BY AHMED AKANBI
Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have faulted the 2027 presidential candidate of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, over his claim that some Nigerian politicians resort to human sacrifice and rituals to get power, saying it is unfair to generalise such allegations.
The National Coordinator of the APC Professionals Forum, Engr Hakeem Akintayo and a member of the Presidential Campaign Council and National Coordinator of Tinubu Progressive Movement, Alhaji Adam Saheed, said isolated cases may exist, but painting all politicians with the same brush is wrong.
Duke, a former Cross River State governor, had recently warned that growing desperation ahead of the 2027 general elections could push some politicians into extreme measures, including alleged human sacrifice, and further undermine democratic values.
He spoke in Abuja during an engagement with the Council of the Wise of the Savannah Centre for Democracy, Diplomacy and Development, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Reacting in Abuja, Akintayo said people go into politics for different reasons — some for patriotism and national service, others for personal ambition.
“If you talk about the kind of politics that each individual wants to play, some are very nationalistic, some are parochial, and some are self-centered,” he stated.
The APC chieftain, who said he has been in politics for many years, noted he has met politicians with different motivations.
“The sky is too wide; it depends on where you want to fly in the sky,” Akintayo said, adding that Nigeria still has “good heads and good hearts” committed to national development.
He cautioned against discouraging well-meaning Nigerians from public service because of the actions of a few.
“Over time, we have had people who have not represented what politics should stand for. But right now, we have people who have the interest of the country and the populace at heart venturing into politics,” he said.
On his part, Saheed rejected the idea of linking political power to rituals, saying power ultimately comes from God.
“It is not right to always put political power in the context of rituals. There are people who get power from God. There are people whom God has blessed with power for a particular purpose,” he said.
The Tinubu Progressive Movement coordinator noted that both Islam and Christianity teach that God is the giver of power, and some people are destined for leadership.
“If he is saying some politicians are into rituals, I will agree that there may be some people like that, but that generalisation, I disagree with. The generalisation is wrong,” Saheed stated.
He also pointed out that religious leaders, including pastors and Imams, are active in politics, and politics should not be portrayed as an arena dominated by immoral conduct.
“There are pastors and Imams who are into politics. It is not all the time that you say people are doing rituals simply because they are seeking or occupying political positions,” he added.