“A political party should be defined by what it stood for,not by what it was against ” Frank Luntz
In Nigeria it is difficult to define political parties,by the ideology they profess or by anything they stand for,because they stand for absolutely nothing,they are in fact nothing beyond vehicles for standing and winning elections. So the two main parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), are only differentiated,by the colours of their flags and logos,because in real terms there is nothing substantial that separates them,especially in character, orientation and the uses of power,they are Siamese twins. So it is effortlessly convenient to jump from APC to PDP in the morning and back in the evening, because both are essentially the same. Water,like they say will always find its level.
Both parties seek or claim to serve the national interest,but ask them what it is, they can never articulate it,because it is nothing more than the personal interest of their owner members. The government is doing well,if they are well “mobilized” and horrible if they are out in the limbo. Given this circumstance,it will always be difficult to mobilize mass support around any national issue, but very easy to mobilize support when the issues are primordial,which most often they are. Voting is the only interaction the parties have with the people, and the focus is never policies, it is parochial and narrow group interests like appointments religion and tribe that determines the political party to vote for,and that is also the basis of belonging to parties,in the absence of philosophical beliefs. The tragedy is that they provide no leadership and they fracture the society,as people queue behind these tribal warlords masquerading as national leaders.
For an efficient and effective government,organized political parties is a must, but unfortunately this is lacking in the parties,not just APC and PDP. So essentially there is no difference between mob groups,and the parties. And the disorganized State of Nigeria bears huge testimony to that fact. What advice can a disorganized APC offer to the president or governors elected on its platform? Same with PDP. Like Ames Bovard argues, “democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.” What Ames Bovard is saying, is that the pedestrian nature of the parties,their bread and butter politics must give away to very serious issues,if Nigeria is to make progress. The problem is the lack of vision and capacity.
If crisis is defined as having four defining characteristics – “specific,surprise,and non – routine events – as argued by Seeger,Sellnow and Ulmer then the problem facing APC can’t be described as such,as they were largely expected. But acrimony within the family shouldn’t always be construed as crisis. Apart from natural crises that are inherently unpredictable (volcanic eruptions, tsunami etc.) most of the crises that we face are created by man and in oriental cultures like China it means danger and opportunity (Chinese characters used are Wei and Chi). Can the APC see and take the opportunity from the internal squabbles?
From the very outset the battle for the soul of the APC Kaduna State Chapter has been fierce. Which explains why the defeated have continued to reject defeat. For instance the present Deputy Governor’s election as party chairman was rejected by Joshua Ephriam,that he roundly defeated. Just as the opposition Akida APC (not PDP) refused to accept El – Rufai’s victory. While El -Rufai who was then the party’s Deputy National Secretary,has been accused of conniving with the congress committee to manipulate the election in favour of the Bantex executive,Muhammadu Buhari is being held responsible for his emergence.
The APC Kaduna State Chapter has been in the news,and will remain in the news. Those opposed to the governor from within the state and outside obviously won’t give him any respite,until they “defeat” him.This seems an uphill task,but it is among the reason behind the “fractionalization” of the party. The issues are clearly beyond the various reform Programmes of Nasir El – Rufai,which is a must in the light of the dwindling financial resources accruing to Kaduna State from the federation account. The reforms, have no doubt repositioned the state,but in typical fashion the Akida APC has criticized them, without putting forward alternatives in managing the very challenging times. It is a certain and fundamental fact, that in parties, there will be different tendencies- the conservatives and reformists,but the end result ought and should be Service to the people.With mutual respect, the roadmaps can always be negotiated,and the entire party solidly behind the government.
The genesis of the crisis within the party started long before December 2015,but rather than getting better kept escalating. The height was the self styled “Akida APC ” (True APC) accusing the governor of alleged “anti-people polices and the sidelining of party stakeholders in the running of the government ,they worked hard to bring to power. The crisis has its roots in the election of the State executive of the party , the convention and naturally in the sharing of the spoils of victory, which unfortunately can’t go round because of the economic crisis. Unfortunately,there is lack of appreciation of the economic challenges,facing the government.
The emerging facts condemns the actions of Akida APC, like the action of the Modi Sheriffs,who almost sent the Almighty PDP,to its early grave. First Danladi Wada, the “factional leader” was clearly defeated in the 2014 Congress of the party. How can Wada in good conscience justify his present actions or ever complain about imposition,when he knows that by the APC constitution,appointment is not one of the recognized means of emerging as a party leader? Clearly it is about creating confusion,as nothing in the actions of the Akida APC shows that the development of the state or lack of it,is truly their concern. The obvious fact is that both parties – Akida APC and the Shaibu Idris led APC are not on the same page and direction.
The squabble which the ruling party -APC is confronting,is nothing more than positioning for onslaught on the commonwealth in 2019,having lost out in 2015. It has nothing to do with the interest of Kaduna State people. For instance the Akida APC, from the very outset never gave the governor any inch,the height of it was the vote of no confidence it passed on the Nasir El- Rufai administration and the recent attempt to fractionalize the party. It has questioned the reforms, the urban renewal programmes,the civil service revitalization programme and the sales of the badly dilapidated government quarters.These issues the opposition raised are clearly cosmetic. For instance, the allegation that the people of the state have witnessed hardship and dehumanization,without situating it within the prevailing economic reality is mischief.
Central to the problem of the Akida APC, and the Kaduna Restoration Group with El- Rufai, is their opposition to the appointment of non – indigenes,though targeted at the governor,it is clearly discomforting to the very substantial number of non- indigenes,who have votes. The likes of Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed,the Chief of Staff to the Senate President and Tom Maiyashi,a former radical member of the Peoples Redemption Party,have definitely opened themselves up to charges of tribalism and retrogressive politics. And this lends credence to the government position that the “war” against non – indigenes is all about appointments,which they believe the non- indigenes have shut them from.
Nasir El- Rufai has definitely given a credible account of himself – from the swift implementation of governance reforms,like the Treasury Single Account, zero-based budgeting, taxation, investments, a digital land registry and public procurement, government anchored on pro-people development. Primary school enrolment has increased from 1.1million to 2.1million in less than two years. The government has been aggressive in attracting investors. Ordinarily El – Rufai should be the toast of all, not just his party. Clearly the two groups are miles apart,in terms of their World views. And this is why it would be difficult for any enduring resolution.
Why is it difficult for the national headquarters of the party to expedite action towards filling party offices that are currently occupied by officials in acting capacity as provided for in the APC constitution. The blame for the crisis can squarely be laid on the John Oyegun,led party. The Akida APC should Market its anti reform and no to non – indigene policies and if it takes control of the party,it can jolly well implement its rabid policies,like Donald Trump. The two groups – Akida APC and the Kaduna Restoration Group must convince the people that they are solid,and beyond being united by their opposition to El -Rufai. But APC Akida,in calling on the National body to conduct elections into vacant positions,following the appointment of some party officials into public offices, is it not an acknowledgment that Wada,is an imposter?
El – Rufai’s reaction to the onslaught is natural. Pushed to the wall and criticized by some elements of his party, what were the options open to him? The opposition must take some blame for El- Rufai’s “cobra” reaction. They certainly pushed him to the wall with their unconstructive criticisms. Criticisms should be towards improving public policy and governance. El – Rufai has variously been accused of not listening to advice,the question is the quality of advice? He obviously would not give listening ear to any advice asking him to sack non- indigenes,which fundamentally goes against his belief. The Governor should extend another hand of fellowship,but not out of cowardice,having made the point about the direction of his government. The plot is targeted at the reforms. He must therefore act smartly in the greater interest of the reforms,
The hallmark of our politics is threat and counter threats,which most times end up in violence. But when will politicians learn to settle political problems,politically? When will they learn to accept defeat and to bury their grievances? Donald Trump is an albatross to the Republican Party,but it has supported his agenda. Like late John F. Kennedy argues in Profiles in Courage, “when party and officeholder differ as to how the national interest is to be served, we must place first the responsibility we owe not to our party or even to our constituents but to our individual consciences”. And most Nigerian politicians lack conscience.
