By Comrade Samakin Abdul-Jeleel Abiodun
Politics in Nigeria is becoming increasingly irritating, not because of the system itself, but because of the character of those who occupy positions of leadership. We are witnessing an unsettling trend: politicians who rise through the ranks and reap immense benefits from a political party suddenly abandoning that same party for personal interest. The recent defection of Hon. Busayo Wole Oke, a long-standing member of the House of Representatives, is a glaring example of this betrayal of public trust and party loyalty.
For nearly two decades, Hon. Wole Oke has enjoyed the unflinching support and resources of the People Democratic Party (PDP). The party provided the platform upon which he built his political relevance, repeatedly electing and re-electing him into the National Assembly. Yet, despite this, he chose to defect from the PDP; the very party that nurtured his political journey. And he did so with unweighted, unconvincing excuses, without regard for the feelings of party members who have stood with him through thick and thin.
This act is not only disappointing; it is politically irresponsible. Defection, when done without just cause, is nothing short of betrayal. It reflects the deep rot in our political culture, where personal ambition is elevated above party ideology, loyalty, and the collective good of constituents.
Some defend political defection as a constitutional right—and rightly so. But constitutional permissibility is not the same as moral justification. When a politician benefits consistently from a party for nearly 20 years, only to turn his back on it once it no longer serves his ambition, the public must call it what it is: 'opportunism and political ingratitude'.
Hon. Wole Oke’s exit from the PDP is not a mark of courage or ideological awakening, it is a symptom of the self-centered, unprincipled politics that continues to hold Nigeria’s democracy hostage. Leaders like him set a dangerous precedent and demoralize young people who still believe in the sanctity of political loyalty and service.
We must no longer romanticize political survival at all costs. It is time we begin to differentiate between politicians who serve and those who exploit. The youth of this country must be politically aware, strategically discerning, and brave enough to reject leaders who place their personal ambitions above the interest of the people. Any leader who jumps from one party to another for selfish reasons cannot be trusted with our future.
Hon. Wole Oke's defection should not be swept under the carpet. It should be condemned as a betrayal of both the PDP and the loyal followers who believed in him. Such acts weaken our democracy, deepen voter apathy, and reinforce the perception that politics is a dirty game. But let it be clear, politics is not dirty; it is the decisions of certain politicians that make it so.
As young Nigerians, we must learn to say enough is enough. We must reject politicians who are not ideologically grounded or morally consistent. Leaders who lack loyalty will betray us tomorrow. Let us not be blind followers. Let us ask hard questions, and when leaders fail to provide convincing answers, we must withdraw our support.
Hon. Wole Oke may have made his choice, but the people also have a choice to hold him accountable at the ballot box and in public discourse. Our democracy must be defended not just by laws, but by the will and wisdom of the people.
Let us, as youths and as citizens, protect our future by supporting principled leadership and rejecting political prostitution. The survival of our democracy depends on it.
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