Tag: BUHARI

OPPOSITION POWER President Goodluck Jonathan is beatable in 2015; let us start from that premise. But it’s so very disheartening that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) displays a bit of dithering and unsure-footedness at this early stage of  its existence and prior to a major election. While one may want to blame it all on teething stage syndrome, the unpalatable truth may well be a lack of institutional capacity, the same disease that has plagued the ruling party from the outset. There may also be the question of shortsightedness and a lack of fidelity to the party.

 In the case of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former President Olusegun Obasanjo ingested the original copy and remade it in his own excrement. So what we have today is a smelly, malleable and irredeemable lump. PDP is an amoeba that lacks both body and soul. It is a house that seems bound to implode unless a true leader comes along soon and completely remakes it from foundation.

It is sad to note that APC seems to suffer from the same PDP ailment. Why, for instance, would anyone in the APC be raising the question of adopting a consensus candidate now? That argument ought to have been rested over a year ago if not from the outset. This suggests that like PDP, there are no ground norms in APC too. We speak of basic, immutable rules that ought to have been established from the beginning and taken for granted now.

EAT THAT FROG: Let’s not despair for it is still early in the day, but APC must eat its frog and rework some assumptions. First, it has done increditably well in mid-wiving a large, alternative party. It may not know it but this is no mean task; it is indeed a historic achievement and the task now is to nurture and sustain it into an institution. I wrote here not quite long ago that Bola Tinubu and Muhammadu Buhari were our greatest democrats today and not a few readers wrote in to say “Expresso e be like say you don colo” (are you going out of your mind?) And I simply told them to try establishing a large opposition party from the scratch.

Second, nation-building is not a short dash, it is a historical journey. APC minders must always remember that they are building an institution that will not only stand the test of time but will last forever. For instance, if PDP is the Republican Party, they must aim at founding an equivalent of the Democratic Party. In other words, they are the frontiersmen in a great historical epoch that will define Nigeria’s future.

Having noted these points and in order to achieve this glorious destiny, APC must always, dutifully identify all those viruses that plague the PDP and be rid of them with clinical dexterity. And this brings us to the juncture we are now: the CPC candidate in the 2015 presidential election. We expect nothing less than the great democratic tradition of a primary election to prevail in the selection of her candidates. Let this process be adopted from the outset and for always. This is internal democracy, the hallmark of participatory governance; the antidote to one-man domination.

Having said that, let all aspirants throw their hats in the primary election ring. Yes we are not entirely naïve about the role of money and personality cult in the primary poll but whoever heard of a totally flawless election. Transparency of the process is what is important for now.

THE BEST ASPIRANT IS: Four persons have so far shown interest in the CPC’s presidential ticket viz: Isaiah Ndah; Abubakar Atiku; Muhammadu Buhari and Rabiu Kwankwaso. This is in the order they had indicated their interest in the race. Though amiable Ndah, the successful publisher of Leadership  joined the fray much early on, he is far out of his league here and would have to await another opportunity or try a lower position. He is not in contest here.

Atiku: Turakin Adamawa’s last chance? There will be ample time for this column to take a critical look at the aspirants before the December 2 primary date, but it seems this may well be Atiku’s last shot at the top job of the land. Having tried in 2003 (yes!), 2007 and 2011 without success, age, ennui and geo-political factors may work against him in 2019; but who can foretell tomorrow?

Let it be noted, however, that different dynamics govern party primaries and general elections so we are considering here the capacity to cross the first hurdle, the party primary. He has gone through this grueling, if not punishing and exorbitant road many times before; but he has deep pockets so he is likely to sweep the APC primary, especially if it is a closed delegates’ election. But if party delegates are looking beyond the primary and if they care about victory at the general election, then it will not be such an easy ride for Atiku.

 Is Buhari still a force? Yes, he still is; a strong moral, religious and geopolitical force – Mai Gaskiyya he is fondly called by die-hard followers. But primary election in Nigeria is money election and you are lonely and indeed alone if you have no money. One wagers that it will be nigh impossible for a Buhari to win an Atiku in a closed primary election in Nigeria. Not oblivious of this fact, Buhari had let out what seemed like a yelp last Tuesday when he noted that he is the poorest presidential aspirant in the line-up. Well politics is a vicious game, isn’t it? And people are saying the forces against Buhari are still alive and well; why won’t he adopt/anoint a candidate from his camp? Debate for another day.

Would Kwankwaso pose a counterpoise to Atiku? There is a good chance that the challenge of the Kano State governor would be formidable. His ‘movement’, Kwankwasiyya, has taken over the politically influential state and is spreading. Kwankwaso can play the ‘fresh’ card; he can raise the cash and he has impressive work in Kano to show off. Carefully chaperoned, he could change the game both at the primary and even presidential election.

Jonathan is beatable? Yes indeed he is; and any of these three candidates could pull a surprise if APC gets its strategies right. Though it has been lax in mobilising the Southeast and Southsouth, it is never late to push in that direction and there is so much difference six months can make.

APC can indeed win, but the bigger victory lies in sustaining a virile alternative party and to understand that if it keeps at it, surely it will get the top job one day but it may also take a bit of time.

 Forbes’ certificate of infamy

Now we know Forbes for what it truly is: an American public relations jobber adept at propping up unscrupulous Third World public official. Sometime ago, it was Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Nigeria’s minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who got awarded some worthless piece of paper called leadership certificate, which he dared not present in Nigeria.

Last week in New York, Forbes made another ‘killing’ when it handed Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke what it calls Forbes Best of Africa Award in Leadership. It is common knowledge that Diezani has grossly under-performed as a minister, having superintended over a chaotic oil sector riddled with malfeasance in the last three years. No new facilities, inability to fix old ones, IOCs divesting with urgency, unprecedented high sea oil theft and a regime of sleaze and phantom subsidy that has left Nigeria’s economy prostrate. That is her legacy.

You would think only African concerns are involved in award scams but here is a clear case of criminal collusion with politically exposed persons by a US firm. Forbes must spare us the psychological trauma of beatifying our worst public officials who seek validation from foreign lands. Forbes hurts itself too mortally when it dishes out dubious awards.