Is Nigeria heading the one-state way?

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Last week we spoke of the need for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to apply the brake, return to its closet and take stock. Since that time, its woes have increased with the kangaroo impeachment of Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state. In Nasarawa state, the same storm of impeachment is gathering against the APC governor of the state, Al-Makura. In Edo, Gov. Adams Oshiomhole is having the political battle of his life.

In Osun, next month’s election may see the exit of another APC governor from office; it will be less than two months after it lost Ekiti. Who will stem the tide? The APC is best positioned to do. How? By putting its ears to the ground and picking the signals that the electorate are sending. While I may not be able to vouch for happenings in other parts of the country, I can say categorically that the successes of PDP in recent times is not solely a function of its popularity or acceptance in the South-west but also an expression of the people’s disappointment with the APC.

Bola Tinubu, APC National Leader

There is clearly a protest movement afoot against APC; and PDP are the beneficiaries. A Yoruba proverb best approximates the people’s grouse against APC: “Orisa b’o ba le gbemi, fi mi s’ile b’o se ba mi”; meaning that the god which promised to rescue me from oppression; if ultimately it finds it cannot deliver on its promise, should simply leave me as it met me and not make my case worse.

In the more established democracies of the world, there are two inviolable pillars of democracy. One is strong institutions which do not pander to the whims and caprices of the powers-that-be. Whereas it is my belief that we are moving in that direction, we are still far away from the preferred destination. And all the parties are guilty of infractions in this regard. If APC were in control of federal forces, the likelihood is that it will deploy them the way PDP is doing. In states controlled by the APC and where local government elections were held, they usually won 100%.

A recent instance is that of Kano. In many APC states, Council elections were not held, with the governors appointing their lackeys as Council chairpersons. Institutions here are unable to withstand pressure from the gods of power whenever such pressure is mounted. The Adamawa impeachment clearly depicts this: that, however, is not to say that Nyako was the best of governors. There is a problem that the APC must try to solve. It cannot live in a glass house and still throw stones. If it wants to snatch power from PDP and has decided to campaign on the platform of high moral standards, then, it must, like Caesar’s wife, be above board. Not only must it live up to the high moral standards it parrots, it must be manifestly seen to be so.

When very serious allegations were made against its leader in the House of Representatives the other time, I expected it to move against the man; but, sadly, mum was the word. Tell me, how does that man differ from PDP’s Buruji Kashamu? When Adams Oshiomhole made his infamous “Widow my foot! Go and die!” no statement casting the governor came from his party; did they think people were not taking note? When National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, disparaged Yoruba obas, no protest came from APC quarters. I have it on good authority that Lagos teachers have not collected leave bonus in the past eight years and Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola reportedly said he was not aware of that; but now that the gale of public disapproval is threatening his party everywhere, he had suddenly become aware. I also have it on good authority that Lagos workers pay the highest tax in the whole federation. To mask the oppression meted out on them, their pay slip does not spell out the various headings, such as housing allowance, transport allowance etc. A lump sum, which is the total payable, is what they get. Can this be true? I still have my pay slips from my first job as a journalist at the Ibadan-based Sketch as well as those from PUNCH newspapers. All the headings were clearly stated and you could cross-check and file protests if you felt you were being short-changed. Pray, what is the Lagos state government trying to hide by this unscrupulous practise if, I repeat again, it is true?

In the absence of strong institutions at federal and state levels, the support and sympathy of the people become indispensable. That was what shot the then Action Congress (now APC) into the driver’s seat in the South-west and its loss is what is working against it at the moment. If it does not learn useful lessons, it could go into a free-fall in the region.

But if it does and has the heart to take the hard decisions it necessarily must take, then, it can stem the tide and recoup again. Whether or not it does, I am of the opinion that Nigeria will not slide into a one-party state properly so-called. I say “properly so-called” because I do not really see any difference between all the parties at the moment.

Anyone who harbours the wish for a banana republic here should perish the thought. The Nigerian system has a way it corrects itself. If the PDP continues with its strong arm tactic, it will soon cast the APC as victim of power. Once the people catch that idea, they will once again file behind the oppressed party. PDP, therefore, has a bounden duty to ride the crest with all sense of responsibility. Or else…

FEEDBACK

My people in Osun keep assuring me that Aregbe has all it takes to wrest power from Jonathan’s rampaging army. I fervently pray so! But looking at Adamawa, Nasarawa and Edo’s unending saga, I doubt if there is any stopping the push for a PDP one-party state.  – 070388854249.

I sincerely agree with your summary that APC can hardly win any election on their own merit because it has done little to present itself as the alternative to the PDP before the long-suffering Nigerians. APC only prides itself in making speeches; but leadership is defined by results (Peter Drucker). I agree also that they should start working for beyond 2015 as they have no magic to make it in 2015. We need a vibrant opposition; so they should work hard to provide one. –Dr. Ukwu Aaron Eze, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

I read “APC: Time for stock-taking” You hit the nail on the head and left no stone unturned. I wish they could find time to read, analyze, digest, and act fast to avoid a calamity in Osun. – 08139369169.

The South-west is the most peaceful geo-political region in the country today. I hope the people will continue to embrace the bit of good governance they now enjoy instead of this change that they do not know where it will lead them. – Temi, Lokoja.