The most compelling attribute of Adams Aliyu
Oshiomhole, the new chairman of our great party, the All Progressive Congress
(APC), remains the doggedness in which he organized protests during the
democratic regime of then president, Olusegun Obasanjo. But events thus far are
revealing the hard truth: trade union activism is far from party leadership.
This point is that, Oshiomhole, who was brought in to stave off crisis and lead
the party to victory in 2019, is already becoming a problem, not the solution.
Recall that the first turmoil that greeted
Oshiomhole’s chairmanship was the splinter group, the Reformed APC (R-APC).
Instead of exploring meaningful avenues for peace at the time, the new party
chairman heightened the crisis by attacking the group’s credibility. To
Oshiomhole, the R-APC was inconsequential, boasting that the party would win in
2019 regardless. He went further to dismiss the group merely as a “counter
force” against “President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to fight corruption.”
Oshiomhole’s next major display was at Owerri
where he went to fan Governor Rochas Okorocha’s campaign of infamy. Instead of
remaining an unbiased umpire, the new national chairman was seen in open
daylight drumming support for the twin unpopular candidates of the party in
Muhammadu Buhari (for president) and the son-in-law of Okorocha (for governor
of *President Buhari and Adams Oshiomole |
The most troubling yet is Oshiomhole’s ongoing
war against other APC presidential aspirants who have expressed interest to
challenge Buhari in the party’s primary. The comrade has probably forgotten
that Nigeria
is no longer in a military regime where any dissent translates to a coup
d’état. This dictatorial attitude is least expected in a progressive party that
claims fidelity to rule of law and internal party democracy.
As if these moves lack in folly, Oshiomhole
engaged in witless squabble with the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, over the
latter’s performance in office. The encounter is ignoble and any further detail
exhumes mess. Yet, the whole drama appeared like a sudden change of government
with Adams Oshiomhole now in charge. The notion behind such scathing overreach,
regardless of the intention, only goes to cast President Buhari as an
incompetent and clueless leader.
The objective fact is that the actions of
Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole since assuming office have been an embarrassing failure.
Though he has been hustling lately, showing some desire for peace, the damage
is already done. But there is hope, if only Oshiomhole can listen. Someone has
to whisper to the comrade that he was elected chairman for all, not APC
chairman for Muhammadu Buhari and his self-serving minions. Further, he has to
be able to differentiate between the responsibilities of a president and that
of the chairman of the party. More relatively, the former union leader needs to
understand that party leadership thrives with dialogue, not temperamental
protests.
Any meaningful dialogue within the APC begins
with the truth. The truth is that Buhari’s 2nd term
ambition is the central problem. Therefore, as odd and impossible as it may
seem, any real solution requires Oshiomhole’s team to craft ways to ease out
Muhammadu Buhari from the presidential race. The president no longer has what
it takes for the 21st century Nigeria and the voters are keenly
aware. Therefore, the APC leadership must consider nation before selfish
interests. The worst thing that can happen to Nigeria is any loophole that can
allow the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to creep back to power. And Buhari’s
candidacy is that loophole.
Of course, the big wigs in APC are also aware
of the problem of Buhari. Even some of the principal leaders in APC, including
those now grandstanding as PMB 2019 promoters, particularly the likes of Nasir
El-Rufai, Rochas Okorocha, and Bola Tinubu, truly wish Buhari could step aside
so they can take a shot at the presidency. Their body language alone, during
the time the president was hospitalized in London , better tells the story.
Understandably, they have become craven.
Enter the R-APC people. Its arrow heads,
particularly Bukola Saraki, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Aminu Tambuwal have never
hidden their desire to be president in 2019. Like former Vice President Atiku
Abubarkar, the R-APC group only wants to leave the party because they cannot
imagine fair play in the APC primary with President Buhari in the race.
Needless to mention that an emerging caucus, the Patriotic APC (P-APC), where
this writer belongs, already features challengers to Buhari within the party
without minding whose ox is gored.
This seemingly mass uprising within the ruling
party against its sitting president is a recipe for a woeful future. But that
is where party leadership matters most. It calls for Oshiomhole to organize the
leaders of the different factions and confront Muhammadu Buhari with the truth.
There is a good chance the president will yield. After all, the retired army
general may be analog in style, quite alright, but he is no man’s fool. Buhari
knows that the center can no longer hold. The mere fact that his presidency is
now at the teetering mercy of a legislature, controlled by his own party, is a
dizzying testimony.
There is no better unifying factor in APC than
a 2019 presidential race without Muhammadu Buhari. A competitive presidential
primary within the party featuring competent candidates will energize members
towards victory in 2019. This medicine is definitely very bitter.
*SKC Ogbonnia, an APC Presidential Aspirant,
can be reached via: SKCOgbonnia1@aol.com
July 24, 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment