The test of a true democracy lies in the proven viability of the multiparty system, typified by a strong opposition. Thus when a cluster of political parties came together to form the All Progressives Congress, I celebrated here with indifference saying there was little to celebrate in the moves that forged the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC), regardless of the calibre of the politicians that congregated to found the mega party. I ventured this reasoning. The reason is found in an attempt to define the state of being a progressive within the context of contemporary politics. Two sore thumbs stick out. One is the primary reason for the congregation, which as has been attested to by the forgers, is to seize power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has ruled the country for the past 13 years. How does this fit being defined as a progressive ideal especially seeing that the offering of the All Progressive Congress is nothing significantly different from what the Peoples Democratic Party has offered to this nation through the last 13 years? The sight of Tom Ikimi among the progressives is the other sore thumb. Is this not the same Tom Ikimi that was the indefatigable announcer at the vote count in the Eagle Square PDP congress 2003 that gave President Olusegun Obasanjo the ticket to run for his second tenure? But of course he is a co-traveller to Mohamed Buba Marwa who challenged President Obasanjo and must have left that congress grounds bitter with his experience. Progressive in the Nigerian sense refers therefore to any reactionary that lost out in the PDP scheming for power over time. I am surprised that there is a lot of backhand slapping in celebration in the APC enclave because for all we know the difference between the mega party and the ruling party is same as the difference between APC the drug and PANADOL. The Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress are one and the same political analgesics, with desire to conquer the nation’s headache - political power and the economy. Today I have more than one reason to feel differently because if truth be told, many factors make the All Progressives Congress a formidable opposition that augurs well for the growth of an enduring democracy in Nigeria. First is the not too impressive report card of the PDP which has ruled the country for the last 13 years - mired in one crisis after the other, particularly the absence of internal democracy in the conduct or political business. Many will quickly hint at visible infrastructure development, but this is the common facet to all political ideologies that should lie on the bedrock of universal suffrage and its offering or freedom of choice. This has been the bane of the Peoples Democratic Party. Classically, at the moment we see with great anticipation, the All Progressives Congress poised for a contest between aspirants for the Presidential ticket of the Party, and sadly this beauty of democracy has been derailed in the PDP where President Goodluck Jonathan has been passed as the sole competent candidate in a nation of 180 million people. The APC meanwhile, has weathered its storms and looks smooth in flight to 2015. It is significant that General Muhammadu Buhari is in the race and up to this point in time, the Party is yet to decide whether its congress will be by voting or by consensus. For now, the nation holds its breath to see if a repeat of a Buhari/Goodluck clash lies before us in 2015, or if Atiku Abubakar will lead the struggle to wrest power from his old party and friends. The terrain has changed from what obtained in 2011 for it is clear that while President Goodluck is at pains to confront the North in view of the devastating insurgency, Muhammadu Buhari has gained more than a passing acceptance from the doubters of the yesteryear. The North is in dire straits both politically and economically and feels sold out to the insurgency to the satisfaction of clandestine interests. Whether the religious card can come into as much play as in 2011 is an issue to also consider. Even if Muhammadu Buhari has not tried hard enough to pacify the Christian North, it is doubtful if the populace is commensurately compensated for the support it gave President Jonathan in 2011. The Christian North bore the brunt of the insurgency, without succour and even compensation. Furthermore, the area has witnessed a significant exodus of Southern traders that hitherto swelled the vote with religion as advantage to President Jonathan. Thus should Buhari pick the ticket and raise a prominent Southern Christian, the PDP with President Jonathan will have to not only wear shoes, but tie up laces to manage a win. Yet sight cannot be lost to the typical Nigerian political scenario. Will losers in the impending All Progressive Congress presidential primaries jump ship with supporters? What of the People’s Democratic Party Governors that were bludgeoned to submission? Will they remain loyal to a President Goodluck Jonathan cause at the zenith hour? Then there is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose profile has give Nigerians new hope that it will be a credible umpire. Would it live up to expectation and remain credible through the 2015 polls? On all these and whether we now have a viable opposition ahead of the 2015 elections, only time, and time alone will tell.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 05:43:08 +0000
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