- Written by By Gregory Austin Nwakunor
POLITICAL parties are crucial for long-term political development in every democracy. Yet, for many reasons, they haven’t had a good public image in Nigeria.
According to political commentators, it is not just the parties that are treated with disdain, political institutions, generally, have seen a loss of public trust. But this does not suggest there is less support for democracy in the country.
Notwithstanding the caveats, in the words of pundits, it would be a mistake to write parties off just because they do not always work well. Without well-functioning parties, governments have little chance of representing wider society in a meaningful way. Parties are the bridge between government and society, both in the ways they translate society’s demands into political ideas and programmes, and in the way they hold government to account on society’s behalf.
That’s why, whatever happens in the All Progressive Congress (APC) should concern every politically conscious Nigerian: The party, in a few months, ‘changed the trajectory of political opposition’ in the country.
Since the emergence of the Third Republic in 1999, opposition had been led to the brink of oblivion by a run of failures at the general election. And it took the efforts of General Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Bola Tinubu to galvanise opposition in 2013 to become formidable.
In over 53 years of the nation’s history, this is the first time that the opposition will recruit en masse, members from the ruling party.
Many had expressed their happiness with the coming of a party they see as patriotic, genuinely for the people, and comprising those who hate cheats, and loath crimes.
They hinged their support on the fact that the only people, who have benefitted mostly from this Republic are cheap politicians, who can beat drums, dispatch fleets of cars and deploy noise makers on the street, in the hope of deceiving ‘jaded voters’ that they are real national leaders.
However, the optimism of a strong opposition could yet be transient, as the issue of ‘who gets what’ among the blocs or caucuses might polarize or eventually destroy the party.
Already, different political camps and caucuses are making a lot of permutations on how the party positions should be shared. One of such, like the Baba Ijebu’s lotto, is that the individual parties involved in the merger should be allowed to hold on to their perceived geographical area of influence.
With five governors, 37 members of the House of Representatives and their supporters defecting from PDP to APC, it has become necessary to accommodate these new entrants, who are a strong and major bloc.
The governors, who left the PDP for the APC, are Alhaji Muritala Nyako (Adamawa); Dr. Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Alhaji Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
The Guardian gathered that besides the struggle for position between the defected governors and ‘old’ members of the fast growing party, the APC is also contending with various crises in the states it is currently controlling. Specifically, the tussle over the control of the party structure in the various state, has continued to rob the party of consolidation at the state level.
Saving The APC From Itself
IT used to be new PDP (nPDP) versus old PDP. Now, it is new opposition versus old opposition and this growing rivalry between old and new has precipitated a need for early solution. Instead of grandstanding about winning the next election, the APC should be concerned about resolving all issues before registration of members begin.
And it is only when the party is ready to press forward on this issue that people will reckon with it, as a notch better than others. The vituperation has also exposed how fragile the political structure is.
For watchers of event, though power sharing is not a perfect system, it has the potential to do the party a lot of good in the political landscape. They say equitable power sharing in the party will allow the ethnic divides and caucuses of the party, through their elected representatives, to share the burdens of governance.
Caucuses must agree that none should have monopoly on power where it matters. But power sharing in the party can begin only if the rules ensure that no side can automatically use its majority to dominate.
The next few months should be dedicated to putting these in perspective. There should then be a review to determine the over orchestrated commitment of the opposition to do what the PDP is unable to do when it takes over power. That is the provision of credible leadership that will ensure national regeneration.
The presence of a strong opposition means that society has options and can hold elected politicians to account for their performance in office and their role as the people’s representatives. The public standing of the political parties – and of politicians themselves is what should underscore democratic growth.
In Africa, where political parties are little more than personal estates, their roles are narrowed entirely to vehicles for capturing power and privileges by power mongers. This is unacceptable. Parties should provide an institutionalised basis from which society can hold governments or elected representatives to account.
This is a task that requires sober thought and action, national vision, and a commitment to shared existence and not the kind of noise making going on in the APC.
However, it is difficult to build a strong plural party system where the mighty takes it all. Democracy is all about compromises for the general good. Accordingly, a workable party system is based in part on popular confidence. And by popular confidence, we mean accepting across board
According to Sir Arthur Lewis (1965), democracy has two meanings: “The primary meaning is that all who are affected by a decision should have the chance to participate in making that decision, either directly or through representatives.
Its secondary meaning is that the will of the majority will prevail.”
“To exclude the losing groups from participating in the decision-making,” Lewis insists, “clearly violates the primary meaning of democracy.”
No group in a plural society voluntarily accepts the leadership of another group. The situation is compounded when that minority is a large one. Unless a formula can be found to include these groups in the decision making process, having a strong, focused and dynamic party will always be an elusive dream. And if there is no collective sense of purpose, there can be no political victory.
This is where the APC use its march to capture power from the PDP in 2015. Going forward, the party should provide a neutral space in which actors who were previously on parallel course would be able to start to talk and come to a meeting point. The challenge here is for the leaders of the party to show sincerity of purpose.
It is gladdening to note, however, that conscious of the factors that surrounded failed coalitions in the past, some APC leaders have promised their readiness for genuine compromise this time round.
General Muhammadu Buhari, for instance, believes this is the best time to, “seize this moment that calls for patriotism and sacrifice; it is time to sacrifice everything such as time, resources, ambition and ego for greater tomorrow.”
ONDO: Ownership Claims, Imposition Endangers APC
• Members Demand Postmortem Report From Former Managers Of ACN
From Niyi Bello, Akure
A year after the 2012 Ondo State governorship election, which was won by incumbent Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP), the ruling party appears to be on a steady course to political oblivion because of the low performance of the state government, compared to Mimiko’s first term. There is discontentment within the LP, which has resulted in the membership being in total disarray and the resultant sharp drop in its public acceptability profile.
Of the other two leading political platforms waiting in the wings to reap from the misfortunes that seemed to have become the lot of the LP, the All Peoples Congress (APC) appears to be the best bet since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which analysts believe to be the most formidable in terms of grassroots acceptability has been allegedly abandoned by its Abuja parents, the Wadata Plaza national headquarters of the party and the leader, President Goodluck Jonathan.
But the APC, an amalgam of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is facing enough trouble of its own, therefore putting a big question mark on the control of the state’s political space as we approach the 2015 election year.
The problem within the APC appears to be a carry-over from its ACN days, since the defunct party formed the bulk of the people within the new platform. In the politics of Ondo State, the others were only fringe parties with handfuls of supporters.
In the build-up to the last election, ACN was divided along the lines of gubernatorial ambitions of its aspirants whose number reached an alarming rate of over thirty, with some seeing each others as rivals in the same political camp creating a sort of tower of Babel.
Rather than organise a primary election to pick the most acceptable aspirant among the lot and persuading the rest to work together for the choice, the party’s national leadership hand-picked Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as the candidate, an action that led leading members like former minister, Olu Agunloye and former Mimiko’s Political Adviser, Saka Lawal, to defect to the LP and PDP respectively.
Even after the election in which the party came third in terms of polls returns, allegations of misappropriation of election fund and disloyalty were rife within its rank, thereby preventing an opportunity for an appraisal of the situation and preparation for the next electoral task.
If the ambitions of individual aspirants were responsible for the crisis within the party in the election period during its ACN days, the devil this time is the tussle over who, among the various groups within the platform, takes over the control of the new party. The APC has basically maintained the lines of cracks along the old ambitions and to a lesser extent, the new intakes from the fringe parties.
Last week, a group of concerned stakeholders cautioned the leaders of the party and urged caution “so that the mistakes of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would not be repeated in the new platform as we approach the election year.”
A communiqué issued by the stakeholders after a meeting and jointly signed by Dr Akerele Adu and former governorship aspirant of the ACN, Prince Olumiyiwa Oniye, with other members like Captain A Ariyo (rtd), Chief Niyi Netufo, Olanrenwaju Atanlogun and Professor C Aderoba said although they have “put the past behind them, it is important to prepare and build future as the past is a clue to the future.
“We therefore demand that the defunct ACN leadership in the state needs to give account of stewardship, especially the managers of the October 20, 2012 gubernatorial elections in the state. No matter the outcome of any election, there must be post mortem exercise and post mortem report, to guide us for future purpose according to chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“Our performance and attitude in the last election was a disappointment to the general public, especially the people of Ondo State .Why and How? Opinion polls during the last election favoured us and our party was seen as new bride coming on board in the state. Coupled with landmark performance of the ACN governors in other states of the federation, we had a brighter chance that was mismanaged, jeopardized, squandered and corruptly bastardized by the imposed managers of the election to enrich their pockets, banks, that of their family members and associates at the expense of all Ondo State people. This attitude should not be swept under the carpet for the APC to strive in the state.”
The Stakeholders reminded the party members that they have forgotten so soon “the singular efforts and doggedness of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to put the Yoruba nation ahead of other nations in Nigeria. So also it took the singular effort, doggedness, purposefulness and visionary ideology of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to have reclaimed the glory of Yoruba nation from the cankerworms of the PDP power holding of the presidency.”
They concluded by saying that, for the APC to record success in Ondo State in the 2015 election, there should be no imposition of officers and candidates of the party at all levels in the state and that the post-mortem of last election must be done, report made known and recommendations implemented.
Barely five days after the concerned stakeholders sounded this note of warning, Akeredolu emerged as the interim caretaker chairman of the APC in the state after a controversial harmonisation meeting that was rejected by a section of the new party.
While inaugurating the Akeredolu-led executive committee in Akure, even though another meeting opposed to the decision was being simultaneously held at the other end of the town, former Ekiti governor and South-West national vice chairman of the APC, Otunba Niyi Adebayo said he was carrying out the orders of the national leadership of the party to elect officers to direct the affairs of the party in the state.
He said the main task of the interim executive is to ensure proper registration of members, Adebayo disclosed that the Akeredolu committee “is the authentic and official body of the party recognised by the national body of the party in the state.
“The purpose of the inauguration is to kick start the party in the state and the whole essence is that there will be a body here so that when the people from the national body for the registration is here, there will be a body in place to meet, who will now advice them where to go and what to do and who to see for registration of members.”
When asked to comment about another meeting of the party elsewhere, he said he was not aware of any other and that as far as he was concerned, his mandate from the national leadership to inaugurate the committee had been delivered.
Apart from Akeredolu, other members of the interim committee include prince Olu Adegboro, chief Ebenezer Akinwekomi; Tunji Fabiyi to serve as treasurer and Rotimi Fasakin, who is Publicity Secretary.
Although a sizeable number of the party’s leaders, including Senators Ajayi Borroffice, Olorunninmbe Farunkanmi, Pius Olupitan and Ayo Lawrence, as well as Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Paul Akintelure, Bayo Ademodi and others like Wale Akinterinwa and Mrs Jumoke Anifowose were at the inauguration, others who boycotted the event said for the second time, Akeredolu has been imposed on the party and warned of similar consequence that trailed the first imposition.
Another set of leaders including former Alimosho council chairman and special adviser to Osun governor on Environmental Matters, Bola Ilori, defunct CPC governorship candidate, Soji Ehinlanwo, his running mate, Mrs Oluyemi Daramola, former ACN chairman, Sola Iji, former ACN state secretary, Gboyega Adedipe, said they rejected the inauguration because of “obvious and deliberate attempt at violation of the published guidelines in the constitution and inauguration of the Ondo State Harmonisation Committee.
“We have consequently written to the National Secretariat of the party to ensure that they intervene promptly in order to restore confidence in the leadership of the party at the South-West level.”
In another press statement issued by representatives of the three merging parties, Adedipe for the ACN, Alhaji Bala Umaru for the ANPP and Olufisayo Falarugbon of the CPC, said they rejected the composition of the Akeredolu committee. While reading the statement of the aggrieved party chieftains, the chairman of the defunct CPC, Olalekan Obolo accused Adebayo of manipulating the original list of the members of the defunct party executives sent to him.
He explained that 31 members from the three political parties were supposed to make up of the harmonization committee and expressed disbelief over the substitution of some members as against the original sent to the Otunba Adebayo and alleged the vice chairman injected unknown names into the list.
Obolo said; “the inauguration of the state harmonization committee of the APC slated for today, which expectedly should have signalled the birth of the party in Ondo State has unfortunately been scuttled due to widespread discontent occasioned by lack of consultation with the leadership of the party.
“Despite the displeasure registered by the leadership of the parties, to our dismay, information at our disposal point to the fact that Otunba Adebayo went ahead with the kangaroo inauguration despite having only eleven members of the defunct ACN out of the thirty one members committee, while none from CPC, ANPP and some key members of the ACN.”
He however said the aggrieved chieftains have made representation to the national leadership of the party in order to correct the anomalies saying, “we believe the leadership will address this imposition as we reject in totality any attempt to impose certain people over the wish of the majority in the party.”
Former chairman of ACN’s Contacts and Mobilisation Committee, Ade Adetimehin is however appealing to the aggrieved chieftains to sheath their swords and allow the national leadership to intervene in the matter.
According to him, “we don’t need these distractions at this stage. We are just getting into the process of building the party and commence the process of registration. The lacklustre performance of the ruling LP has created an opportunity for us to save this state and we must not allow anything to deny the good people of this state from enjoying good governance.”
EDO: It Is Tussle For Party Structure, Possession
From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City
IN Edo State, most of the political gladiators are less enthusiastic about which political party between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) wins at the national level, they are more concerned about who gets re-nominated and re-elected into the state and National Assembly seats. Most importantly, the main attraction is who takes over from the incumbent governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
It started like a rumour few weeks to the end of last year that membership registration forms of the APC were already in town and some top political leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) were already giving the forms to their acolytes and supporters. It was alleged that a strong leader from in Edo South senatorial district who is said to be interested in becoming the next governor was responsible.
This single information triggered the political debate and intense strategising to either pitch tent with the powers that be in the defunct ACN party or stay with new alliances in the spirit of the new party to be in the “right” position.
It was gathered that some persons have perfected plans to use the party membership registration to corner forms majorly for their supporters who they intend could be used as delegates to pick candidates for next general elections and particularly the governorship.
But the Interim Executive Committee quickly countered the move when it assured the people of the state that it would embark on a transparent registration exercise expected to commence later this month.
A statement yesterday by the state publicity secretary, Godwin Erahon also commended the people of the state for their curiosity “so far over the forthcoming registration of members into our great party.
“APC assures all interested persons that preparations are on to ensure transparent and hitch-free registration early January. APC leaders at all levels are please enjoined to co-operate with the registration officials to make the exercise transparent and avoid any act capable of discrediting the exercise.”
He said the state leadership was not happy those who are alleged to have been
“distributing fake membership registration forms to, and collecting passport photographs from prospective members ahead of the scheduled time. Those involved in this fraudulent exercise are warned to desist from it as all such forms distributed outside the approved channels will be rejected. To ensure credible membership registration exercise, forms will not be given to any leader or aspirant to distribute, photocopies of the forms will not be accepted and no individual will be given more than one form. Every form shall have both serial and security numbers, thus making it impossible to be counterfeited. Interested members of the public should await further announcements from the party on this exercise.”
Though there have been various groups in the old ACN strategising to take over from incumbent Adams Oshiomhole, the emergence of the APC seems to have changed the political permutations. As at today, various groups and individuals want to capture power in 2016.
For instance, there are two groups, Alaghodaro (Moving Forward) and Atalakpa (Tiger) that are strongly rooting for the incumbent deputy governor, Pius Odubu who has so far shown loyalty and commitment to the administration of Oshiomhole.
There is the Benin Elite Group and the Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri Centre for Change, which has been working with the governorship candidate of the defunct ANPP in the last governorship election, Solomon Edebiri. The groups made up of mostly young men and women have also followed Edebiri to the new APC and waiting to work for his gubernatorial ambition.
There are two formidable groups; Edo is In Safe Hands, whose activities are coordinated by the commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie and Majority Leader, Edo State House of Assembly, Philip Shaibu and Edo Solidarity Movement (ESM), led by the governor’s special adviser on Political Matters, Charles Idahosa. These two bodies have substantially made inroads into the 18 local government councils and 192 wards of the state.
There is also the Final Push Coalition for Nigeria movement, which is solidly behind a national leader of the party and former secretary to the State Government under Lucky Igbinedion, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who has not hidden his intention to contest the number one seat in the state.
One of its leaders and a member of the state House of assembly, Friday Ogierakhi told The Guardian that movement was already present in the entire 192 wards and the entire councils of the state, adding that it is a national movement that is spread beyond the state. “We are many people who have shared the same idea in taking charge and are in the right political positions across the country and today we find ourselves either by omission or commission in the APC
“We are going to work with candidates we believe are going to work by the philosophy we stand for. We are not going to look at tribe, race or culture of the gladiators. We are going to see actions of these persons.
“But let me even tell you, you can predict 2015 before 2016, we are going to rise to the occasion and we will support those we believe can go as far as to the presidency; we are in dire need of genuine change, change that will benefit the people, we have been bereft of genuine democratic change.”
Indications emerged that the governor may have scored a political advantage over all the other gladiators scheming to win the party machinery in the state. This is confirmed from the interim leadership that emerged to the chagrin of two leaders of the new party; one from Edo South and the other from Edo central.
The Guardian gathered that the governor displayed political sophistication in the selection of the caucus that met to pick the interim leadership. The two leaders, one of whom was directed to call the meeting had agreed to pick the interim chairman of the party from Edo Central, as they were said to have invited two former chairmen of the defunct ACN from Edo Central, but the governor outsmarted them when he nominated former secretary to the Benin Palace and former State Secretary of the defunct ACN Osaro Idah to head the interim executive committee of the APC. The two gladiators were said to have concluded that since the past two state chairmen of the ACN had come from Edo Central, the same would be done in the APC, but they were disappointed when the governor informed them that the national leadership of the new party had ceded the position of state chairmen to the state governors, “so, if I decided to bring a mad dog as the chairman, you have no choice on this,” the governor was said to have informed the gladiators.
Crest fallen, they were now angling to provide the other very crucial positions as state secretary and publicity secretary when the governor was also said to have used other party leaders from Edo North, who insisted that throughout the days of the ACN Edo North did not get any sensitive position and therefore brought a candidate from the former ANPP to become the state secretary and then former state chairman of the CPC, Godwin Erahon was picked as the state publicity secretary of the party. The former chairman, Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalist is a strong ally of the governor.
With these, it is believed that the governor had definitely taken full charge of the party, which he seriously intends to use to pick whoever he would eventually settle for to succeed him in 2016.
As APC Shares The Booty Of ‘Victory’
By Leo Sobechi
PERHAPS, the first sign of how the All Progressives Congress (APC) intends to share the booties of victory and possible allocation of political offices would emerge when the House of Representatives reconvenes this week. Without as much going to a major electoral battle after its regularization as a full-fledged political party, APC has succeeded in clinching victory by poaching elected officials of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party heightened concerns about its bourgeoning influence when the Presidency was forced to delegate the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME) Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to place the 2014 Budget estimate before the House of Representatives on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan. The fall out of the perceived control of the House of Representatives by APC would therefore be seen in the alteration in the configuration of floor functionaries and committees.
Shortly before it proceeded on the Christmas break, the power pendulum of the HOR started undulating when 37 erstwhile members of the PDP crossed over to the APC. This change of party platform increased anxiety within the Legislature about a possible change in the leadership thrown up by PDP’s control of the House.
Already a civil society group, Parliamentary Civil Society Partnership Initiative (PCSPI) has sued for caution within the House in view of the change of political parties by some members. In a statement signed by Hon. Larry Onah and Dr. Chijioke Nwandikom, President and Secretary respectively, PCSPI pleaded with the members to ensure that the turn of events necessitated by the attempt to reflect the “new power parity in the House does not distort the stability, focus and unity that have characterized legislative business in the green chamber.” The group said: “Considering the way Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, carried everybody along, including members of the ruling and opposition parties, in the coming permutation as the House resumes, they should not sacrifice the Speaker. We encourage them to give Tambuwal an affirmative vote and retain him as Speaker. Furthermore, we plead Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola be retained as Leader.” PCSPI stated that if the members decide, they can tinker with every other committee but retain the Speaker and Akande-Adeola so as to maintain a semblance of bi-partisan understanding based on national interest.
“Though another woman, in the person of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is being speculated to serve as Majority Leader, it would do the cause of women in politics much good if Akande-Adeola is retained. After all, this is the first time a woman is serving as a majority leader and she has proved her mettle,” the group contended. The group disclosed that in the emerging recalibration of the House members and leadership, the legislators need the support of Nigerians to down play excessive partisanship that could hurt Nigeria’s democracy, especially as the election year approaches.
As the House of Representatives reconvenes on tomorrow, a lot of people contemplate some changes in leadership which may affect the outcome of bills and motions. It is expected for instance that out of 360 members of the Green Chamber, PDP’s former majority of 208 members may slide to 171, consequent upon the defection of 37 members to APC. It is that 37 members that have swelled APC’s membership from 137 to 174 thereby upstaging the majority status of the ruling PDP.
The Guardian gathered that former Anambra State Governor, Senator Chris Ngige, is being considered as a possible candidate for the post of national chairman of APC when the party holds its convention in March 2014. If therefore Ngige, from South East geopolitical zone occupies the chair of the party, the coast would be clear for the North to produce the Presidential candidate while the South West takes the Vice Presidential candidate slot. Already sources within APC said most members are not comfortable with a possible Moslem/Moslem ticket being contemplated for a General Mohammadu Buhari and Senator Bola Tinubu combination. “That is the major headache of our party right now; the reality on the ground in Nigeria today is that a joint Moslem ticket would not fly. But some stakeholders are afraid that if Buhari runs with a moderate Christian (former governor Adebayo of Osun) Tinubu may feel left out with some grave implications. However, you can be sure of a North/South West Presidential ticket,” the source disclosed.
The implication of the jockeying for APC’s chairmanship and presidential candidates is that Speaker Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, may keep their seats for the meantime. Even at that, there are suggestions that a member from Lagos State has been penciled down to replace Ihedioha “if it becomes inevitable to trade the Deputy Speaker off.” Whether a leadership change in the House of Representatives would take centre stage immediately members resume depends on how far PDP has gone to stem further defection through the offer of automatic tickets to members. If that happens APC may not attain the simple majority to warrant the majority leader to relinquish the position. It is pertinent to note that the present leadership of the House, seen in the emergence of Tambuwal and Ihedioha, stemmed from the synergy of PDP reformists and leaders of opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before the merger. Consequently there may not be a radical change in the Speaker position after all. What happens in the House of Representatives from Monday January 13, 2014 will definitely show the way APC’s political mind is working for the distribution of positions.
ENUGU: APC Preaches Equity, Fairness And Justice
From Lawrence Njoku (Enugu)
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State is still struggling to overcome the challenges posed by the merger. Early last year, Osita Okechukwu, former Enugu governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and now Zonal Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) told reporters in a statement that the party has zoned its governorship slot in 2015 to Enugu North senatorial zone, known as Nsukka zone.
He stated that the decision to zone the ticket to Nsukka was taken at a meeting in Enugu, attended by promoters of the party, just as he appealed to credible aspirants from East and West to support the decision in the spirit of brotherhood.
Okechukwu explained that Enugu East and West senatorial districts have produced the governor for eight years each since the return of civil rule in 1999 and therefore, equity, fairness and justice demand that power should shift to Enugu North.
He said, “In 1999, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East became governor of Enugu State and he ruled for eight years. Sullivan Chime, who hails from Enugu West, took over in 2007 and by the time his tenure comes to an end in May 2015, he must have ruled for eight years. So, we believe in APC that for equity, fairness and justice to prevail, the next governor should come from Enugu North, which is Nsukka zone.”
Okechukwu called on the people of Nsukka zone to support APC to ensure the emergence of a governor who would meet all their aspirations, including infrastructural development and provision of social amenities, job creation and enhanced security.
The APC chieftain however advised members from Nsukka zone to conduct and organise themselves in the spirit and letters of the manifesto and constitution of the party, stressing that they would not condone do-or-die variant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He described APC as the product of a merger constructed with the sole objective of uniting Nigeria, a country divided between the extreme rich and the poorest poor, restoration of the middle class and hence healing the wounds stimulated by monumental corruption.
He regretted that the middle class had been wiped out by an economic policy, foisted by PDP, a party, which frowns at public investment, prefers sharing money and relies heavily on captains of industry, 98 percent of whom have no industry.
APC’s zoning arrangement has set it on ‘war’ path with the ruling PDP over which party controls the state in 2015. PDP has also zoned the governorship slot to Enugu North.
In the interim, names like Peter Okonkwo and Okechukwu Ezea, who are from the zone feature as likely contestants. The two are known names in Enugu politics having featured in several elections in the past. They have also worked hard to stabilize the APC in the state.
Ezea, for instance had since the inception of democracy in 1999, ran two governorship elections under the Labour Party and had lost on each occasion. The much his effort had carried him close to power was in 2007 when his petition led to the cancellation of the election of Governor Sullivan Chime by the lower election tribunal.
His other attempt in 2011 was not a good one as he finished fourth. His only disadvantage is that he finds it difficult to stay in any party that apparently fails to give him ticket to contest and this has led to his becoming the most “traveled politicians’ in the state, having moved from PDP to PPA and at some point romanced the ACN as well as the PDC in the state.
But the movement from PDP into APC of Chief Maduka Onyishi may change the calculation. Onyishi, who also hails from Enugu North, is the chairman of Peace Mass Transit and one of the backbones of the PDP in the state before now. Sources close to the billionaire businessman said he decided to quit the PDP for APC over a plot by his former party to deny him ticket to run for the governorship election next year.
Onyishi, a philanthropist and grassroots mobilizer is seen as a big boost for the APC. He had not hidden his intention to govern the state after Sullivan Chime. In fact, he was said to be instrumental to the massive support Chime received from the zone in 2011 general election.
Investigation by the Guardian revealed that zoning the governorship slot to Enugu North remains the tonic needed by the APC to make an impression in the coming election. This is because; Enugu North had always claimed to be marginalized in the
scheme of things. Despite its voting strength, which is the highest in the state, the population and landmass, it had only produced a governor in the person of Okwesilieze Nwodo, who ruled for just two years since the creation of the state.
Although the party is yet to contain with internal squabbles arising from the merger and the disaffection among members of the defunct ACN, its greatest challenge presently will be how to contain the PDP, which had also zoned the governorship slot to Enugu North.
Pundits say that the only window open to the party was for it to quickly settle the differences of members and settle down to pick a candidate that will be acceptable to the people, adding that the PDP remains mindful of this. If the plan to zone governorship to Enugu North scales through, then other positions like the deputy governorship and chairmanship could come from Enugu West and East respectively.
Sources said should the party win the governorship election, it will choose the Speaker of the state House of Assembly from Enugu East. The arrangement is to ensure that all the zones of the state are fully represented, as well as ensure evenspread.
It was also gathered that to qualify to run election on the platform of APC, consideration is to be given to experience, acceptability, reach and contributions to the party. This template, the Guardian gathered is being set following rumours that there may be further defections into the party in the months ahead.
Names like General JOJ Okoloagu (rtd), who ran for the Enugu North senatorial election in 2011 for the ACN, but was beaten by incumbent Senator Ayogu Eze, chief Anike Nwoga, Barth Udeaba, former state chairman of the ANPP, Emma Enukwu, the former national publicity secretary of the ANPP, Emeka Ngwu, Thaddus Eke and Sony Onoh are some new members being awaited.
Dr Ben Nwoye, who was the ACN senatorial candidate in 2011 election for Enugu East has also worked hard and might still be asked to run, perhaps for the same position in 2015.
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