This House Must Not Fall – Which Way APC?
BY LISA BASSEY
The happenings during the just concluded congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have revealed the continual dismal state in the party. Almost all states of the federation held two or more congresses in different locations with parallel leaders emerging.
The Holy Book says, “A house that fights against itself cannot stand”. How can the APC unite as a force to resolve the nation’s overwhelming problems when they are preoccupied with internal conflicts and cannot settle its petty party squabbles?
The leadership problem of Nigeria starts from the ruling party. How naïvely bold or foolishly confident is the APC in the ludicrous belief that they are stoutly capable to repair this ‘falling house’ Nigeria which of course its government help to bring to its near ruins. APC should come to its senses and call itself to other.
The 2023 Nigerian general elections is by the corner and plans are gearing up underway albeit slowly. The APC has once again shown Nigerians that even if it is given a thousand chances, it is unable to remove Nigeria from the rut she is currently in.
How massively difficult or herculean is it to form an internal united front? Are the party members so relaxed and unrestrained because there is no formidable opposition to keep it on its toes? Definitely, it is not the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is a caricature and weaker form of the APC for its lack of ideology and integrity. I digress.
The state APC in Delta, Osun, Akwa Ibom and Ekiti dragged the National Interim Committee to court over its decision to recognize congresses attained by incumbent governors in APC controlled states and highest political office holders in non-APC states.
In Ekiti, Imo and Delta, the chieftains boycotted the congress supervised by the team sent by the National Interim Committee. There were also reports of several congresses held in Kano, Abia, Ogun, Niger, Osun and Akwa Ibom where parallel leaders emerged in the same party. The emergences of fighting factions continue to derail the party’s progress.
Suits and counter suits have become the order of the day from the Festus Keyamo led group to the Ekiti APC Stakeholders Forum even to the Yobe group agitating against Governor Mai Mala Buni.
How can a ruling party which should be a symbol of unity hold parallel congress with parallel leaders in the same state? How can Nigeria be at peace when her governing party is preoccupied with interparty skirmishes, wrangling and court suits? How can she be united when her ruling party is embedded in disunity, fighting and bad blood?
Considering the current critical situation facing the country, there wouldn’t have been a worst timing for this debacle. Whilst the APC is busy fighting themselves, terrorists, bandits, unknown gunmen continue to hold the nation to ransom. The lives of the citizenry are at risk and Nigeria is stalled because her ruling party is unable to sort itself out.
The problem of APC is a problem of lack of ideology and an overriding personal interest above party or national interest. There is need for a re-orientation of the party’s vision or its evaluation if it doesn’t aligned with leading Nigeria forward.
President Buhari and APC’s stakeholders must find a way to resolve the party’s internal squabbling or this may have a spillover effects into its conducts and outcome during the election.
Members should respect the rule of law and the constitutional provisions guiding the party. If the constitution says one cannot be in an executive position and hold a party position, it should be upheld.
Nigeria is bigger than any party and national interest must supersede personal interest. The quicker APC realizes that they must let go of discord and come together in the spirit of national unity, the better for them.
It is only a foolish person that does things the same way and expects a different result. 2023 is close by and the train must take a different track if it is to get to the desired destination. Nigeria is desperately in need of a messiah. This house must not fall.
…Lisa Bassey is a political analyst, author and Blogger. www.lisabassey.blogspot.com
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