Tag: APC primaries

Is Nigeria Democratising?’ That question is hardly original. It is an adaptation of the title    of a public lecture, ‘Is Africa Democratising?’ delivered by the late Professor Claude Ake shortly before his tragic demise in an air crash in November 1996. The famous political economist contended that dictators in Africa legitimising their rule through farcical elections or citizens voting without choosing in mechanical and barren electoral processes could not be described as ‘democratising’. He argued that the periodic rotation of a fundamentally undemocratic state structure among competing sets of rapacious and parasitic elite  that ape liberal democratic motions has disempowering implications for citizens.

Today it is even more pertinent to wonder if Nigeria is indeed democratising almost 15 years after civilian authoritarianism replaced a decade and a half of military dictatorship in 1999. We remain burdened with the crushing weight of an arrogant imperial presidency with scant regard for the rule of law. We are collectively humiliated by having in office today one of the most fascistic and embarrassingly insensitive Inspectors General of Police, Suleiman Abba, in recent memory. Critical national institutions such as the legislature, civil service and the judiciary at all levels remain servile and supine. Civil society is comatose as we daily exhibit an ever increasing capacity to absorb the most debasing treatment from oppressive masters who masquerade as servant leaders.

We have largely inchoate, incoherent and ideologically vacuous political parties. In the biblical account, the dithering prophet Jonah is swallowed by the whale. Here in Nigeria’s fabulous centre, the presidential Jonah has swallowed the PDP whale – a far more stupendous miracle. Helplessly imprisoned in the belly of the presidency, the PDP behemoth has virtually crowned Dr Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate. Yet, all hell is let loose. First term PDP governors are also insisting on a ‘right of first refusal’. Second term governors of the party want to either pick their successors or be handed automatic senate seats. These are all symptoms of an underdeveloped political system with a democratic content that is being systematically devalued.

But in spite of all these, there is still a glimmer of hope. One of such promising flashes of light at the end of the tunnel is from the emergent opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC). Please don’t get me wrong. The APC is not immune from the virus of opportunism and mindless quest for power at all cost that is the bane of Nigerian politics. Yet, as it strives to displace the PDP from its position of dominance at all levels of the Nigerian polity, the contending factions, caucuses and tendencies within the APC are being forced to make necessary compromises to achieve organisational cohesion. This has made for greater democratic activism within the party, a development that may rub off positively on a complacent PDP that may be forced to sharpen its competitive edge with the emergence of a more vigorous opposition within the context of an increasingly conscious and sophisticated electorate.

It is against this background that the APC House of Assembly and governorship primaries across the country this week acquires added significance. This is particularly so in Lagos, the jewel of the Atlantic and the Nigerian economy’s pearl of inestimable value. It was only natural that the battle for the APC governorship ticket in Lagos would be fiercely fought. It was so in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. While Nigeria has degenerated on diverse fronts within that time frame, Lagos has recorded tremendous progress under the foundational leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (1999 – 2007) and the consolidating engineering of Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) (2007 – 2015). It was thus not surprising that at least 12 worthy members of the party threw their hats in the ring in the epic battle to succeed the widely applauded performing Governor Fashola.

At least two tendencies were discernible in the Lagos APC governorship primaries. First, was the tendency in the party which felt that with Tinubu contesting from Lagos West Senatorial district, and Fashola from Lagos Central, the governorship ticket should be conceded this time around to Lagos East Senatorial District for fairness, equity and balance. This tendency was equally of the view that since both Tinubu and Fashola are Muslims, a Christian candidate be given an opportunity in 2015 without compromising merit. However, a more radical tendency within the Lagos APC contended that the ticket should be thrown open to all qualified aspirants as the megacity has become too cosmopolitan and urbane to be constrained by restrictive primordial considerations.

I think a key factor that will ultimately assist the Lagos APC to overcome the inevitable fissures and frictions arising from its governorship primaries and prepare seriously for the general election was the wisdom in allowing the spirit of democracy to prevail by allowing all interested governorship aspirants to contest irrespective of their Senatorial District or religious affiliation. Thus, the APC must be proud that it could boast of such aspirants as the doughty and astute Adeyemi Ikuforiji who had offered wise leadership as Speaker of the House for eight years, Ganiyu Olawale Solomon whose experience spans the local government through the House of Representatives to the Senate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, a brilliant systems engineer with considerable experience as an executive council member, Dr Leke Pitan, a high performing commissioner for health in the Tinubu administration, Dr Tola Kasali, another accomplished medical doctor and member of Tinubu’s cabinet, Mr Supo Sasore (SAN), a brilliant and clinical legal mind and my friend, Mr Tayo Ayinde, a skilled security strategist and shrewd businessman whose time I think still lies in the future.

Among this array of stars, I think four factors stand the emergent candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode out as the best man for the job at this time. First, Lagos has achieved tremendous infrastructural transformation over the past 14 years at inevitably high financial cost. Ambode’s skills as a chartered accountant with nearly three decades experience of managing the state’s finances from the lowest rungs to the apex of the financial system will enable him navigate the ship of Lagos safely in a period of declining oil revenues and growing economic depression. Second, his vast experience in local government administration will enable Ambode re-engineer governance at that critical level and stimulate inclusive growth at the grassroots. Third, he has a thorough knowledge of and enjoys the confidence of the civil service, which will enable him to effectively mobilize that critical work force to contribute maximally to taking Lagos to the next level. Fourth, Ambode served at critical levels in both the Tinubu and Fashola administrations and can thus be an effective bridge linking the past, the present and the future.

Another key factor that will work in the APC’s favour at this critical transition period in Lagos is the continued restraint and maturity of key leaders like Tinubu and Fashola. Yes, they will inevitably have their own interests and preferences. But so far they have been subtle and sober thus leaving analysts no option but to second guess them or try to read their body language. This period will task to the uttermost their capacity to make necessary sacrifices and compromises to demonstrate their commitment to the progress of Lagos and the growth of their party.

Of course, the quality of the APC candidature will also force the PDP to seek to bring forth its best material. In Senator Musliu Obanikoro, the PDP will have a candidate with considerable experience at various levels who may, however, have an uphill task explaining how he has productively utilised these opportunities to add value to Lagos and Nigeria. And in Mr Jimi Agbaje, the PDP will have a likeable candidate with negligible public managerial experience who seeks to lead a complex mega city in a time of critical global economic challenges. Can Lagos be an experimental school for leadership development? Surely, there are interesting times ahead for Lagos.