Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s defection from the PDP to the APC has been praised by his aides and other cheer leaders as “strategic realignment.” But behind the metaphors lies a betrayal of the people’s mandate and a worrying signal that political morality in Nigeria is still for sale.
When Political Betrayal Wears the Garb of Strategy
When a politician deserts the very party that gave him a platform to power and then calls it “a strategic alignment,” it says less about political foresight and more about moral bankruptcy.
The attempt by Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information in Delta State, to rationalize Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not only hollow but deeply insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians.
Appearing on TVC’s Politics Tonight, Aniagwu likened the move to “adjusting the drinking pattern when the palm wine changes taste.”
Clever imagery, yes, but that statement typifies the very political irresponsibility that has wrecked Nigeria’s democratic ethics. It’s an attempt to romanticize opportunism and rebrand self-preservation as political foresight.
A clear Betrayal of the People’s Mandate
Governor Oborevwori’s electoral victory was not a solo act; it was powered by the PDP platform and the goodwill of voters who trusted in its manifesto. His defection is, therefore, not a mere political choice — it is a moral violation.
In any democracy where the sanctity of the ballot is respected, such a move would trigger immediate resignation. The honourable step would have been to vacate office, test his popularity under the APC, and let INEC conduct a fresh election. Anything short of that is political fraud sold as pragmatism.
“Federal Attention” or Naked Patronage?
Aniagwu’s claim that Delta State now enjoys “greater attention and support” from the Tinubu administration since the defection only exposes the warped thinking behind Nigerian politics — that governance depends on partisan alignment, not constitutional duty.
That is not partnership. It is patronage — the same rotten logic that keeps states hostage to the whims of the federal centre. It deepens the culture of dependence rather than governance, where service delivery is exchanged for political loyalty.
A dangerous message to Nigeria’s youth
By justifying this defection, Aniagwu and others send a poisonous message to young Nigerians: that loyalty to principles is naïve, and betrayal can be rebranded as wisdom if one has the right metaphor. This is how nations lose their moral compass when opportunists are celebrated and men of conviction are mocked.
Politicians must stop treating Nigerians as gullible masses who can be fed gibberish to justify self-serving ambitions. Every defection without accountability erodes the moral core of our democracy.
Leadership Not a Drinking Game
Oborevwori’s defection is not foresight; it’s fear. It’s not strategy; it’s survivalism. True leadership stands firm even when the tide turns.
The palm wine may taste different, but governance is not a bar where one switches drinks depending on the brewer in power. The people’s mandate is sacred, not a transferable asset to be traded for federal favour.
Until Nigerian leaders rediscover decency and principle, our democracy will remain fragile; powered by ambition, not conviction.
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