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  • APC will favour Imo, says Madumere

    Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, yesterday commented on the political development in the state,  pointing out that the state governor’s decision to be part of the foundation team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will benefit the state and the South-East.

    It would be recalled that the registration of APC  and the subsequent face-off between Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is now in the new party, and the leaders of his former party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has generated debate on the politics of Okorocha and how it would impact on the fortunes of the state.

    Assuring that the development would favour the state, Madumere said, “In my view, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is one person who is in politics to better the lot of suffering masses. This could account for his activities in Rochas  foundation even before becoming a Governor.”

    “So, what is happening in Imo State today is due to courage, sacrifice, prudence and vision. Owelle Rochas Okorocha will always be seen around those places where progressive minds go to and where they bother themselves on how to make it easier and create a better living standard for the people.

    “Remember, this was a man who had contested Presidential primaries with all the resources involved but that did not deter him from doing what he has for humanity. Since becoming the governor of Imo State, he has proved that it is not about power, it is all about the people.”

    Explaining why his boss, opted for APC,  he said: “In his love for Ndigbo and for the survival of Nigeria as a nation, he is in APC.

    “PDP has ruled for over fourteen years but we have little or nothing to show for it.

    “Again, as Ndigbo, what have we got from PDP other than relegating  the Igbo to the background.? It is unacceptable.

    “Again, it is courageous to call it bluff when every other person is comfortable. There is no comfort zone for every good leader.”

  • APC: The real hurdles

    APC: The real hurdles

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration. This marks the attainment of a high degree of preparation for contesting the 2015 election. Hopefully, with that move and the consequent INEC decision, the controversy over which is the real APC would be resolved and a higher gear engaged by the political association.

    By this, I am not being simplistic. I am not unaware that issues could always crop up requiring attention and impeding movement. But, it is my contention that registration represents only one real hurdle: fulfilling the legal requirement. The party has already done what is expected of it at this stage. It has painstakingly gone through the process of agreeing on a name, a logo and flag. The issue of officers and how they are to be picked has, also, been presumably settled. The ball is now in INEC’s court to prove if it is indeed an extension of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Thereafter, the matter could be tackled.

    However, the registration hurdle is the lowest. The real hurdles are political. The requirements to make APC a potent political force and an alternative to the PDP are legion and more difficult to handle. It pushes the political association (that is what it is until it is formally registered) to a terrain laced with landmines.

    First, it is faced with the challenge of bonding with the people. The only concrete antidote to rigging and manipulations by the dominant ruling party is obtaining the confidence of the people. It is not a feat to be attained overnight in a country where cynicism is a religion. Many, and there is merit in the argument, believe that there is little to distinguish one set of politicians from another. After all, many of those in the APC have traversed the entire party corridor. Many were pioneer members of the ruling party and only left when handed the short end of the stick. It is an uphill task convincing the electorate that the APC is any different.

    Second, the people need assurance that the APC stands a ghost of a chance to displace the PDP. Otherwise, some of those who may be sympathetic to its cause could decide to be apathetic to the process. All that the PDP strategists have to do is drum up the message that the party controls the federal executive, the federal legislature, 23 of the state governments and more than two-thirds of the local government councils and put up a nice argument that no other party could possible stand the PDP might in the run up to 2015. Again, it is left for the APC captains to prove that the battle is not for the mighty and there have been cases when such giants fell; if not in this clime in others around us.

    Third, there is one question to be answered: is there a real difference between APC and PDP? This can only be answered in action. The campaign must be shifted to issues. Up till now, save regular rancor and acrimony, no one knows what the PDP stands for. Its governments cannot be held to anything. This is the common feature of the current party system. The APC needs to toe the line of the Action Group and Northern Elements Progressive Union in the period leading to independence. Both canvassed support based on a social ideology that located the people, the governed at the heart of policy. The AG that was reputed as the best organized in Africa had a policy paper on every issue. When it was coming up with the free education programme in 1955, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Dr. Awosika and Professor Sanya Onabamiro and others had to work to produce a blueprint with the tiniest of details. It had similar policy frameworks on the Justice, economic, agriculture, industrial and health sectors, among others. The Unity Party of Nigeria built on that in the Second Republic with the famous four cardinal principles. This is a difficult but inescapable precedence for the APC.

    Fourth, the cost of maintaining a solid structure required by a mass party must be staggering and enormous. But it is the only road to travel. The branches, chapters and cells of the APC must be visible and working. Its federal and state organs must function and the impression must not be given that it is owned and run by one or a few oligarchs.

    One responsibility that the aspiring party can take up immediately is exposing the hollowness of the PDP government. Its men must take up the party on major issues of the day. Alhaji Lai Mohammed of the ACN has been doing a lot for the party, so has Rotimi Fashakin of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), but this is not substitute for structured responses and expert analysis. At best, the public sees Mohammed’s and Fashakin’s views as partisan responses, not detailed analysis on social issues.

    On national development, where does the APC government stand? On federalism and restructuring, would an APC government convoke a national conference- within what period? Would an APC government introduce free education or insist that qualitative education must cost parents money? How would education be funded? What about scholarship schemes? What about state police? These are issues that the people deserve to know and should know.

    The APC stands at a vantage point now. This is a unique opportunity to arrest the rudderless and inept leadership of the country. But the party needs to assure us th at it is dependable and the future of the country could be entrusted to it.

    Otherwise, the search has to continue.

     

    This article was first published in this column on June 16, 2013

     

  • Agenda for APC

    Agenda for APC

    The new party must differentiate itself from the pack with its vision and mission statement

    The euphoria over the successful merger of some political parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) is understandable, considering that it is the first time such an effort has been consummated in the history of Nigeria. For such a feat, the leaders of the defunct parties that merged – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) deserve the commendation of all democrats for their sacrifices that hopefully will enhance our democratic enterprise. Having achieved the current success, the next step is for the leaders to stir the new party to fulfill the potential of an enduring democratic Nigeria.

    We have no doubt that every democratic Nigerian nurses the hope that the APC will signal the organic emergence of a two dominant party structure in Nigeria. As the history of political parties in Nigeria will show, there have been several failed attempts by disparate parties to coalesce into two major parties as national elections approached; unfortunately, such attempts were usually bogged down by parochial interests. In the First Republic, two broad-based political alliances were formed to fight for elections, but they were unable to consolidate as soon as the election successes were achieved or proved unrealisable. The same fate bedevilled the political accords entered into by the substantially regionally based parties during the Second Republic; and of course they all collapsed as soon as the objective proved a forlorn hope.

    Ironically, it was through a military fiat that a two-party structure emerged in the still-born Third Republic. But even with their birth defects, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) were able to provide a virile two-party structure that potentially dealt a blow to religious and regional-based political party structure in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the military which created the two parties also summarily executed them with the same fiat as they had decreed them into existence. With the birth of the current republic, the reemergence of atomised ethnic-based parties resurfaced, and several efforts to come together had failed until the registration of APC.

    So, the emergence of APC brings hope to Nigerians that ethnic and religiously biased parties in the country, may eventually disappear. But there is enormous work to be done to achieve this Eldorado. Towards this, it is hoped that the leadership of the new party will work towards expanding its membership, to enable Nigerians of all ethnic and economic backgrounds gain access to the party. If such expansion is achieved, the APC will join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form the two broad parties to act as viable alternatives for the Nigerian electorate.

    In working to achieve a national spread, the new party must also seek to distinguish itself from the existing lot, in character and content. To achieve such prospect, there is the immediate need for the party to clearly define its vision and mission in a way that will appeal to Nigerians across ethnic and religious divides. The party must also work hard to instill internal democracy and discipline among its members, to ensure that it attracts quality membership, instead of the vagabonds that populate most political parties. Such a vision must also be founded on patriotic principles to help guide its members, to work for a better country.

    It will indeed be exciting to see the new party move in a direction that will inspire confidence in Nigerians. Its members must not pretend that they are insulated from the unfortunate vagaries of our modern day partisan politics, such as the type that has turned the ruling PDP into a constant war front. Part of the cause of the internal wrangling within the PDP and most other parties is the lack of any guiding ideology, as the parties are seen as mere avenues for power and economic aggrandisement. Regrettably for most politicians, party politics in Nigeria are mere outposts for exploiting the economy and people of Nigeria, without any regards whatsoever to the sustainability of the system.

    So, Nigerians will be utterly disappointed if for any reason, the APC turns into a cult or aggregation of the alternative exploiters of the country. As we celebrate the possibilities that the party portends, it is fitting to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for sticking to the provisions of the constitution and the electoral act in this matter. We also commend Nigerians and the national institutions, like the courts, and urge them to maintain eternal vigilance to ensure that the gains of this merger are not truncated by anti-democratic forces.

    Once again we wish the All Progressives Congress a fruitful life in the service of our country.

  • ‘APC better alternative to PDP’

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly aspirant in Iseyin/Itesiwaju Constituency of Oyo State, Mr. Adeniyi Adeagbo, has described the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party as a move to salvage Nigeria’s crumbling democracy.

    He spoke in his hometown, Otu in Oyo State, when delivering his Eid-l-Fitri message to Muslims.

    Adeagbo urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to start packing its load as “APC will bring an end to its inept leadership style that has ruined the country”.

  • ‘APC leaders are men of strong character and integrity’

    ‘APC leaders are men of strong character and integrity’

     Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) member Prince Benjamin Apugo spoke with  Correspondent  OKODILI NDIDI on the prospect of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the threat it poses to the ruling party.

    WHAT is your reaction to the registration of the APC?

    Well, you people always ask me questions that are not difficult for me to answer. That is why I am answering this. You see, I have always loved the APC when it was not even registered. Now that it is registered, I love it more. Remember that I am one of the founders of the PDP and a member of the Board of Trustees. It has been very difficult for us to assess our party because there are is strong opposition. Now that the opposition is here, I am very happy. I am very happy that the APC is registered. I know the people there and I know their character. Most of them are of strong character like me. That is why I love the APC. People who can tell the country the truth without minding whose ox is gored.

    There was a time the PDP said they were going to rule the country for the next 50 years. Now, with the emergence of the APC, do you think that position is still tenable?

    You see, there is nothing wrong in the assumption. People even call themselves Jesus Christ. I am not saying the PDP is not going to rule but if it must rule let it be by the vote of the people. It is the party that respects the rule of law and the aspiration of the people and does the right thing that the people will want.

    Do you think that the emergence of the APC will give Nigerians the alternative platform?

    Now I don’t even know who to call the opposition because, as at today, three political parties have merged together. I cannot call them opposition. I will call them a political party, PDP is a political, they are a political party. And every party will fight to win. Fight is not physical fighting; they will fight by talking to the people, addressing the people, respecting the will of the people, respecting the rule of law. It is the party that does so that Nigerians will always follow; people like us will always belong to. It is not a group that will only want you to run around the villa and blackmail people to get one thing or the other which I cannot do. I contested for the National Chairmanship of the PDP. I am a member of Board of Trustees, one of the founders. I was the one that mounted the PDP flag in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. I did not only mount the PDP flag in Bayelsa, I funded the party in Bayelsa State. I don’t know Bayelsa before, they came and begged me and I followed them to go and help, but today, we are nothing because we don’t run round the villa. Then, you are talking about Abia.I helped to make Theodore Orji, governor when he was in the PPA. I brought him into, PDP. I presented him to the party at the stadium in Umuahia. So, all these things are nothing for the PDP. It is only when you go round and start blackmailing people to look for one contract or the other. I can never do that. I have my integrity and I will continue to protect that.

    Some members of your party have said that the APC is not a threat, but you seem to sing a different song. You are excited that the APC will give Nigerians the liberty to choose between two alternatives. Why is your view different from others?

    I’ve said it earlier that I know the people who are there. Do I have to mention their names? I know the people who are there. And sincerely speaking, from what I know about some of them who are there, they are people of integrity. That is why my views are different from others. And the APC is indeed a threat. Let me be very blunt. Let’s not deceive ourselves. If it is for Nigerians to vote, the APC is a huge threat to PDP.

    There has been this age-long agitation for Igbo Presidency and people are thinking that, with the coming of the APC, the zone will have a broader platform to actualise that ambition. Do you think that is possible?

    You know, the issue there is that we don’t have to deceive ourselves. Look, before you sit down in a place that you have gone to, you have to look at the face of the person that you have gone to his house before you sit down. We, the Igbo, should do everything possible to keep ourselves together, to love ourselves before we start looking for a seat where we are. We are human beings quite alright. We are qualified to be all these things, more than qualified, but we should get back our friends; we should get back our allies. We should forget selfishness. A governor will get to office; it will become his kingdom. A governor who was a beggar before goes to office and he becomes the all and all, forgetting that he will come out of the office one day and he will go back to that position that God has created him, no matter the amount of money he has made. So, let’s forget about deceiving ourselves now. I always support the President coming from the North. I always say that this time, I said it earlier, even in PDP, where we were, I always say that the Presidency, as at that time, was for the North going by our zoning arrangement. But it was not done. We didn’t know that some of the Northerners went behind and signed an agreement with the President. So, we were betrayed. Yes, because all of us like me, I stood firm that it was the turn of the North. I did not know who the North was going to bring in PDP. So, when it was time for the primaries, I voted for the North. I voted completely for the North. So, today, from the look of things, if I am asked to vote again in the PDP primaries, which I am truly qualified, I will vote for a Northern President in the primaries. Then, after the North, the Igbos will come in. That is, if we continue to do zoning. But if there is no zoning let the best man win.

    In the Southeast, it is only the Imo State governor that is in the APC. What does it portend for the zone?

    Well, you don’t put much emphasis on the governors. You will look at the people. When the time comes, and it is voting, it is the people that will vote. Some governors, when they came out they tried to contest for the Senate, they lost. So, let us not be talking about governors, but the people. What are the people looking for? Are the people not looking for development? What we are talking about is development. Why I am particularly happy with APC is that I have seen where their governors performed. Their governors perform like some of the PDP governors. APC look after their people, they create jobs, which is my interest.

    As one of the leaders of PDP, the party has been riddled with a lot of crises. Going by your experience, what advise do you have for the APC?

    All the members of the APC are politicians. No, they cannot afford to have crisis because they know that crisis destroys a party. Crisis is part of the problems we have in PDP where you will bring in a governor who is a total stranger, you make him, a governor he becomes the leader of the party, then you who brought him will not even know your ward chairman because you don’t go to the governor, to look for one business or the other or blackmailing others. It can never be done in the APC. You have your respect. The governor can continue developing the place but your respect is there. You don’t need him to give you respect, before he develops the place, he develops the place and he gives you the respect, the development is first, the respect comes after.

    What do you think the President can win election on 2015?

    I wouldn’t answer that question because I am not in his cabinet, or in his team. It is only people that are with him that should be able to know whether he has a second chance or not. I am not there. Only those around him will know. I cannot tell you whether he has a second chance even though we are in the same party.

    Recently, Senator Arthur Nzeribe said the Southeast has nothing to show for the support they gave to President Jonathan. Do you agree with that assertion?

    I agree with him completely.

    What and what do you think the President should have done for this zone to commensurate with the support given to him?

    Look, I cannot blame Jonathan. I am blaming the so-called ministers that are from this zone. I cannot blame him; he is not from here. Let us not be calling somebody who has not done anything against you. The ministers are from here. We have the so-called Minister of Labour, doesn’t he know that there is no airport in Abia? We have the Finance Minister; doesn’t she know that there is no stadium in Abia? Or doesn’t she know that we don’t have airport in Abia? Why don’t they come down to Abia and drive round and see whether they won’t see for themselves that we need these things.? We need infrastructure. We need employment for our people. We need roads. We need water. We need light. So, why should we levy all these things on Jonathan? Bayelsa is being developed; it’s his home. I cannot hold Jonathan responsible for all that because he gave you equal ministerial positions that he gave to those who are developing their area. You have governors who are developing their areas. Look, let me tell you what you want me to say. The zone, you call it zone in quote, what is the project they have in common. Southeast zone, do they have a bank? Southeast zone, do they have any corporation like the O’odua Investment or the Arewa? The governors, do they have any single project that makes them one? Why are they deceiving themselves; they don’t have. So, they are only one when they go to Abuja to lobby for one thing or the other for themselves. The Yoruba have the O’odua Investment. They have their bank.

  • Anambra: Ngige, three others battle for APC ticket

    Anambra: Ngige, three others battle for APC ticket

    The newly registered All Progressives Congress has continued to grow in lips and bounds in Anambra State, as preparations for November 16 governorship election in the state gather momentum.

    Already, four candidates are now battling for the party’s governorship ticket, especially from the Central and South Senatorial Zones in the state.

    Those vying for the position are – the former governor of Anambra State, now a Senator representing Central Senatorial Zone, Dr. Chris Ngige, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo (a philanthropist), the Deputy National Chairman of (APC) (South), Senator Annie Okonkwo and Hygers Igwebuike.

    However, members of the party in the state are calling for free and fair primaries to give aspirants a level playing field.

    They contended that it would be proper to give any aspirant irrespective of his zone the chance to grab the party’s ticket since those already at the helm of affairs are from the central.

     

     

  • APC’s invitation, recognition of Jonathan’s qualities – Presidency

    APC’s invitation, recognition of Jonathan’s qualities – Presidency

     

    The invitation by the newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC) for President Goodluck Jonathan to join the party was on Wednesday described by the Presidency as an acknowledgment of his sterling leadership qualities.

    According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Presidency viewed the invitation as a compliment.

    He told State House correspondents in Abuja that APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande’s invitation has shown that leaders of the opposition party recognized the fact that Jonathan is presently the best man for the job.

    Ruling out the possibility of President Jonathan joining the new party, he faulted the party leaders for forming a party only to realise later that they do not have a credible candidate.

    He said: “I think it (the APC’s invitation) is a compliment. What Chief Akande has said in essence is that President Jonathan is the best man for the job.

    “They formed a party only to realise they don’t have a candidate. We thank him for his acknowledgment of the President’s leadership qualities, but he (the President) is happy where he is.

    “We thank Chief Akande for his expression of confidence in President Jonathan’s credibility but the President is happy where he is, as a member and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party to which he remains loyal, and under the umbrella of which he is leading a transformation agenda for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians.”

     

     

  • APC ready for PDP, other defectors, says Akande

    APC ready for PDP, other defectors, says Akande

    Buhari: I’ll run if APC approves

    Masari heads committee

    Progressives took a major step yesterday in strengthening their new baby.

    They set up a committee, headed by former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, to build a structure for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The National Chairman of the party’s Interim National Executive Committee, Chief Bisi Akande, broke the news.

    But he disappointed those eager to know the party’s presidential and governorship candidates for the 2015 polls.

    He said the party was ready to draw members from all groups, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said if President Goodluck Jonathan was fed up with the crisis in PDP, he is free to join the APC.

    Akande, who spoke at a briefing after the maiden meeting of the APC Interim NEC in Abuja, admitted that Nigeria was politically drifting towards a two-party system.

    He said: “We listened to some people talking about presidency, talking about governors; we have not reached that stage at all. Our major preoccupation is to set up the structure of our party – the All Progressives Congress.

    “It is after that, maybe in November or December when we hold our national convention where our national executives will be elected; there is no idea about who becomes president or who becomes a governor.

    “But the only exemption is Anambra State where the committee is already working on that.

    “We are going to register our members in Anambra State, we are going to conduct congresses and we are going to elect a candidate that will contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. I think these are the very few things I have to tell you that we did at today’s meeting.”

    Akande said several committees were set up to advise the party on how to go about the elections in some states, such as Anambra and Delta as well as some local government elections in Kwara, Anambra, Cross River, Enugu and other places.

    He did not state the timeline for the committees, but said they would soon report back.

    “If you know the INEC timetable you will appreciate that we are going to work within that frame work and we are going to be ready. Before INEC closes their door to nomination in Anambra State, we would almost have finished,” Akande said.

    He said the party has banned those arrogating to themselves some political offices or positions when the APC structure is yet to be erected.

    He added: “You know, political parties are in contest to win elections and the APC has come to demonstrate that to the good people of Nigeria.

    “And in doing so the only thing that we think is creating some misunderstanding is that people are anxious to be part of APC.

    “But because the party has not been given the directive, some people are just talking on behalf of the party. We are putting a stop to that. Any statement about the party should emanate from the Publicity Secretary of APC and that is Alhaji Lai Mohammed. And whatever he tells you, you should know it is the mind and decision of the All Progressives Congress.

    “We are warning people that are arrogating to themselves chairmanship of APC in the state or in the local government, they are all unauthorised. All those who are printing papers, printing forms, calling rallies in the states in the name of APC; they are not yet authorised.

    “The authority will soon begin to flow down from the national level to the state level, and to local government. And when it is going to be done, the National Publicity Secretary will keep you informed.”

    Masari is heading the committee to advise the party on its structure.

    He said the mobilisation of members into the new party will begin from the bottom to the top and the membership would be thrown open to all Nigerians, including President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said: “We have just finished the first meeting after the INEC registration of the merger of the five committees that came together. And we know our duty as the Interim Leadership of the APC is to mobilise people into APC. Our duty is to register members into the party.

    “Our duty is to stage congresses, from ward level to local government level, at state level and at the national level. It is to hold a convention to establish a proper structure for the All Progressives Congress. And until that is done, we are having the party in the interim. I hope you will understand that.”

    He said: “As for the second question, the ideological position. We have what you call a manifesto, which we have just written. But that manifesto needs a lot of fine-tuning. Not only that, it needs a lot of reduction into bullet points.

    “By the time we reduce our manifesto into bullet points, it won’t be difficult for Nigerians to appreciate the ideology the APC represents. And that is the ideology of existing for the sake of the people and not for selfish aggrandisement of the resources of the nation to a few leadership. We are going to make that clear shortly. By the attitude of our 11 governors in their various states by what they are doing, you would have seen that there is a difference between the APC and the PDP.”

    Asked to be specific on the number of parties that merged to become APC, Akande added: “The parties that held conventions to merge are the Action Congress of Nigeria, the CPC and the ANPP. Those three parties went to a convention to specify that they want to merge into APC. But a chunk of APGA has indicated their membership, that they are going to join APC. And almost the entire DPP have indicated that they are coming to join the APC.

    “And we are not closing our doors to PDP. If Jonathan is tired of the crisis in the PDP, he is welcome in the APC.”

    Responding to a question, Akande admitted that the nation is politically drifting towards a two-party system.

    He said: “This is the first-ever merger in the history of Nigeria’s democracy. There should be a two-party system so that the country will have a choice between a bad government and a good one. It is going to deepen the democracy best.

    “There are more than 40 parties in the register of parties in England but you have only two or three operating now. Ditto in America; you have only two (the Democratic Party and The Republican).

    “It doesn’t mean that there are no other parties that are not showing their heads. But their democracy is very respectable because they have created a choice between two alternatives.

    “In our own, we didn’t even know which one was a better party before but from now on it is not difficult for Nigerians to know which party has been inflicting pains on them in the last 14 years and which party is poised to relieve them of these pains.”

    On what APC would do if the court reverses the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to register it and favour a rival African Peoples Congress, Akande said there is no cause for alarm.

    He added: “The first question is hypothetical and I will not answer it. In Nigeria today, I don’t know any other APC besides this All Progressives Congress. And we don’t contemplate anything and nothing will happen to move this APC out of place. We remain a party and we shall remain a party forever to rule this country, Nigeria.

    Regarding threats by APGA to sue APC, he said: “APGA never said it was going to sue my party for any amount. APGA said it was going to sue Governor Fashola of Lagos State, so I can’t answer for him.”

  • Buhari: I’ll run if APC approves

    Buhari: I’ll run if APC approves

    FORMER Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari spoke yesterday on his political future, saying he would run for president in 2015 – if fielded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Gen. Buhari, who spoke personally for the first time since the party’s registration last Wednesday, praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its impartiality.

    The APC will give Nigerians a new lease of life, the former Head of State said, while receiving members of the Democratic Emancipation Movement, who visited him in his office in Kaduna.

    Gen. Buhari, who contested the presidential election three times in the past, said the main focus of the APC now is to mobilise Nigerians to push the PDP out of power in 2015.

    On whether he will run in 2015, he said: “My decision will be tied to the Constitution of the APC; if the party chooses me as its candidate, I will contest; if they do not consider, I will not contest but I will still support the party. My decision to run in 2015 will solely be the party’s decision.”

    Gen. Buhari recalled the journey leading to the merger, saying: “I thought about this merger since 2007. This is because I found out that none of the opposition parties can challenge the PDP successfully. But if we come together with those that have representation at the National Assembly and the Houses of the Assembly and go back to sensitise our constituencies, even if the PDP wants to rig, they would find it impossible to rig.

    “I discovered that by been so divisive, we made ourselves very vulnerable. So, the best way to survive and for this country to stabilise, we had to come together and I believe along the line, we made necessary sacrifices,” he said.

    Gen. Buhari praised INEC for registering the APC. He said: “To be honest, we have to thank INEC, because when we thought we had applied according to the 2010 Electoral Act, INEC drew our attention to the section that said there must be the headquarters at the federal capital that is good enough to be called a headquarters of a national party, then our Constitution, our manifesto, the harmonisation of the three main parties.

    “We thought that the initial nine signatories were enough to manage the party in the interim between registration and convention, but INEC advised us that we needed to get between 25 and 35 people to come out from the six geo-political zones to sign.”

    “If the INEC wanted to be wicked, they could have kept mute and just sent us a letter that our application was not complete; they could have done that. But for them to send us an observation which was later corrected, I believe they were very impartial and we thank them for that,” Gen. Buhari said.

    In his view, the APC’s emergence has lowered tension in the country. “The tension has already come and gone. People now think that they have a viable alternative. These feelings and belief is across the country, not only in the North or in the Southwest. There is a good feeling about the party in all the political zones of the country.

    “Our next important step is the mobilisation of constituencies to make sure that elections are conducted according to law.

    “In 2003, 2007, 2011, a lot of disgraceful things happened during those elections. We are trying now to put the structure of APC on the ground from the ward to the national levels with the hope to give Nigerians hope and to win power.

    “Those that are going to be in charge of the party from now till the convention are the people that are very committed to the party’s stabilisation and political strength. We have started working hard to ensure that we avoid problems.”

    He attributed the registration of the APC and other political parties to the efforts of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), the Lagos lawyer and right activist.

    “It was the late Chief Fawehinmi, who took the letter I wrote and went to the Supreme Court to stop the ruling party from denying other parties registration. We thank Gani Fawehinmi for his foresight to challenge the matter at the Supreme Court,” Gen. Buhari said.

    Leader of the Democratic Emancipation Movement, Matamaki Tom Maiyashi, said Nigerians were aware of several efforts aimed at sabortaging the registration of the party.

    He said: “The registration of APC marked a point in the political history of our country that will mark the beginning of a watershed in the political struggle of Nigeria.

    “In fact, the PDP is very lucky that APC is registered, because the registration of APC has doused a lot of tension in the country.

    “People now have hope that there is an alternative. It was not an easy thing, but we have an alternative. The monster that is called the PDP will be driven out by 2015.”

     

  • Now that APC is registered

    SIR: History was made on July 31 when the All Progressives Congress, APC, after much hassle was finally registered by INEC. This marked the first successful merger of political parties in the country’s political history. Kudos must go to the merging parties, the ACN, CPC and ANPP, and especially to General Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the exemplary maturity in subordinating personal interests to a higher cause.

    The birth of a baby is usually accompanied by jubilation and great expectations. This is even more so when the arrival of the baby had been foretold and it is seen as one to bring about positive change. There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigerians have not fared any better since the return of democracy 14 years ago. In fact things seem to have gone from bad to worse. Having reposed so much trust in a single party all these while with nothing to show for it, discerning Nigerians wonder if perhaps another party should not be given a chance to run the affairs of the country. For such Nigerians, the coming together of three major political parties is a very welcome development.

    The APC is like a newborn whose birth was not only greatly anticipated but who is also expected to positively touch the lives of people. Great are the expectations on the shoulder of this newborn baby. Many Nigerians see the APC as saviour; they hope and expect so much from it. Some people, however, hope, and even pray that the party fail. Now, will the party disappoint its supporters or detractors?

    I have no doubt about the personal integrity and capability of much of the party’s leadership. The question is: can they bring it to effectively bear on the party? I sincerely hope they do. Many years of deceit and disappointment have engendered cynicism among the Nigerian populace. Some have already concluded that the APC will be no different from the ruling party. Will the party prove the cynics right or wrong? I sincerely hope they are proven wrong.

    The country is at a historic crossroad and the APC seem to have been born for a historic mission. To fulfill this all important mission, however, it must make a break from the old ways things have often been done. It must prove itself to be different. The APC must steer clear of those unhealthy tendencies that have hindered the ruling party from delivering democracy dividends to Nigerians.

    First, APC must strive to have a huge membership base. It can achieve this by throwing its door open and making itself easily accessible to Nigerians. The party’s manifesto should not just be a piece of paper bearing lofty ideas but a set of sacred ideals to be adhered to. The party must also endeavour to encourage democratic ideals within its ranks.

    Great indeed are the expectations of Nigerians from APC but I have this belief that the party will not disappoint. With the many leading lights from across the country in the party, including Senators Chris Ngige and Annie Okonkwo, I don’t see why the party should not succeed. The hurdle of registration has just been crossed; now, let the work begin.

    • Nnoli Chidiebere

    Aba, Abia State.