Opinion
When Betrayal Becomes a Career: The Use-and-Dump Syndrome
By Sam Agogo
In Nigeria’s political landscape, betrayal has evolved into a disturbing career path for some individuals.
The cycle is predictable: opportunists are recruited, rewarded, and then discarded. Politicians identify those willing to sell out their party, provide them with stipends or contracts, and once the mission is accomplished, they are sidelined. Their reputations suffer irreparable damage, and they are branded as betrayers. The former Labour Party chairman who was seen with the FCT minister after alleged compensation illustrates this cycle vividly. His relevance has diminished, and the minister may not open his door for him again. Similarly, faction leaders within the African Democratic Congress were allegedly paid to destabilize the party. Their temporary influence has collapsed, leaving them remembered more for betrayal than leadership.
Defections across parties further highlight this phenomenon. Lawmakers who cross party lines for financial or political gain often find themselves irrelevant soon after. They are branded opportunists, not statesmen, and their careers fade into obscurity. Moles, secretly recruited to infiltrate and weaken parties from within, face the same fate. Once exposed or no longer useful, they are discarded, distrusted by all sides, and left without a political home.
One of the most striking ironies is that while these betrayers and thugs are used to scatter parties, they are never invited into the inner sanctum of politics. When politicians hold their secret meetings, the betrayers are excluded. They are not trusted to sit at the table where real decisions are made. They are kept outside, used only for dirty work, and discarded once the mission is complete. This exclusion underscores their expendability: they are never part of the true political class, only tools in its hands.
The consequences of betrayal are severe and lasting. Betrayers and moles are never fully trusted again by any party. Their fame fades quickly after their “dirty job” is done. The money they receive is temporary, and many end up financially unstable. Worst of all, they are remembered as traitors—not only to their party but to the nation itself. Their names become synonymous with betrayal, and their legacies are defined by shame rather than achievement.
For current defectors and moles, the lesson is clear: money finishes, reputation remains. Betrayal may bring temporary comfort, but it destroys credibility. Political thuggery and mole infiltration are unsustainable. Just like street thugs used during elections, defectors and moles are discarded after use. Integrity, loyalty, and principle are the only paths to lasting respect and relevance. Politicians who remain steadfast, even in opposition, often enjoy enduring recognition and influence.
Nigeria’s political history is littered with examples of individuals who betrayed their parties for short-term gains but ended up forgotten, broke, and branded as traitors. The warning is unmistakable: betrayal may buy temporary comfort, but it destroys credibility and legacy forever. Those who choose the path of treachery should remember that while money fades, the stain of betrayal endures, and the doors of power will never truly open for them.
For comments, reflections, and further conversation:
📧 Email: samuelagogo4one@yahoo.com
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