As it is often said in political cliché, there are no permanent friends or enemies, but permanent interests, keen followers of events in the polity may not be surprised at the news that the former Minister of State for Defence, and a onetime Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikora, has officially announced that he has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He had once been sighted at a Town Hall meeting organised by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While speaking at the event, he reportedly declared, “I am back home in the midst of my people.”
But he had, before now, debunked the rumour of his planned defection as unfounded. Recall that Obanikoro has been a frontline member of the PDP, especially in Lagos state. In the build up to the 2015 general elections, Obanikoro was in the running for the Lagos Sate governorship seat in 2015 but lost the ticket to Jimi Agbaje.
Although, the reason for his defection is not yet clear, some analysts argue that it may not be unconnected with the case of the N5 bn subsidy fraud hanging on his neck with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It is believed that his being a member of the ruling APC will help get him off the hook. However, this insinuation is hypothetical as some commentators have argued that it is possible that he has struck a deal with the leaders of APC for a possible ticket after the incumbent governor of Lagos state, Akinwumi Ambode’s tenure.
There is report that the Chairman of the APC in Lagos, Otunba Henry Ajomale, had earlier hinted that APC was making efforts that would culminate in ensuring that Obanikoro would be welcome into the APC fold in a matter of weeks.
As anything is possible in politics, especially in Nigeria, whether or not Obanikoro has something up his sleeves for joining the APC would be clear in the coming weeks and months as events unfold. (Independent)
