Governance Must Not Be Held Hostage by Party Loyalty
Governance Must Not Be Held Hostage by Party Loyalty
By Matthew Eloyi
The grand reception that heralded Governor Umo Eno’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have been choreographed as a celebration of “political maturity,” but the statements made during the event betray a deeply troubling undercurrent in Nigerian governance—that federal support and development are conditional on party affiliation.
President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, assured the people of Akwa Ibom of stronger federal backing “under the new political alignment.” The implication is glaring: until now, their state was undeserving of meaningful federal attention because their governor was not in the ruling party. This is not only undemocratic; it is profoundly dangerous.
Governance is not a political reward system; it is a constitutional obligation. The resources used for development do not belong to the APC. They come from the federation account, contributed to by all states, regardless of political leaning. To now suggest that a state must submit to the political will of the presidency in order to receive its fair share of national attention is a slap in the face of federalism.
The Vice President’s words—“We shall rise together… we shall succeed together”—reek of political exclusivity. Does this mean states led by governors in opposition parties are to languish in neglect unless they cross over to APC? That is not governance. That is blackmail.
Governor Eno’s own remarks—“we know that with our new party, we will realise our Ibom Deep Seaport project”—further confirm this coercive dynamic. What becomes of other critical projects in non-APC states? Are they now abandoned because their governors refuse to defect? Is development now a transactional tool in the hands of the ruling party?
The presidency must be reminded that it is the symbol of national unity, not a political prize-giver. President Tinubu was not elected to govern APC states alone. His oath of office binds him to every Nigerian, from Borno to Bayelsa, regardless of political preference.
This brand of politics endangers our democracy. It undermines the principle of opposition, weakens political accountability, and fosters a culture where loyalty to party trumps loyalty to the people.
Nigerians must reject any suggestion that their access to security, infrastructure, and progress depends on which political party they vote for. We must say clearly: a state should not have to defect to the ruling party to receive development.
To do otherwise is to institutionalize inequality—and that, ultimately, is the real betrayal of the Nigerian people.
