Veteran journalist and politician, Dele Momodu, has reacted to the mass defection of top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State to the All Progressives Congress, describing it as a survival tactic rather than a genuine shift in political ideology.
Speaking during a live television interview on Channels TV on Wednesday, Momodu said the move did not come as a surprise, noting that Nigerian political history is filled with similar episodes of defections.
“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,Responding to the defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, and several other key PDP figures to the APC, Momodu said, “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 harassment by anti-graft agencies is pushing politicians to align 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.”
The defection was officially announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager following a six-hour closed-door meeting at the Government House.
“All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” Manager said.
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, also confirmed the collective decision, citing the need for political alignment to sustain development in the state.
“In taking that decision, we concluded that leaving the PDP was very necessary for us to be able to collaborate and build a state that every Deltan will be proud of.
“We believe that what is happening, and the state of the PDP, is akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed — and there was a need for us to change the drinking party,” Aniagwu stated.
He further hinted at a formal public declaration scheduled for the next week, saying, “By the grace of God, on Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement confirming that we are moving into the APC.”
