By Dave Agboola
In Nigeria’s political theatre, the stage has long been dominated by actors who treat parties like rented costumes—discarded once they no longer fit the moment. This phenomenon, which I call political banditry, is the reckless switching of platforms without ideological conviction, a practice that has eroded trust and left citizens wondering if loyalty to principle even exists in our democracy.
Take Atiku Abubakar for instance. Since 1999, his political journey has resembled a restless nomad’s trek across the savannah. PDP, AC, back to PDP, then APC, then PDP again, and now whispers of ADC. His movements are less about conviction and more about convenience. Nigerians have watched him reinvent himself at every election cycle, not with new ideas but with new party logos. This is not strategy—it is opportunism dressed up as pragmatism.
Peter Obi, hailed by many as the “people’s candidate,” has unfortunately fallen into a similar trap. From APGA to PDP, then Labour Party, and now murmurs of ADC or NDC, Obi’s trajectory suggests a man perpetually searching for a platform rather than building one. His supporters, especially the youth, must ask themselves: what ideology anchors Obi’s politics? Is it sustainable to keep chasing sentiment without structure? The truth is harsh—sentiment alone cannot deliver power in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Contrast this with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Love him or loathe him, his path has been marked by consistency and structure. From AD to AC, then ACN, and finally the APC, Tinubu did not merely hop from one party to another—he built platforms, merged blocs, and consolidated structures. The APC is not an accident; it is the culmination of years of deliberate political engineering. That steadfastness is why he could ride the same platform into Aso Rock.
The lesson here is clear: in Nigerian politics, structure beats sentiment. Atiku’s frequent movements and Obi’s repositioning betray a lack of ideological backbone. Tinubu’s builder path, on the other hand, demonstrates that longevity in politics comes from constructing a house sturdy enough to withstand storms, not from endlessly renting rooms in other people’s mansions.
For Nigerians, especially Obi’s supporters, this should be an eye-opener. Passion is admirable, but passion without structure is wasted energy. Political banditry—jumping from one platform to another—weakens democracy, confuses voters, and reduces politics to a game of survival rather than service. If we truly want change, we must demand ideology, consistency, and the courage to build rather than borrow.
Nigeria’s future cannot be entrusted to political bandits. It belongs to builders. And until our politicians learn that, the cycle of opportunism will continue to rob us of genuine progress.
Agboola writes from Lagos, Nigeria
