OPINION: PDP Vs APC; The Hailers Have Suddenly Become The Wailers

By Olumide Akinrinlola

In the electioneering activities of 2015, especially during the presidential election campaign, the social media was engulfed with some unrealistic promises rolled out by the All Progressive Congress (APC) through their political slogan called “change”.

The electoral promises of the APC were widely circulated across the country through the social media because Nigerians were attracted to them due to the change agenda of poverty reduction promises introduced in their manifestos to deceive millions of people.

The contest then was between the two leading political parties in Nigeria, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which produced former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as its flag bearer against the All Progressive Congress (APC) which had the incumbent president, his excellency, Muhammadu Buhari as its flag bearer.

While the APC introduced ‘change agenda’, the PDP based his campaign on continuity of ‘transformation agenda’ of former president Goodluck Jonathan.

During this period, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was always in the news on daily basis to propagate the gospel for change. Femi Fani Kayode was busy defending the government of former president Jonathan which was painted by APC as the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria.

Nigerians did not see the good side of Jonathan’s administration because they were blind to his achievements and transformation agenda due to his weakness and style of fighting corruption.

All media reports about the achievements of Jonathan were disregarded by Nigerians because of APC daily propaganda being propagated by their media experts who in real sense were political propagandists.

I personally agreed with them that the country needs change. But then, I also warned that Buhari wasn’t the right person to effect the desired change.

I was among the Nigerians who suggested that Jonathan should be allowed to continue since the desirable wasn’t available. Nigerians forgot in a hurry what they experienced during the reign of Buhari as a military president.

We told them that Buhari and his likes have not changed. And that it will be impossible to get any meaningful change from someone who has not repented. But people did not listen.

Nigerians, especially some APC Apologists engrossed in names calling. They called some of us “the wailers “. But surprisingly, after three and half years of Buhari’s administration, those hailing him have suddenly become the wailers.

Many of them are now wailing. Buhari and his party, APC, became direct opposite of the change they preached. Nigerians are now suffering under a government that promised to change things to better..

Though they really changed things. But indeed, the opposite was true.

Dear Wailers, I am sorry this is not the type of change you all expect. How I wish the change under Buhari begin with you alone and end with you. But it’s painful we are suffering together under the atmosphere of change you preached.

Please stop wailing, and pray for the good of Nigeria for power to change hands in this new year. Buhari isn’t the cause of our sufferings but you are.

Olumide Akinrinlola is a Public Analyst and a Media Practitioner.