Amid high hopes and expectations, what aptly qualifies to be called a historic moment in Nigeria’s political plain berths today as leading opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), holds its maiden convention in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
But today’s convention where 6855 delegates will vote for those who would constitute the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party is with an unavoidable anxiety as its outcome might decide the fate of the APC in its quest to displace the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)control power at the federal level. Delegates have for the past three days been flooding the Federal Capital Territory for the convention amid some hitches relating to accreditation. This is even as major hotels have been fully booked for the two-day event.
Those expected to play leading role in today’s covention are General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former vice president Atiku Abubakar. Others are Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola, Rochas Okorocha, Aliyu Wamakko, Sam Nda-Isaiah, Timipre Sylva and Chief Tom Ikimi.
As at the time of this report, intense lobby and horse-trading was high just as cleavages within the party have held on to positions of advantages ahead of today’s convention.
Prior to this day, there have been speculations that governors of the APC have taken control total control of the party, except some cases of few concessions being made to the founding leaders of the merger ilk, especially former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari as well as former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Both have been touted some weeks ago, as reaching for a joint ticket as presidential candidate and running mate respectively in 2015. The development has heightened suppressed but sustained intra-party intrigues as most leaders of the party kicked against such move on the ground that it did not take into consideration Nigeria’s ethno-religious cuttings.
Ever since, the APC has come under intense power play and balance of influence with the governors taking the lead as well as garnering more advantages as the party marched to today’s convention.
For instance on the issue of the APC’s national chairman expected to emerge today, majority of the governors led by the Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano are said to have endorsed former governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Timipre Sylva for the job. This is against the wish of Tinubu and Buhari who want former Edo state governor and Tinubu’s ally in the old days of NADECO, Chief John Oyegun for the job.
Similarly, while former FCT minister, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, backed by both Buhari and Tinubu desired to be national secretary, the governors again, propped up former presidential liaison officer on National Assembly matters, Alhaji Kashim Imam after successfully zoning the position out of the former minister’s northwest zone. However, the incumbent interim national secretary, Alhaji Tijjani Musa Tumsah is expected to be returned.
Regardless, the unity of purpose of the governors equally has its challenges as some among them, especially Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) have their respective candidates for the national chairmanship. They are their kinsmen, Chief Tom Ikimi from Edo and Sam Sam Jaja from Rivers.
The development has therefore thrown up a scenario that while Sylva enjoys external support majorly from the Kwankwaso-led northern governors, he is running for the office of the national chairman on the note of a depleted home front.
As at press time, it was yet unclear if both Oshiomhole and Amaechi had reached a compromise position on the need for either of Ikimi and Oyegun to step down to face Sylva at today’s convention.
A significant issue of note is that today’s convention is likely to give clear direction as to who among the various presidential aspirants in the party might have an advantage in the pursuit of the party’s ticket.
But despite the apprehensions and anxiety, the chairman of the Convention Committee, Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has assured delegates of a free and fair election.
Addressing journalists yesterday at the Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, Governor Wamakko disclosed that the convention survived all the behind-the scene intrigues planned to scuttle it by some unnamed forces and recalled that the enthusiasm which the registration of membership manifested recently was an indication that the people are tired of the PDP.
“Like a child that refused to beaborted, the APC survived all the devious intrigues specially put together to truncate its birth. The party’s registration exercise, conducted earlier in the year, revealed that tens of millions of Nigerians opted to join APC as members.
Speaking further, he lamented the failure of the PDP to make available the dividends of democracy and argued that it was the emergence of the APC that has awakened the PDP leadership from its slumber.
“The ruling PDP, which has been in power all these years, has not offered much in terms of effective and commendable governance that is capable of bringing succor to the teeming population of the Nigerian people. Evidently, there is rising level of corruption, nepotism and ineptitude in the nation’s leadership.
“The perils of the Nigerian people have been further exacerbated by the absence of viable alternative by the way of strong opposition political parties. It was this unfortunate scenario that made it imperative for the birth of APC. Since the advent of APC in July, 2013, the leaders of the ruling PDP have become awakened to the cold fact of the presence of a viable alternative in respect of delivering of inspiring
democratic governance within the Nigerian nation space.”
In his own remarks, the chairman of the election sub-committee, Alhaji Kawu Baraje said his experience in the PDP would guide him to ensure a free and fair poll. He said even if there are consensus candidates, his committee would make sure there is voting for each office and such a consensus candidate must score a simple majority.
Anti-democratic Politicians May Truncate 2015 Polls, Jonathan Warns
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday raised the alarm over an alleged plot by anti- democratic individuals in the country to take advantage of certain loopholes in the electoral processes to truncate the 2015 general elections.
“I agree totally with the Chairman of INEC that we have to be mindful and listen very well so that we can save our necks. There are still very remorseless anti- democratic forces operating in the political system, ever ready to exploit lapses in the management of our political and electoral processes. Some of these forces may indeed during the fourth coming elections as their lifestyle truncate the nation’s hard won democratic liberty”, he stated.
Jonathan who stated this, while speaking at the All Political Parties Summit at the International Conference Centre, Abuja warned that the country’s social stability and democratic consolidation could be undermined if critical national political stakeholders indifferently and wrongly presume that the nation’s democratic system has become invincible to be taken for granted without constant and careful monitoring.
“But dear compatriots, with respect to the 2015 elections in particular and our journey as a nation in general, we must never allow these negative forces to prevail”, he cautioned.
Quoting Article 7 of the code of conduct for political behaviour the President said: “No political Party or candidate shall during campaign, resort to the use of inflammatory language, provocative actions, images or manifestation that incite violence, hatred, contempt, or intimidation against another party or candidate, or any person or group of persons on grounds of ethnicity, gender or for any other reason.
“However, dear compatriots, the current national political outlook with regards to inter-party collaboration is less than salutary. Indeed, the conduct and utterances of leading politicians at home and abroad are rapidly creating and spreading unnecessary tension in the country.
“Such unguarded utterances on their part fan the embers of discord, bitterness and rancour. Such unfortunate development play into the hands of extremist elements waging a vicious campaign of terror against the state. The recent mindless bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians in the FCT, Jos in Plateau State, the killings in Adamawa state including that of the traditional ruler as well as the heartless criminal abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok are better addressed by a political class united in its commitment to defend the polity irrespective of political differences.
Meanwhile, former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) yesterday urged political parties to caution their members over inflammatory comments and urged them to stop the blame game over insurgency in the country. He gave the charge yesterday in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of a one-day All Political Parties Summit held at the International Conference centre, Abuja.
Speaking also, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammed Buhari, on his part called for free and fair election, charging security agencies not to be partisan.
He also admonished politicians to learn from the lessons of June 12, 1993, adding that with the annulment of that election the whole nation lost as there was no victor or vanquished. He further said the time for blame game over past political and electoral experiences should be put behind as the nation marches into the future. On his part, former president, Shehu Shagari cautioned the political parties against do-or-die politics ahead of 2015, just as he advocated a modified amnesty for Boko Haram sect.
Shagari, who was represented by his son Hon Aminu Shagari at the summit, also recommended an all-inclusive government where members of opposition political parties are included in the cabinet of the ruling party as he did in the second republic.
National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, however took a swipe at the opposition, the All Progressives Congress, (APC) for acting in ways that instigate violence. Describing the political summit as important at a critical ahead period of general elections, Mu’azu berated the opposition for sweeping venues used by the ruling party after campaigns and political rallies in their (opposition states), noting that this was capable of promoting violence. He said: “for instance, the PDP had a good outing in Ekiti state last week during the electioneering campaign of our governorship candidate but to our greatest surprise, the state Governor came out the second day with APC members saying that they wanted to sweep our legs away and in the process innocent people were either killed or wounded “According to him, “the same thing happened in Kano state, where the governor also did similar thing, why should men be sweeping? Mu’azu pointed out that the other time the protest against the kidnapped Chibok school girls in Borno State started, he directed his Chief of Staff to join the protest only for him to be later informed that the protest was against President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP-led Federal Government to see to the release of the kidnapped children, asking: “How long can we continue to be suspicious of ourselves?” But, speaking on behalf of Chief Bisi Akande, APC interim National Chairman, Mrs Sharon IKeazor said that the party was for the unity and peace of the country. Mrs Ikeazor said that the merger that produced the APC was the best thing that ever happened to the country since the party was united and had been praying fervently for the immediate end to the activities of the insurgents in the country as well the early release of the Chibok girls. She urged political class to give women more opportunity as they would as help to promote conflict resolution in the society.
The All Political Parties Summit was organised by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi and the office of the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) with the title, “inter-Party” Collaboration ,National Stability and Democratic Consolidation attended by very important dignitaries including President President Goodluck Jonathan, Generals Muhamadu Buhari and Abdulsalami Abubakar (former Military Heads of state) among others.
In his address, Jonathan also lauded his major opponent in the 2011 presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari for making out time to attend the inter-party summit despite the fact that this is a very busy period for his party, the All Progressives Congress. “I must express my profound gratitude to all the political parties that answered this clarion call today. General Buhari has indeed demonstrated statesmanship and patriotism as well as the willingness to put partisanship aside in order to preserve our nationhood.” Continue Reading….
