Lagos: A former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), South Africa Chapter, Mr Bola Babarinde, has urged Nigerians to reject politicians who constantly cross-carpeting to pursuit personal interests. Babarinde, who is also Convener of APC Renewed Hope Africa, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Lagos. He condemned the current wave of defections by elected politicians, describing it as the betrayal of public trust.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the APC chieftain lamented that politics in Nigeria had been dominated by opportunism, personal ambition and serial defections without ideological commitment. ‘There was a time when Nigerian politics was driven by conviction, ideology, sacrifice and genuine commitment to national development,’ Babarinde stated. He highlighted the First Republic as one of the greatest political eras in Nigeria’s history, where leaders embodied service, honour, and responsibility.
Babarinde criticized the current trend of politicians abandoning the political platforms that gave them victory while continuing to hold the same mandates. He emphasized that such actions represent political betrayal and moral dishonour. ‘Political prostitution should never be rewarded in any serious democracy,’ he remarked.
He further elaborated on the importance of leadership being grounded in trust, consistency, accountability, and long-term vision. Citing President Bola Tinubu as an example, Babarinde praised Tinubu’s political consistency, resilience, and strategic leadership in modern Nigeria. He recalled how Tinubu played a crucial role in sustaining progressive politics after the collapse of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the South-West and in the formation of the APC.
Babarinde noted that rather than surrendering after the loss of South-West states, Tinubu regrouped with like-minded progressives and defended Lagos. He emphasized Tinubu’s vision of strengthening political structures over personal ambition, understanding that nation-building requires patience, institution-building, and strategic alliances.
Furthermore, Babarinde described the formation of the APC by Tinubu and like-minded progressives to challenge the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2015 general elections as a political masterstroke. He defended Tinubu’s economic reforms, attributing the country’s present hardship to years of poor governance and policy inconsistency.
‘Difficult reforms are never easy, but history shows that great nations are built through courageous decisions, not populist deception,’ Babarinde stated. He called for the 2027 elections to focus on consolidation, stability, and national development rather than emotional experimentation.