By Ali Abare

In politics and governance, the opposition usually play a critical role. The opposition is a shadow government. As much as those in power would want to wish it away, opposition is very necessary in a democracy.

The opposition is a group of people or political party in a multiparty political system that is opposed to or criticizes continuously the government or political party in power.

In fact, the primary role of the opposition, as well as other, smaller opposition parties is to question government actions, to present alternatives to ​government positions, and to provide the option of an alternative government.

The opposition enjoys privileges and duties well established by tradition. The various legislatures both at the state and national levels, readily provide the platform for the opposition to scrutinize the policies and actions of the government.

As laudable as this could be, especially in a democracy like ours, the opposition in Nasarawa State, seen mostly as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has gone haywire. In Nasarawa State, the opposition is fixated on an illusion that continues to unfold daily.

Of course, the opposition has every right to pursue legally and lawfully any perceived grievance as it’s presently doing at the election petition tribunal. That is also an undeniable right given to the opposition by the constitution of the country.

What is actually amiss with the opposition in Nasarawa State is the quick resort to bigotry and chauvinism. Agreed, the judgement of the governorship election tribunal, a split decision for that matter, was in favour of the opposition but there still remains two tiers of adjudication available being the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court.

It’s therefore not yet uhuru for the opposition.

It appears from all indications that the PDP is obviously fighting a lost battle judging by the way it’s engaging in mudslinging and political kamikaze.

It’s really worrisome that instead of focusing on its legal battle to ventilate their grievances before the courts, the opposition have turned to cry babies exhibiting psychological psychosis and departing from reality.

Psychologists speak about unconscious bias, often called implicit bias, which occurs outside of a person’s conscious awareness. They posit that these biases are ingrained stereotypes and attitudes that may actually go against the beliefs that we hold but affect our actions, decisions, and understanding of the world around us on a subconscious level.

In its phantasmagorical spasms, the PDP is obviously manifesting an abysmal tendency to seek out and interpret new information in a way that confirms what the party already held as cardinal objective.

The PDP in Nasarawa State is obsessed and consumed by primordial sentiments.

It’s not that the opposition possesses any superior alternatives to bring development to the state. All they are interested in merely amount to self-denial simply because they are deliberately refusing to recognize that Engineer Abdullahi Sule was elected Governor not because of his tribe or religion but because of his capacity, pedigree and qualifications.

Engineer Sule hails from Gudi in Akwanga Local Government Area. There is nothing the opposition could do to change that. When the former administration of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura pushed for the shifting of the seat of power to Nasarawa North, for Engineer Sule, it was a preparation meeting opportunity. He was adequately prepared and stood tall among all those who aspired to become governor. It wasn’t about religion or tribe but the capacity to deliver.

Instead of accepting this reality, especially that Engineer Sule has successfully completed his first four years in office as Governor and is on another term of four years that would end in 2027, the opposition is morbidly beating a dead horse and publicly demonstrating their political psychosis.

Or else, how could one explain the recent conduct of a former federal lawmaker, a supposed Senator of the federal republic who went on national television to exhibit mental imbalance when he claimed that Engineer Sule is not an indigene of Nasarawa State?

No wonder, the lawmaker obviously a bench warmer during his entire sojourn at the senate, who till date could not show or tell his constituents any single bill he caused to be passed into law with a view to address their challenges, could be blinded by bias to make embark on character assassination against the person of a Governor that is more of a guiding light across the country.

Engineer Sule is not a governor by accident or default. He prepared adequately for the position he is presently occupying, and there is nothing the opposition can say or do to change that.

Nasarawa State under Engineer Sule has become a shining model for other states to follow. He is being celebrated continuously, as can be seen in the endless engagements where he is invited to share his leadership experience in order to show the way for others to follow.

The opposition must allow Engineer Sule to breathe because they can not give what they don’t have. The only thing the PDP is capable of giving from all indications are doses of bigotry and political intolerance.

While they pursue their case before the courts, the PDP must allow Engineer Sule deliver on his campaign promises by bringing much needed development to the state.

Abare is the Special Assistant on Media to the Nasarawa Governor.