•Says change always comes from below, not above

By PETER ANOSIKE

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nelson Ahamefula Akuma, has said that the claim that the gale of defections into the All Progressives Congress is a testimony that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing well is nothing but balderdash.

Recall that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said that the increasing number of politicians defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) reflects confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and the direction of his administration.

Speaking while reacting to the statement, Akuma said that those who are defecting are not doing that for the sake of the masses, but rather for their own selfish interest.

According to him, the ruling party is celebrating the president’s so called reforms, claiming that it is necessary.

He wondered what good is a ‘necessary’ medicine when the patients are dying by the side effect s.

Akuma said that any government’s policy or reform that is not people based is from the start a failed policy.

Speaking further, he said that there is no sense in a glorious future for a country with dead or impoverished people.

According to him, Tinubu’s touted reforms have been harsh, theoretical, and implemented with a stunning lack of mitigating social safety net, thereby plunging millions of Nigerian people into hunger and despair.

Furthermore, he said unfortunately nowadays, people don’t defend what is right, rather they defend who they like and would benefit them.

He said that change anywhere in the world has never come from the top, but from the below.

According to him, the 2027 general election would not be determined by the political elites who are comfortable, but by the poor Nigerian masses who are going to bed without food.

“The culture is when government fails, community rises and I am sure that Nigeria would not be an exception. The current government has failed woefully. The gale of defections from survivalist politicians would not save them. Few days ago, the governor of Niger State said that because of re-election, he would not sack underperforming aides in his government. That shows you the mindset of those who claim to be leading us. Change anywhere in the world has never come from the above, but rather from the below. So, the suffering Nigerian masses are uniting and when the time come, they would vote for change. Therefore, let nobody be troubled or lose hope because of what is happening among the governors and even those in the National Assembly. They are defecting to save their head but come 2027, Nigerian masses will give them red card,” Akuma said.