Veteran journalist and politician, Dele Momodu, has commented on the widespread defection of prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Delta State to the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting that the move is driven by a need for political survival rather than a genuine change in political beliefs.
During a live interview on Channels TV on Wednesday, Momodu stated that this development was not surprising, as Nigerian political history is filled with similar instances of politicians switching parties.
“I’m a very good student of Nigeria’s political history, so nothing can surprise me about our politicians. The history of Nigerian politics is replete with stories of defections,” he noted.
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Regarding the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, and several other key PDP figures to the APC, Momodu remarked, “What will surprise me is if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes that people are joining APC because they love him or because he’s doing so fantastically well. What people are doing now is a game of survival.”
He argued that pressure from anti-corruption agencies is compelling politicians to align themselves with the ruling party for protection. “Name one of them who has not been harassed at different times by either EFCC, ICPC, or the Special Fraud Unit. Gone are the days when we admired the likes of Nelson Mandela, Jomo Kenyatta, MKO Abiola, Chief Awolowo, all of them for going to detention. These days, nobody wants to go to detention. Everybody wants be be at home to enjoy that money they have made in politics,” he said.
Momodu added, “This government’s strategy is a carrot and stick. If we can’t persuade you, we can force you. And I think force is working for now.”
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