Nigeria is in for a long walk. And quite frankly I am seriously disturbed about the changing change that is about to come. The Peoples Democratic Party has not been in opposition at the federal level these past 16 years. The newly formed All Progressives Congress, an amalgamation of parties, has never been in power at the centre. The two giant parties are in those respects still to learn the ropes. The two parties are like newly born babies just about breathing their first air of life.

Nigeria is in serious need of change.

Prior to the recent national elections Nigeria was on a life support. And she is still on a life support but with a dedicated doctor standing by. Nigeria cannot now afford a political crisis or flexing of muscles by political gladiators. Nigeria got to this sorry state through the activities of politicians in military uniform and in agbada. And quite frankly, expectations were high that with the recent elections the era of political jobbery was gone.

I hope that by the time this piece is read things would have started showing their true colours. As at now political watchers as well as ordinary citizens are still in a shock.

It does appear that the APC is yet to learn how to manage their success while the PDP is still in serious fighting mood. And only fools would have expected that the PDP, a party that has fed itself fat unchallenged for uninterrupted 16, years would go quietly. Perhaps we should reiterate that the PDP is not in the mood to go anywhere and may actually never go away. There must have been some tricks responsible for the party’s long staying power. And talking seriously there is no party or group of elected individuals from any other party that can match PDP chieftains naira for naira or dollar for dollar. The ‘Ghana-Must-Go bags are still very much alive.

I really do not wish to comment on the leadership tussle that has just started in the National Assembly. What we have seen so far is just a dress rehearsal. It is still an improvisation that is awaiting a proper script. The script writers are waiting in the wings. They are waiting for their pay masters who will dictate the lexis and structure of the script. Once the script is perfected, puppeteers will dispatch their puppets to the stage and proper drama will ensue.

‘Mariwo l’eeri a’ti r’eegun!’ The costume of the shrouded spirit is all that you have seen. The shrouded spirit erroneously called masquerade is yet to come to the arena!

I am really very sorry for this country Nigeria and the suffering masses that populate its landscape. Those they believe are likely to solve their problems are the very clogs in their wheel to self recovery. It has been self, self, and self all along. And now it is still self self self and self ad infinitum!

I pity President Muhammadu Buhari. I pity all those who genuinely spent sleepless nights to bring about the change majority of Nigerians yearned for. I pity all those who made huge sacrifices so that Nigeria could have a new life. I pity all those who gave all to get several parties to come together to chase vultures away.

Did I say I was not going to comment on the recent happenings at the National Assembly? Yes. I am trying to restrain myself from making any comment. Whatever I needed to say had been said in commentaries by fellow Nigerians.

I do not want to belabour words like ‘treachery’ ‘vaulting ambition’, ‘mole in the house’, ‘disloyalty’, ‘indiscipline’, and many more.

I also refuse to volunteer any advice to Mr. President, who technically is the Leader of APC. It is not my place to repeat the Yoruba saying that you do not leave a cobra in the ceiling of your room and go to sleep.

I can only say that the leadership of APC should seriously address itself to managing their success. They should also be warned to protect their hard earned victory. PDP, on the other hand, is free to continue to wage battle even after the war had ended. It is all in the character of politics. My only concern is: Where does all this leave Nigeria and the common man?

Is this the National Assembly that will slash its own over bloated salaries and outrageous emoluments? Is this the National Assembly that will give us the much-needed sanity in the land?

Are we not returning to business as usual?

I must not talk. I should not talk. Nigerians will forever continue to have the leaders they deserve!

•Chief Tola Adeniyi (shown in photo) is a former Managing Director of Daily Times of Nigeria. He can be reached via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.