From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

Archbishop of Kaduna Province and Bishop of Kaduna Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Timothy Yahaya, has taken a critical look at the wave of defection from one political party to another by politicians, saying majority of the All Progressive Congress (APC) members were originally from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“I can say without any fear of contradiction that 70 percent of them have been in PDP, so it’s the same group of people, and who they are, they are opportunists.”

The cleric noted that the defecting politicians were running after the national cake for selfish interest rather than national interest.

He called on the relevant authorities to ban defection by politicians until a few months before the general elections to enable government at all levels to concentrate on good governance and dividends of democracy for the people.

Responding to questions from newsmen at the 24th Synod of Kaduna Diocese of the Anglican Communion at St. Michael’s Cathedral, he also lambasted defecting politicians, saying opposition no longer exists in the country because of selfish interests being exhibited by politicians who were hitherto in the majority opposition.

“These politicians who, if they can ask themselves, and I mean with every sense of responsibility, do they even know where they are coming from and where they are going to? That’s the truth. Everybody in APC today,  I can say without any fear of contradiction, that 70 percent of them have been in PDP, so it’s the same group of people. And who are they? They are opportunists, anywhere there is national cake, they want to eat it. In fact, what you call opposition in Nigeria as far as I am concerned it is not today,  if the national cake goes into the hands of another party today, the same people will migrate because their stomachs is the reason for looking for power and leadership in the country, and it is rather very unfortunate, very very unfortunate.

“In this country, we should think of Nigeria, we should be patriotic, we should put Nigeria forward. Nigeria and countries like Singapore were on the same strata in the 1960s. This same Nigeria borrowed money from the IMF. Look at where we are today. Naira was begged in the streets of London, can you take Naira to Ghana today? Last December, I was in Ghana and they were laughing at the Naira in Ghana. The same people that came here to look for jobs. So, please, I want to beg,  I am not a politician but I pray for credible leaders that are going to lead our country, put the country first, nationalism and patriotism.

“This is the greatest country in the whole universe. Honestly, there is no country better than Nigeria and if we do the right thing the whole world will come to Nigeria. I pray God will touch the consciences of those who are leading in politics to remember Nigerians and not make them orphans in their land.”