MY FEAR AND HOPE FOR APC!

The prophecy of chief Vicent Ogbulafor, PDP’s former chairman that the PDP would rule for the next 60 years without break is almost coming to an end. For 14 years of corruption, insecurity, and unequal distribution of Nigerian resources by PDP’s administration has push Nigerian youth into precarious condition with unemployment and hunger, to the extent that some youth have to show there grievance during the post-election violence and the aftermath of fuel subsidy removal. The Supreme Court has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan to re-contest in coming 2015, upon the litigation that happens after April 2011 general elections filed by CPC on view that, the election was not free and fair. Where is the judicial independent?

The All Progressive Congress (APC) is the merger of four Nigerian political parties; the parties are Action Congress (AC), the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). The merger was built on objectives principles and idealist manifesto to combat and overthrow the ruling party in 2015, even due the APC is awaiting the INEC approval and registration but it has imposed head ache on PDP governing bodies and the presidency to the extent that, the initiate another party with same acromion as APC, so that the merger APC will be denied register by INEC. As an advocate of change, I fear some certain constraint to APC on their holistic approach to overthrow the incumbent government in 2015.

As we are aware of internal party factions in the four merger parties, before they were merger together as APC. Even today within the four merged parties none of them is without internal problems and factions, the APGA, especially is like scene of a horror movie where every leader is gunning for each other’s jugular. The CPC is even worse as it has two factions. One led by Senator Rufai Hanga and other by Gen. muh’d Buhari. Even due senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done to reconcile both parties but his effort prove abortive. The ANPP has bred more of political prostitutes than any other party in Nigeria and is therefore a spy house for most other parties as Mr. Ben Nanaghan observed, the ANPP is like a transit camp for Nigeria’s political parties. It is a divided house that does not have concrete political force that can propel it to the tenets of genuine Democracy, as Dr. Muhmud Lawal of Political Science Department BUK assert that `by virtue of what political party really means, we have no single political party in Nigeria’.

This depict that all political parties have their own peculiar problems but for such political parties go into alliance with other political parties, with this problem, I doubt their capacity to compete with PDP, but if the merger will resolve home matters, hence will be able to win nation electoral votes. There is also a personality clash between the core leader of ANPP in person Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau and Gen. Muhammed Buhari which arose from the stands of an opposition between the CPC and ANPP in April Pols 2011. This tense clashes has penetrate in the soul and mined of parties members and fans of the both personality which will be difficult for them to forgive and forget, this could affect the strength of APC at home because for instance kano state is one of  the core states for CPC, where Buhari the CPC leader is very influential. It is also an ANPP domain; therefore the APC leaders need to burry the matches so that respect and love will wipe away agony and pain of the past among the fans of Buhari and shekarau.

The struggle among flag bearers within the party’s member of APC is another fear; I have for the party because looking at Nigeria as whole and APC members, it covered the six geo-political zone of Nigeria. The perfect match to bearer APC for presidential ticket is Buhari and Fashola but as politics is game of number, has to do with some calculations. In this combination are Muslim tickets only, what about our Christian brothers and their vote? I guess Rochas, Bakare or Oshumule can suit the running. As youth comprised of almost half of Nigerian population, it will be nice if the old hand will step down for youth like Elrufa’I or Ribadu for presidency! I urge the governing body of APC for prudent selection of their flag bearer for coming 2015 that will suit the interest of the whole Nigeria

Northern leaders need to woke up from there slumber and support home base political party for positive change and the poor masses should devoid from selling their vote, #50 per vote or a single pack of indomie or salt as witness in  kano state. It will be nice if INEC and federal government will just accept two party systems as in USA, Britain and Nigeria in third republic, it will reduce cost and time.