In recent times, the political atmosphere has been riddled with defections, particularly to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). What is more disheartening than the frequency of these defections is the repeated justification: “for ease of development.” This reasoning, often parroted by decampees and APC stalwarts, is not only defeatist but lays bare the deeply flawed understanding of governance amongst Nigeria’s political class.
Development, in its true essence, should be people-driven and not party-dependent. The notion that a state or region must align politically with the party at the center before it can experience progress is a direct indictment of our kind of democracy. It exposes a system where patronage supersedes patriotism and where loyalty to party trumps over service to the people.
Such a mindset shows that leadership in Nigeria often lacks nationalistic vision and true patriotism. If leaders were genuinely committed to the welfare of the people, it would not matter what party holds sway at the federal level. Rather, collaboration across party lines would be sought in the interest of the citizens. But instead, we are served a toxic narrative: that development is a political reward, not a right of the people.
This justification also reduces governance to a transactional game. It sends a dangerous signal that allegiance to the ruling party is the only pathway to federal support, thus undermining the essence of a multi-party democracy. It stifles dissent, erodes accountability, and discourages healthy political competition—all of which are essential for national growth.
True leadership is about service, not self-preservation. If our political actors were truly people-centric, their primary concern would be delivering good governance, regardless of political leanings. Until we shed this unpatriotic thinking, the dream of inclusive national development will remain just that—a dream.
It is high time we demanded more from our leaders. Development should not come at the cost of conscience. And political alignment should never be a prerequisite for progress. Political leaders in Nigeria should put the interest of the people first rather than plotting to win next election even without delivering good governance.
