FACTIONALISM AND POLITICS IN NIGERIA.
By Rotr. Comr. Nwanchor chibuike N
If we think corruption is the only ‘unifying’ factor in Nigeria, we should have a rethink, because Nigerians have appetite for another thing in common which is factionalism.
According to the Oxford dictionary, Faction is a group or clique within a larger group, party, government or organization.
Nigerians have now developed habit for factions in almost every sphere, and it mostly happens in the political circle. In fact, I have noticed this anomaly for a while, but for the split that happened recently to the ‘mighty’ People’s Democratic Party during their mini convention, where 7 Governors and some political heavy weights of the party, left the venue to set up ‘The New PDP.
Going by the popular dictum, ‘united we stand, divided we fall’. Undoubtedly, no group of people can achieve anything significant without unity, particularly in politics, as political party implies the coming together of a group of people that share the same passion, ideologies, aspirations and inclinations to hijack the instrumentalities of power. But if politicians who are supposed to be united for the purpose of hijacking power allow rancor, selfish interests, acrimony or differences to enter their midst and cause distraction or derailment, the purpose of their political aspiration will automatically become futile and fruitless.
But who would have thought that the self-acclaimed largest political party in Africa would get a dose of its own medicine? The ruling party should not be surprised by this development; after all, they have been fanning the flame of divisions and promoting a schism among their ranks.
So it’s high time they got the taste of it. These factions mostly come to life, when the people that are meant to resolve the disputes often take sides in an internal
party affair, thereby promoting injustice and sowing the seeds of enmity and discord amongst members.
According to the Oxford dictionary, Faction is a group or clique within a larger group, party, government or organization.
Nigerians have now developed habit for factions in almost every sphere, and it mostly happens in the political circle. In fact, I have noticed this anomaly for a while, but for the split that happened recently to the ‘mighty’ People’s Democratic Party during their mini convention, where 7 Governors and some political heavy weights of the party, left the venue to set up ‘The New PDP.
Going by the popular dictum, ‘united we stand, divided we fall’. Undoubtedly, no group of people can achieve anything significant without unity, particularly in politics, as political party implies the coming together of a group of people that share the same passion, ideologies, aspirations and inclinations to hijack the instrumentalities of power. But if politicians who are supposed to be united for the purpose of hijacking power allow rancor, selfish interests, acrimony or differences to enter their midst and cause distraction or derailment, the purpose of their political aspiration will automatically become futile and fruitless.
But who would have thought that the self-acclaimed largest political party in Africa would get a dose of its own medicine? The ruling party should not be surprised by this development; after all, they have been fanning the flame of divisions and promoting a schism among their ranks.So it’s high time they got the taste of it. These factions mostly come to life, when the people that are meant to resolve the disputes often take sides in an internal
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