Ex-lawmaker urges politicians to emulate Tinubu’s principled politics

former lawmaker, Senator Gershom Bassey…Photo Credit: Politicians Data

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A former lawmaker, Senator Gershom Bassey, has urged Nigerian politicians to emulate President Bola Tinubu’s principled stance on party politics and resistance to opportunistic defections.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Bassey, who represented Cross River South in the Ninth Assembly, made the call during a press briefing in Calabar on Wednesday.

Describing Tinubu as a principled politician, the former lawmaker said the President remained loyal to one political party despite having compelling reasons to defect at different points in his career.

Commenting on speculations about his political affiliation, Bassey said he remained a bona fide member of the Peoples Democratic Party, while acknowledging his interest in the African Democratic Congress coalition.

He said his decision to remain in the PDP was “purely on the grounds of principle and political conviction.”

“In the 2003 elections, all South-West states moved to PDP except Lagos, yet Tinubu did not move.

“We once had 28 PDP governors. What is happening in APC now is not new; it happened then, but Tinubu stayed.

“He had friends in PDP and opportunities to defect, but he stood his ground on principle. That is what I respect about him.

“If you copy someone, copy him well. I am copying Tinubu’s principled stance on defection.”

Bassey added that he had no immediate plans to defect, noting, “As a politician, I will never say never.

“I have not crossed to ADC. I am a sympathiser and a coalition member. For now, I remain in the PDP.”

He further emphasised that multi-party democracy promotes good governance, stressing that politics should go beyond power struggles to focus on delivering effective leadership.

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