PDP defectors in Imo and current trend in Nigerian politics by Doyin OkupeEditor's note: Doyin Okupe, a former senior aide to two former presidents - Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan - takes a critical look at the recent defection of the speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly and his colleagues to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He calls Nigeria's politicians businessmen looking only for where to butter their breads. He also makes some predictions in this analysis of the political situation. I am not surprised one bit at the gale of shameless defections of PDP Assembly members in Imo to APC. In truth, they were never PDP members. They were politicians who contested on PDP platforms. The reality of our political situation is that only very few real politicians remain in the political space. People shop around for political platforms which will sell party tickets to them to contest elections into political offices from where, as businessmen and women, they can do their trade and make huge returns. Recommended for you "Very clean and sharp": Fine Igbo boy who sells suya for a living emerges,... All parties in Nigeria without exception are actively engaged in this new business. It also involves all levels of the competition. From presidential candidates to councillors. It also involves majority of the electorates, electoral and security officials. It is a national craze. What happened In Imo will likely happen in majority of the states of the federation. It is called political corruption. It is endemic, it is pervasive and it is generally accepted across board as normal, though, like the issue of policemen collecting tolls from commercial drivers, we all pretend it does not exist. Buhari was right on corruption, but wrong in execution of the war against it. Transparency international was also right about our falling rating of corruption perception index. Those who accuse others of corruption in Nigeria are themselves corruption personified. Those who pursue corrupt people are themselves corrupt. The citizens who clap when corrupt officials are nabbed are themselves embroiled daily in corrupt activities. They bribe their ways to get all things done. They also receive bribes before they can do anything for anybody. Recommended for you "Eye service go kill una:" Nigerians react to video of Anita Joseph and hus... They collect huge sums of money before they can vote for any candidate. They care less often about who wins. People or electorates in every state collect N6bn, N7bn, N10bn from gubernatorial candidates before giving "massive" support and victory is to the highest bidder. We are all liars, pretenders, and hypocrites. We have accepted money as the common social denominator. Even our religious institutions are not spared. Church leaders receive bribes to promote church workers or post pastors to lucrative churches. Mosques are not different. We are not at the end yet but very close to it. Our politics like every other facet of our collective social endeavours have been completely destroyed. We all need to come together on a non-partisan, non-ethnic and non-religious basis, humbly accept where we truly are, and collectively take a bold decision to draw the line, retrace our steps and re-arrange the operating machinery of this country. Kenya did it a few years ago and they are better for it. Rwanda also did a similar thing and today it's all a different story. Recommended for you "Chinese man emptied my bank account": Actor Prince Eke calls out telecoms... How many more of our people need to continue in this perilous state because we are all deeply entrenched in activities that benefit us individually but collectively destroy our country, its manifest destiny and the future of its children? PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app For a fact we are going down as a nation. We have not hit the bottom yet, but we are close. We can collectively avert the impending national catastrophe and calamity. But it will not be by scapegoating,Hate, unforgiveness, clannishness, dishonesty, injustice, insincerity, unreasonable partisanship and lack of leadership commitment. May God in His infinite Mercies Re-unite and save this great nation. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng. Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.legit.ng— drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ng’s step-by-step guide for guest contributors. Recommended for you Young man builds beautiful house, puts expensive chairs & gives it classy i... 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