliably disclosed to have gone to pledge their allegiance, unflinching support to President Tinubu and a solid promise to defect to the APC before 2027 which saved them from losing their seats.
It is rather disgusting and appalling that every politician of repute in Nigeria today has been harassed, intimidated and threatened, and majority have succumbed to the APC and presidential blackmail to defect to APC.
To make matters worse, Nyesom Wike has succeeded in helping to destroy the only viable opposition party which also served as the only credible alternative political platform.
As it stands today, there are only four governors whom the intimidation, harassments and threats could not succeed at cowing. Of course, those four are Bauchi, Oyo, Abia and Osun. Meanwhile, only two, Bauchi and Oyo could not be totally swept off the ground but probably because this is their second term.
As for the governors of Osun and Abia States, they are neither here nor there. Don’t talk to me about Anambra’s Chukwuna Soludo who had gone to “toballe” (prostrate) and begged to be allowed to return while promising to keep himself far off the 2027 election and to face only his state Assembly and not the National Assembly or presidential election.
Now that the Judiciary has helped in no small measure to create fear, panick in Nigeria’s political space wherein there is great uncertainty, all the roads now leads to Asiwaju’s APC. Unfortunately, even Southern Kaduna and Taraba State which used to be PDP’s traditional strong hold has collapsed into APC’s fool, sorry, full basket under the insane quest to belong to the centre.
It is my fear that with the rate at which the state capture is flourishing, whatever and whenever President Bola Tinubu decides to present an executive Bill seeking for the NASS including a constitutional backing of three terms for the president, it would safely and smoothly sail through unhindered after all, APC legislators are in overwhelming majority and everyone of them there is desirous of a return ticket which I hear has since been promised them. Besides, Senator Goodwill Akpabio is always available as Senate President to dictatorially manipulate and ensure sure Bill passes legislative scrutiny. Please don’t tell that the state Assemblies will stop it because they CAN’T with ALL of them in the pocket of their governors and the governors are also like handkerchief in President Tinubu’s pocket.
Nigeria’s democracy knows no opposition at all.
