APC: Always Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory!

By Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba

This party, APC, has this habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Every time.

1.   It won a clear victory during the presidential election with overwhelming support from all segments of Nigeria with the possible exception of SE/SS. World leaders praised the new APC president and saw a new and different Nigeria. His stock rose beyond the clouds.

*Tinubu and Buhari 

For four long months he could not form a government; made no speeches on the direction he would take the country to; was unable to present the legislature any supplementary budget; resorted to dictatorship by being a sole administrator; gave an unrealistic time frame for defeating Boko Haram (December 31, 2015), was unable to articulate his foreign policy as he addressed an empty United Nations Assembly; performed miserably in press conferences he had; demonstrated lack of knowledge as he could not tell which country is governed by Ms. Angela Merkel or what title she holds; showed that he was not aware that the Soviet Union no longer exists; etc. It was a complete failure each time he went abroad. The APC executive failed even before he started. They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory

2.   If the executive was struggling to find its footing, the legislature was seen flat on its face. They had no clue when the inaugural meeting of the legislature was scheduled and so all but a handful were present when the Senate and House was called to order; and not present as congressional elections were conducted and therefore left open to seasoned PDP to impose officers on the majority. Thus the Senate and House leadership became a 50/50 sharing of senior offices for APC and PDP. When they realized that the animals have been late out of the gate the party started playing immature games and bickering and making self-destructive moves. The legislature like the executive snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

3.   As if the failures of the Executive and the Legislature were not enough, the ineptitude has now carried over to Kogi State. The unfortunate death of Mr. Audu so close to the election called for a leadership that is quick on its feet, but the party was/is led by a giant with clay feet. A good leader could have quickly found a substitute gubernatorial candidate or tried to stop INEC from proceeding with the election. A court action could have bought them some time to find another candidate, but the brainless, inept APC sat on her hands and an election was conducted. But their candidate was dead and only the living can be elected.

INEC is headed by a woman neophyte in the electoral process. APC has a deputy governor-elect who does not want to go back to a new election for the same office he has won already but APC wants to nullify his election by making him a running mate in a fresh election. If the party does not win this rescheduled election he would have lost what is already in his bag. If PDP wins he would be the deputy governor. Why did APC not see all these? Two petitions are in court now. One by the deputy governor elect demanding that he be the governor elect has no chance of success. The other is by the PDP candidate who is the runner up in the last election who is alive. This has better chances of success. Once more APC ha snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

4.   Etc.

To understand what is going on one must go back to how APC came to be. APC was formed by people whose sole interest was the defeat of President Jonathan. They had no ideological glue holding them together; no governing plans if it won; no candidates for ministerial positions; and no team. Each senior officer of APC had plans on how to become the president or the brain behind whoever becomes president and rule by remote control. After the election each War Lord revealed his/her hand and they soon found that the staged friendship could not last, hence the infighting.

It would have not mattered so much if APC were a minor party. But it is the governing party at the center and in 65% of the states. If APC sneezes Nigeria gets pneumonia.

And that is where we are.

-      Nigerian stock market has lost a trillion naira since PMB assumed office mostly due to the fact that governor of the central bank who is responsible for monetary policy does not have a minister of finance who is responsible for fiscal policy to work with

-      Foreign investment has almost disappeared as possible investors wait to see which way is forward.

-      BH has been emboldened by instability in the security apparatus.

-      A would have been inconsequential Biafran demonstration has been invigorated by the careless detention of an inconsequential leader now made 10 feet tall by DSS. Biafran demonstration is making Oduduwa republic supporters to unfurl its Red/Black/Green flag with six stars. If care is not taken their demonstration would make Biafra demonstration look like a boy scout marching.

What to do?

APC must get its act together for itself and for Nigeria. We have come too far to go back. PMB must bring back Tinubu and empower him. Tinubu must desist from behaving as if he is planning the overthrow of PMB by planting his men and women in core offices and Tinubu should remember that PMB is the one elected and who Nigerians and the world hold responsible for any development or lack of it. PMB must shed his exclusion tendencies and bring the people of SS/SE into the fold. The government should refocus its attention to the peoples’ basics: food, shelter and clothing or as others may put it air, water and food. Chasing shadows in form of fighting corruption or wiping out BH, or detaining Mr. Nnamdi Kanu will accomplish nothing in the short run. It is after the short term budget has been settled that long term and strategic planning is pursued.

We have lacked so much for so long, that is why we cannot wait.

Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba

Boston, Massachusetts

December 1, 2015