2015 Merger Plans: PDP Must Go; Corruption To Stay

It is a must win for the opposition in the coming 2015 election. What other way to drum it into the ruling PDP ears than the forming of the All Progressive Congress (APC) by ACN, CPC, APGA, and ANPP.

In a meeting hosted by the Lagos State governor, Fashola, the 10 opposition party governors endorsed the move by their individual parties to merge and in their words, “rescue Nigeria from the PDP”.

The above comment suggests that Nigeria’s problem is caused by the PDP alone, and that there’ll be a change if the APC comes into power in 2015. We should know better than to fall into this trap.

The APC is a good idea but falls short from being Nigeria’s messiah. Corruption may have been encouraged by PDP but didn’t start with them. Corruption is inherent in our society and not in a particular party.

For me, the APC versus PDP is a case of making a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. Post 2015, the corruption problem won't be solved, it doesn't matter which party makes it into Aso Rock.

The Cause of Boko Haram

The general consensus is that insecurity – terrorism, Kidnapping, armed robbery – is caused by poverty. Every Nigerian agrees with this, except the President, as seen in his interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour. This has made the opposition, and surprisingly, many elite Northerners, to say he’s not in touch with the realities on ground.

How can a President, with multitude of advisors who do, not know the cause of insecurity? I believe he knows, and even knows more. He knows poverty is the cause of the numerous insecurity challenges slowing Nigeria’s development. More than you do, he also knows it goes beyond being smeared in poverty.

Let us say poverty brings about insecurity. What then causes poverty? From all indication, in Nigeria, corruption causes poverty. Refusing to be distracted, I believe the president is in touch with the troubles facing Nigeria. Does he have the answer, that I don't know. Instead, it is the Northern leaders who have chosen to trample the very people they should be ruling.

Every month, the 19 Northern States get federal allocation, but yet the region is described as the most backwards and underdeveloped in Nigeria. What has been happening to the billions of naira given to them? A few elites have been stealing the money and letting the people wallow in poverty. Tired of being poor, the people are now taking to terrorism. Now who is the cause of Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria?