Blind party loyalty reason Nigeria is underdeveloped ― PDP chieftain

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has traced the underdevelopment in Nigeria to blind party loyalty by elected politicians and political appointees.

Onuesoke made the statement in a New Year Message to Nigerians while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Warri, Delta State.

He disclosed that excessive loyalty to a ruling political party was responsible for corruption and bad leadership, thus political party appointees hardly render frank and reasonable pieces of advice to their ruling government when it goes wrong for fear of being blacklisted.

He pointed out that some  people would rather vote for an inanimate object rather than vote for an opposition candidate who’s better endowed because of blind party loyalty.

“Do you think it is the best thing for these states? No; because even though most politicians are cut from the same cloth and are definitely the same – whether in party A or B.

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“I still strongly believe that a healthy opposition will keep any government on its toes working for the betterment of her people.

“This is based on the condition that politicians are judged strictly on their performance and not because people are just loyal to their party,” he opined.

The PDP Chieftain said it was unfortunate  that loyal political appointees could not embark on checks and balances because their appointments came from the ruling political party.

“Every opportunist who find themselves in position of authority have to embezzle billions of naira that would have been used to build good roads, provide good health care system, provide good and qualitative education, provide infrastructure and create employment for the unemployed youths  to service and maintain party  leaders and structures,” he alleged.

According to him, lack of loyalty to the course of a brighter Nigeria has continued to weaken government institutions most especially the military in combating terrorism and other societal vices, adding that the civil service also contributes to the high rate of corruption due to their disloyalty to the country and loyalty to some set of people and their stomach.

He explained that loyalty was about being faithful and committed to a said obligation or task without any doubt of individual interest or allowing an individual interest to override the obligation and objective.

“If we are loyal to Nigeria as a country, we will be more interested on how there will be constant power supply, good roads, good health care system, jobs for the unemployed and  respect for the rule of law  among others rather than embezzling tax payers money for selfish personal interest.

“The interest of Nigeria and those who elect us should always be our priority and not the political party that gave us the platform to emerge.

“If all Nigerians are loyal to our dear country and most especially our politicians and leaders are loyal to the electorate by fulfilling all the promises they made during the electoral campaign, Nigeria will be a better place to live in,” he stated.

Onuesoke advised that if there must be meaningful development in Nigeria, both elected and political appointees must constantly give advice to the executive and  legislature on the way forward towards development of the local, state and federal governments without fear or favour.