My dear Egbon and senior colleague, Baba Richie, I hope this message meets you well. I just finished reading your piece. Given your trajectory and consistent stance over the years on democratic principles, the rule of law, and constitutionalism, I have no doubt that your intentions are noble. However, apart from one or two others on that long list, the rest, in my view, do not appear to possess the requisite credentials to make some of the demands outlined in your piece.
Be that as it may, I am not a lawyer, but the popular mantra remains: “he who asserts must prove.” Do you have evidence to support the claim that “serving and former governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and key opposition figures are decamping en masse to the ruling party, not out of conviction, but out of fear and pressure”? You further stated that the pattern is disturbingly clear: “an invitation by the EFCC for questioning on financial impropriety is swiftly followed by political capitulation.” Can this be substantiated with verifiable facts?
I say so because as a political reporter, I am aware of a governor who has been lobbying anyone and everyone to see President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his planned defection to the ruling party. I am aware that the president has deliberately refused to see the said governor. When all plans to see the president failed, they are now sending emissaries through proxy to assure the president that they would deliver him during the presidential election, while the president should support his re-election.
What about the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who has endorsed President Tinubu for a second term. Is he also facing any EFCC charges?
Assuming without conceding that your assertion is correct, who should we blame? How is it that none of them has been bold enough to come out and say so? In any case, there is nothing happening today that has not happened before. The experience of the former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his family is still too recent to be forgotten. Thankfully, he never kept quiet; he spoke forcefully about it while his trial lasted. I have not yet read the manuscript of his book, which is scheduled for public unveiling on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, but I would be surprised if his travails at the hands of the government, led by his own party, are not well documented in that book.
The point I am trying to make is this: if there is proof to support the allegations that the government is using the EFCC to force opposition figures into joining the ruling party, the affected persons should come forward and speak up, rather than allowing sweeping allegations to be made without concrete evidence. Baba Richie, this is where I respectfully differ with you, sir.
Make no mistake, I am not in support of a one-party state. And I don’t even see it happening. However, the opposition parties must rise to the occasion. Heaven only helps those who help themselves.
