ABUJA (Sundiata Post) In 1974, Mahatma Gandhi, shortly before his assassination, gave his fifth grandson, Arun Gandhi, a list of instructions written on a piece of paper to which top on the list was “politics without principle” where he stated that such an act was a blunder that human society commits and that causes all form of violence.
It will suffice to employ the wisdom of this ancient Tigger to drive home a point based on the uproarious outburst displayed by the supporters of APC in protest against the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Ini Okopido at the formal declaration of Sen.Udoedehe’s Governorship bid, yesterday.
To meddle in and take a position on the internal affairs of a political party that one is neither a registered member nor an apologist, is a big task that exposes its victim to a dual risk of public opprobrium and misinterpretation of motive. Nonetheless though, because one needs to be in terms with the truism that, a time comes in a man’s life where he must take a position that is neither safe, nor politics nor convenience, but must take it because his conscience tells him it’s right, especially when such a person is a nationalist, sorry, a “localist”…haha! like this writer whose crave for politics of principle is undaunted.
A keen study of the rules of engagement by Okopido’s leadership, is to say the least, a “spoke on the wheel.” He seems to have lost touch with the reality that as an umpire, he is obliged to be fair to all and unfair to non, but running after a certain wealthy aspirant(s) with pocket of endorsements in one hand and a call for direct primaries in the other hand, has made a caricature of his principle. Or is it a case of who pays the piper that dictates the tune ?
This is the most critical question that elicited my interest for the composition of this piece after watching a dramatic altercation on a national television yesterday between the embattled state chairman and Edehe’s supporters at Uyo township stadium. The highlight of it came the protestation that followed a call for Mr. Okopido to come and give his address, led by the South-South zonal women leader and supported by a thunderous voice from the crowd, alleging “double-standard” as the prime reason. In my opinion, there is no level of inducement worth that kind of open aspersion on a young man who just had his first political rise.
Instructively, politics of principle is of great gains but perilous time awaits the defaulter.
A lesson we must all learn!
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