The recent write-up by Ojo More, This Anger Against Bwala, attempts to deflect the growing resentment towards Hon. Daniel Bwala within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, while Ojo presents an image of Bwala as a misunderstood politician merely exercising sportsmanship, the concerns of APC supporters run far deeper. They are not, as Ojo suggests, trivial or baseless, but rooted in the core issues of loyalty, trust, and the integrity of political leadership.
### **A History of Betrayal**
Daniel Bwala’s political trajectory is anything but steady. His exit from APC in 2022, when it seemed convenient to support Atiku Abubakar and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), is a sore point for those who stayed loyal during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s uphill battle. Bwala’s decision to switch sides at the height of the elections, believing that Tinubu would lose, shows a lack of conviction in the very ideals that bind political parties.
By jumping ship when the stakes were highest, Bwala effectively turned his back on the party and its members, some of whom spent years working for the APC’s success. It is no surprise, then, that APC supporters find his recent return and subsequent pursuit of a high-profile appointment unsettling. His actions not only suggest opportunism but raise questions about his loyalty. Is Bwala in it for the party, or is he simply in it for himself?
### **Political Loyalty Is Not a Game**
Ojo More’s argument that "politics is a game to be played with sportsmanship" is a gross oversimplification of the deep relationships that hold political organizations together. Politics, particularly in Nigeria, is not just about strategy; it’s about commitment, trust, and shared values. Party members expect their leaders and representatives to remain true to these values, especially in difficult times. Bwala’s decision to align with Atiku Abubakar was not an act of "sportsmanship" but a blatant attempt to align with what he thought was a winning side.
Now that President Tinubu has emerged victorious, Bwala’s re-entry into the APC feels like a calculated move driven by personal ambition rather than a renewed belief in the party’s ideals. APC faithfuls are justified in their anger because they want leaders who have stood by the party through thick and thin, not opportunistic gate crashers who shift allegiances when convenient.
A Serial Betrayer
The core of the resentment toward Bwala stems from his track record of shifting loyalties. By betraying Tinubu and the APC for Atiku in 2022, and now switching back to APC in search of an appointment, Bwala has earned the label of a political chameleon. His actions send a clear message: he can betray anyone, at any time, if the rewards are promising enough. What is to stop him from jumping ship again in the future if another political opportunity arises? Can a man with such an inconsistent and self-serving history be trusted in any significant role within the Tinubu administration?
Ojo More dismisses these concerns as baseless attacks by "paid trolls" and "sponsored social media posts," but this narrative fails to address the underlying issue. Loyalty to a party is not something to be bought or traded at will. It is earned through consistent dedication to the party’s vision and goals, something that Bwala has not demonstrated.
President Tinubu's Right, But What About the Party?
While it is true, as Ojo More points out, that the ultimate decision of appointments lies with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this does not mean that the concerns of the party’s loyal members should be swept aside. The APC’s victory was not the work of a few individuals but a collective effort involving countless dedicated members who stood by Tinubu even when the odds seemed stacked against him. Bwala was not among them.
By rewarding someone like Bwala, who only recently rejoined the fold after siding with the opposition, the administration risks sending a message that opportunism is tolerated, if not rewarded. This would demoralize those who worked tirelessly for the party’s success, including many who have patiently waited for recognition and appointment. The question must be asked: why should someone who fought against the party’s victory be prioritized over those who sacrificed for it?
The Case Against Bwala
Daniel Bwala’s critics are not merely holding onto grudges or "inheriting someone else’s enemy" as Ojo suggests. They are making a valid point about political integrity. Bwala’s recent track record does not inspire trust or confidence. He abandoned Tinubu and APC when it was politically convenient to do so and only returned once it became clear that he had made the wrong bet. Such behavior, rightly seen as untrustworthy and disloyal, is a red flag for those who believe in upholding the core principles of the APC.
While Ojo More suggests that Bwala supported Tinubu before the election campaign, this point is irrelevant in the face of his ultimate defection to the opposition. What matters most is not who Bwala once supported, but who he stood by when it counted. In this regard, he has failed the loyalty test twice: once when he left Tinubu for Atiku, and now as he seeks personal gain by realigning himself with Tinubu’s administration.
In Conclusion, Loyalty Matters
In politics, loyalty, trust, and integrity are invaluable currencies. Daniel Bwala has proven to be an opportunist who changes sides based on political winds, and that is why APC faithfuls are justifiably angry. They want leaders who are committed to the party’s ideals and have demonstrated unwavering loyalty, not gate crashers who switch allegiances for personal gain. Ojo More’s defense of Bwala fails to address these deep-seated concerns and oversimplifies the importance of loyalty in Nigerian politics.
Bwala may have returned to the APC fold, but until he demonstrates genuine commitment to the party’s vision and values, the anger against him remains justified. The APC is a party of progressives, and its members deserve leaders who embody that spirit—not politicians who jump from one camp to another in pursuit of appointments.
Mohammed Bello Doka is the National Coordinator of Tinubu Media Team 2023
Tags
Opinion