Defection: Tinubu’s Principled Stance of Yester years Worthy of Emulation – Sen Bassey … Says ADC Needs Self Cleansing
By: Olanrewaju Babatunde
Senator Gershom Bassey has refuted media reports insinuating his defection from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to another political platform, assuring that as a principled politician just like President Bola Tinubu, he remains a member of the PDP.
Bassey, the immediate past Senator of Cross River Southern Senatorial District in the Senate, spoke during an interactive session with newsmen yesterday in Calabar.
According to the ex-lawmaker, he is currently not contemplating the idea of defecting to any other political party despite all odds, but never the less acknowledged his membership of the ADC coalition.
He said: “No. I don’t have any intention to defect to any other political party. But, as a politician, I will never say never. I have not crossed to ADC yet, but I am a sympathizer and I am a member of the coalition. I am very interested in the coalition. I am still in the PDP for now.”
While emphasizing the importance of multi-party democracy in Nigeria, Bassey stated that politics is not all about grabbing power, but also an ample opportunity to ensure good governance in the society either through a coalition or a political party platform.
Senator Bassey further said: “Sometimes in politics you will see a party that has never taken over governance, but still remains relevant in the society. Go to the UK for example, you will see a party like the Green party or even the Liberal democrats. These are political parties that are not particular about power.
“Green party has not held power. Apart from the coalition they entered into with the Conservatives, yet people join them. Personally speaking, politics cannot just be the quest for power.
“If you take a politician like our President today, Bola Tinubu, he was in the then AD or ACN and someone once described him as the last man standing. Recall the 2003 elections, all the states in the southwest moved to the PDP, except Lagos state. Yet, Bola Tinubu did not move. We once had 28 PDP governors in this country. This same thing that is happening in APC now; its not new. It happened to the party, but Tinubu stayed behind. He held his ground across several electioneering circles; he did not move. He had enough friends in PDP to protect his interest, and had ample opportunity to also move to PDP, but he stood his ground on principle. That’s one of the things I respect Tinubu for; he is a man of principle.
“If you are copying someone, copy him well. So, for me, I am copying Tinubu on his principled stance on the issue of defection. I am copying his principled stance in politics. He is a principled politician.”
Meanwhile, the ex-lawmaker has urged the new coalition championed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to embark on a self-cleansing exercise in order to reset her priority.
He disclosed that the formation of the coalition was not a bad idea, but stressed the need to have square peg in a square hole in order for the group to achieve her set goals.
“When the coalition berthed in the state they were lots of enthusiasm. The ADC vehicle has some work to do; internal work to do so that the initial enthusiasm can be fully expressed.” Bassey added.
