By Emmanuel Ado
The average Nigerian politician has a confounding capacity to concoct bared face lies. If only they can muster and deploy half their capacity for mischief and deceit to governance, Nigeria would have been an Eldorado flowing with milk and honey. Some of politicians have made lying a second hobby,the first being money making, that they lie through their teeth,without blinking an eyelid or ever realizing they had lied. Which is why Dashame Stokes,counsels “deep listening to what they don’t say, than what they do.” For some of them lying is key to holding on to power, that it has become a way of life, in fact DaSahanne Stokes equates or likens their not lying to someone “living without breathing”,an impossibility,but just to drive home the point.
But lying is not limited to Nigerian politicians,it is a Worldwide thing. They lie about just everything, from their accomplishment to why they couldn’t accomplish the very simplest of tasks. The former White House press secretary had absolutely no reason lying about the size of the crowd at Donald Trump’s inauguration,but he severally lied about it , because lying is “natural” to him and his boss “Trump the lier”. The intention was to mislead,and to confer on Trump the title he craves for badly – the most popular president,which deep down he knows he is not and would never be considering the scandals around him. Or late President Ronald Reagan’s big fat lie that his administration didn’t trade weapons with Iran in order to secure the release of American hostages.The proceeds which were channeled to fund the rebels of Nicaragua. The intended effect of lie is to corrupt and mislead the public. But when confronted with the truth,and nothing but the truth such lies crumble,like a pack of cards,like the pictures of Barack Obama’s swearing in,that placed side by side with Trumps’ debunked Trumps big lies. Temporarily, lies would hold out,but eventually vanquished. Like Jonathan Swift wrote,”Falsehood flies and the truth comes limping after it”,slowly,but surly.
Lies definitely undermine the integrity of the democratic process, because they lack basis in fact and because of the covert intention to mislead. Unfortunately most institutions,including the political parties in Nigeria are weak,making outrageous and injurious lies to the system difficult to uncover. The Nigerian Media hardly ever fact checks politicians,it swallow up hook,line and sinker what ever is thrown at them. President Richard Nixon lied, caught out,he was consequently forced to resign. The American system (FBI staff aka Deep Throat) provided the information that enabled the American Media to go after Nixon. Because sore losers have the propensity to always resort to lying,to turn the truth on its head and in the process, gravelly mislead gullible members of the public,we must be wary of them. Take with a pinch of salt,what they say and do.
Truth luckily has on its side,records like attendance at meetings, video,still pictures etc which is increasingly making it difficult for politicians to get away with their lies or free style wrestling, as in the case of some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress – aka Akida APC,who last month attempted to fractionalize the Kaduna State Chapter of the party, by attempting to create a parallel party structure. An act that is clearly unconstitutional. That has adverse effect on the political system,as it would further alienate and worsen the lack of trust in the parties and their capacity to govern. This is the manifest danger when party members portray themselves as lacking in the capacity and temperament to conduct their internal affairs within the ambits of their own law,which they freely subscribe to. If they can’t run their own affairs, what is the guarantee that they govern the larger society fairly?
The All Progressives Congress Kaduna State Chapter,like other APC State Chapters held its first ever State Congress on the 6th June,2014. As it has become customary the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was adequately represented to ensure that they do the right thing- i.e they don’t rig or engage in other forms of electoral malpractices. Which really is a slap on the face of the parties. But despite these great efforts by INEC at policing them, four (4) years after the State Congress there are issues as to who contested for what position and who won what position,simply because it is in the nature of the average Nigerian politician to confuse issues. So the APC suddenly has to contend with an issue, that is not an issue.
From INEC records a total of ten (10) contestants – Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Dr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi,Umar Isa,Architect Barnabas Bala(Bantex) etc vied for the position of state chairman of the party. Bantex,comfortably trashed the other nine (9) contestants. Thankfully this fact is not in dispute. For the position of Deputy Chairman there were six(6) contestants – Muhammad Auwal Isa Goje,Shuaibu Idris, Isah Abdullahai Shika,Alhaji Haruna Saidu, Wada Garu, Kenneth D. Suwa and Umar Tsaibu Adamu,which is also not in dispute. And this is unfortunately were the APC problem is. Following his nomination as Deputy Governorship Candidate to Nasir El-Rufai, the Governorship Candidate, for the 2015 elections, in line with the Party Constitution Bantex vacated the chairmanship position,which Shuaibu Idris his Deputy Chairman stepped into as Acting Chairman,in line with the party constitution.
Shuaibu Idris has been acting since Bantex resigned ,until early 2018 when the name S.I Danladi Wada ,short form for Shuaibu Idris Danladi Wada which had hitherto never featured in the authenticated list of aspirants that contested for party offices at the State Congress cropped. The authenticated list of contestants dated 25th November,2014 and signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner,Kaduna State doesn’t contain the name S.I. Danladi Wada.And the man who signed the nomination papers of everyone elected on the platform of the party,is Shuaibu Idris. And many of them after their victory in gratitude showered him with gifts,including cars and clothes.If Shuaibu Idris wasn’t the right person to take over from Bantex,how come these characters didn’t question his ascension until 2018?
The questions the Akida group which pronto declared S.I. Danladi Wada acting chairman,in clear and gross violation of the party constitution have failed or refused to answer are; how and where was S.I. Danladi Wada appointed? Since the records have shown that he didn’t contest for any position at the 2014 congress? If he did ,for what position and who are those that signed his nomination forms? And very critical is, who is the person masquerading as S.I. Danladi Wada? Abundance evidence shows that S.I.Danladi,is a creation of the Akida APC,as the S.I. Danladi Wada being paraded by the Akida APC is the same and one person known as Danladi Wada a retired director with the Kaduna State Ministry of Education. It is possible that Danladi Wada effected a change of name,which he has every right to,but after taking the necessary steps. If he didn’t,then there is an obvious case of impersonation,which is not just an infringement of the APC constitution,but a serious criminal offence. Danladi Wada having worked with the state government,ought to have known that the attempt at impersonation will not go undetected.
The constitution of the APC is clear as to how officers of the party must emerge,and in the event of vacancies how positions should be filled. ARTICLE 20: ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENT clearly states that “All Party posts prescribed or implied by this Constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective National Convention or Congress subject, where possible, to consensus, Provided that where a Candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position,a vote of “yes” or “no” by ballot or voice shall be called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis”. Why on earth would the APC constitution,which is so straight forward and unambiguous, be so assaulted by people who are supposed to be it’s leading lights,without a response from the guardians of the party?
The actions of the APC Akida is height of political rascality,for even amongst thieves there should be honour. Creating a none existent S.I. Danladi Wada and conferring on him Acting Chairman,is clearly acts of unbecoming of people who aspire to lead kaduna State. Committing frauds and violating the constitution of the party, has nothing to do with “chasing” Nasir El- Rufai out of power. Their gestapo acts smacks of desperation and is simply inexplicable. ARTICLE 17: TENURE OF OFFICE clearly states that “Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all officers of the Party elected or appointed into the Party’s organs shall serve in such organs for a period of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment for another period of four (4) years only”. The implication is that the present Shuaibu Idris executive has a tenure of four(4) that hasn’t expired. Why the haste to oust the leadership? For the purpose of argument,but without conceding to them, assuming S.I. Danladi Wada is the authentic acting chairman,can he be a one man executive? Where are other members of his executive? Because there is no evidence that a vote of “No Confidence” was ever passed on the Shuaibu Idris led Executive by two-thirds of members of the relevant Party organ.
The question is why has the John Oyegun led party found it difficult to rein in his party members who have clearly crossed several red lines. ARTICLE 21:DISCIPLINE OF PARTY MEMBERS gives him the sweeping powers to wipe erring members into line. The Akida APC are clearly in breach of not one,not two but several provisions of the constitution of the party,that has change as its slogan. Very fundamental is the breach of the party Constitution on “Anti-Party activities or any conduct, which is likely to embarrass or have adverse effect on the party or bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute;” . The question that the Oyegun led APC must ask itself is, has the party suffered ridicule due to the various actions of a group,that prefers to live by its own standard? If the answer is yes,the next question is why has it bluntly refused to act? Is the executive weak or compromised?
The Akida APC members by declaring S.I.Danladi Wada,a non existent person as acting chairman,and operating from 11B Sambo Close, have further breached the following provisions of Article 21 that “Any act of impersonation of the Party Offices or its holders;Giving wrong information to any Organ of the Party or unauthorized publicity of a Party dispute without exhausting all avenues for settlement or redress within the Party;Fictionalization or creating parallel Party, Flouting the rules, regulations and decisions of the Party; engaging in dishonest practices, thuggery, continuously being absent from meetings to which he/she invited without reasonable cause; carrying out anti-Party or other activities which tend to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient organization of the Party or which are inconsistent with the Aims and Objectives of the Party”. Maybe the Oyegun led executive needs the services of lawyer to interpret these provisions.
The only way to check impunity of some politicians is strict enforcement of the law,because laws are made to be obeyed. For now the APC constitution is for the decoration of the office of the national chairman. The Kaduna State APC Executive is right to insist and to demand that the National body acts,because the implication will be anarchy.By refusing to exhaust all avenues for redress provided for in the APC constitution, the Akida APC members have shown themselves as clearly above the law. And of what use is ARTICLE 21: DISCIPLINE OF PARTY MEMBERS,that was put in place to check the actions of party members like them? The penalty “In cases of alteration of Delegate lists, falsification of nomination results, and or tampering with the processes of internal democracy of the Party” is expulsion from the Party and not suspension. And the offender(s) prosecuted. John Oyegun,owes not just his party members,but Nigerians the duty of ensuring that a solid party foundation is laid.
Recently in South Africa the former president Jacob Zuma,was disowned by the ANC,a party he gave his entire life to,the party asked him to resign or face a vote of no confidence in parliament. As a loyal party man,Zuma didn’t sponsor thugs to disrupt the party meetings were decisions were being taken on him, nor did he attempt to fractionalize the party,which he could have sponsored with the huge resources at his disposal,because the party is bigger than him. APC owes Nigerians the duty of building institutions. The failure of Oyegun and company to act jeopardizes politics and party politics. History will be very unkind to him,that he slept,while APC bled to death.
All politicians lie,but some lie more than others.And when caught out,must pay the supreme price,because trust and integrity are still crucial assets for a politician.And this is the path John Oyegun must toe. Party members from Kaduna,Kano to Delta States who have breached the provisions of its constitution should be made to pay the ultimate price. The Peoples Democratic Party,is far ahead of the APC in matters of discipline.
