THE NEGETIVES OF MAKAMA’S DEFECTION
It is no longer news that a former Kogi assembly member, Abdul Friday Sani, popularly known as Makama has ditched the PDP for the APC.
The exlawmaker who gained notoriety for a lot of unprintable reasons joined the the ruling party in a manner that stinks of disgrace and potential disaster. So much so that the PDP he left rightly view his departure as a gain.
It is easy to understand why Makama made the not so bold, (even disgraceful) move. The quasi militant has been in the cold for a while in PDP. His political career plummeted beyond repair and his list of friends, just like his finances, grew significantly thin. He needed a platform to reignite his career. So he got up one morning and called the APC national secretariat.
On the other hand, understanding why he was accepted with so much fanfare is not so easy. Is it not Makama? Has his reign of heartless carnage been totally forgotten? Is his history a plus for the APC? Is it fair to lord an already conquered oppressor over the same brave revolutionaries who took him out of business against all odds?
Some things are common knowledge though. One is the fact that this move is very bad for Igalamela/Odolu as the brave people have enjoyed peace and tranquility for more than two years. Not so surprising, it coincided with his exit from political office.
Since putting up a ‘last stand’ posture which turned out to be a lame last kick of a dying horse, the APC has gone into all elections with him on the opposing side. The results have been everything north of remarkable. What card is he bringing to the table that he did not draw in his outstanding era of violence and chaos in the PDP? Of what benefit is he to Kogi and Igalamela/Odolu APC?
What some persons entrusted with leadership responsibilities in the APC do not realise is that many people are angry with them for failing to visualize the degree of disaffection Makama’s presence will cause in the party. Victims of his brutal physical and psychological assaults are being asked to recognize him as one of their leaders. Is that fair?
Governor Bello’s 2023 presidential ambition is not a good enough excuse to appear desperate enough to ‘sleep with the devi.’
Those behind this defection have not been truthful to the governor. Their individual ambitions are driving the party in the wrong direction.
Every lawfully qualified citizen of Kogi state has the right to contest any political office. What they do not have however, is the right to come to Igalamela/Odolu and covertly set up a base for violent operations. Those days are over. The people have had enough of him.
The manner in which this unpopular defection was carried out reeks of mischief. May Mala Buni and his aide are taking governor Bello for a ride. The governor needs to remain smart. He ditched Makama after realizing that the man was up to no good. He must think carefully before reversing his decision. This leopard will not change its spots.
Muhammed Achimugu wrote from Lokoja
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the publisher