By Jethro Ibileke
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has expressed concern over what he described as the daily defections, resignations and party switching by political leaders across the country following political disagreements.
Speaking on Sunday in Benin, Edo State, Odigie-Oyegun said the frequent departure of leaders from their political parties suggests that something is fundamentally wrong with Nigeria’s political system.
The former governor questioned whether such leaders were genuinely committed to rescuing the nation and improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians. He added that it appeared the nation’s political class was afflicted by a “virus”, as its actions and behaviour did not reflect the interests of the people.
According to him, efforts should be focused on rescuing the country from economic hardship and insecurity rather than engaging in political manoeuvring.
“If they were genuinely committed to rescuing the nation, many of the developments currently taking place as we prepare for the 2027 general election would not have arisen.
“The political class is not behaving in a manner that indicates it is truly dedicated to salvaging the condition of the nation,” he said.
Odigie-Oyegun called on opposition leaders to examine their motives and determine whether they were truly committed to saving the country and bringing relief to citizens who were struggling to feed themselves.
He further urged the opposition to remain focused on addressing the challenges facing Nigerians rather than pursuing personal political interests.
However, he expressed optimism that, despite the current challenges, the opposition could wrest power from the ruling party if the system and state institutions ensured fairness.
