Sen. 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 (NAN) reports that Bassey, who represented Cross River South in the 9th Assembly, spoke during a press briefing in Calabar on Wednesday.
Describing Tinubu as principled, the former lawmaker said the President remained loyal to one party in spite of having compelling reasons to defect.
Commenting on defection rumours, Bassey said he remained a bona fide member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while acknowledging his interest in the African Democratic Congress coalition.
He said his decision to stay in the PDP was “purely on the ground 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 intention to defect, adding: “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 emphasised that multi-party democracy promotes good governance, noting that politics should transcend power struggles to deliver effective leadership.
