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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the presidency over comments mocking opposition leaders after the recent by-election, insisting that politics should be seen as service to the people rather than a tool for personal gain.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, August 19, Mr. Chike Okogwu, National Leader for Persons with Disabilities in the ADC, said the presidency’s reaction to the polls was unnecessary and unhelpful to democratic growth.
He was reacting to a social media post by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, who had shared a picture of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Peter Obi, and other opposition leaders with a caption that read: “How market now?” The post, widely perceived as mocking the coalition’s performance, has sparked debate.
Okogwu dismissed the remark, saying politics is not a marketplace transaction but a responsibility. “If Mr. Onanuga meant to ask ‘How market?’, then he must understand that politics is not a pursuit of profit.
“As Max Weber explained, leadership is grounded in duty and accountability. True leadership can either be transactional, which is temporary, or transformational, which inspires lasting change. What Nigeria needs today is transformational leadership,” he said.
The ADC leader stressed that his party, as part of a wider coalition, does not intend to play politics the old way. “For us, politics is a vocation, and it must be guided by integrity and responsibility. That is the only way Nigeria can move forward,” he added.