Frankly Speaking: Between APCs Confusion and Anambra show of shame

By Tunde Abatan, tunde2013abatan@gmail.com 08165660217

These are indeed interesting times in Nigeria.
It is interesting because signs of the times both in the corridors of power and among the players in the political parties portends serious dangers ahead.

It also shows that the nation might have gotten it wrong in its choice of leadership . This is evident by the mannerism of those who are fortunate to find themselves in the corridors of power.

For the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress,APC, the glaring inconsistencies in it’s leadership style is a clear demonstration of why the nation is neither economically,socially and politicaly healthy.

Since composition and leadership of the government is a function of and is derivable from the parties,then it should not be surprising that what we have today in the polity is a direct reflection of the capacity of the leadership thrown up by the ruling party.

Today, almost two years after a convention which removed it’s first elected national chairman in the person of Comrade Adams Oshiomole, in a palace coup staged by enraged governors,the same governors are in a test of strength for the control of the party.

The struggle is between it and Aso Rock cabals who have demonstrated through the years it has the ears of the President when state and party matters are concerned.

That President Muhammadu Buhari who cut short a visit to London enroute Kenya to return home two weeks ago to sack the Governor Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee(CECPC),
an action which drew ovation from the enstranged state governors is curious and strange.

It is strange and sad that hardly had the ovation from the state governors who had been sidelined by the Buni led CECPC died down than President Buhari again reversed himself ,obviously after pressure from the Aso rock cabal who had his ears more than the governors and reinstate the Buni leadership he has earlier sacked.

Today,Buni is back in power coordinating a convention which would either tear the party apart or strengthen it.

But it is quite sure that the later will be the case since the state governors who felt side lined and relegated to the background by President Buharis volte face on their suggestions aimed at rejigging the convention plans, are poised to assert their influence on the conduct of the national convention this Saturday.

What is more, the make or mar convention is more of how the various tendencies in APC are planning to hijack top offices before the picking of its Presidential candidate.
This itself is an exercise which may send the party to the permanent caretaker.

It is quite obvious that President Buharis inconsistencies in handling the APC leadership crisis is both a function of his personal weakness and inability to rein in the power mongers arround him who are poised to influence his decisions for purely selfish and egoistic reasons.

This is obviously to maintain a strangle hold on the party for specific goals of determining the candidate of the party during next year’s election.
The battle now in the APC is between three tendencies namely, Congress for Progressive Change,CPC,Action Congress of Nigeria,ACN and the remnants of the New PDP and All Nigeria People’s Party,ANPP left in the party.

The on going fight for the soul of APC is also a confirmation that the Aso rock Cabal had more grip on the party and seriously working on how to steer the it to achieve its goals and agenda in 2023.
It tends to be more devious and strategic than President Buhari who from all indications appears lost in the pull by the different tendencies in the Party.

The next seven days to the convention will be very interesting as the party may buckle under the weight of it’s internal contradictions.

The Anambra Affairs:

The attitude of the different combatants in the Anambra swearing in fiasco last week from whichever way you look at it shows imprudence on both parties.

The aggressor- in -chief, Ebelechukwu Obiano, who from.all indications, had minutes to end her reign as Anambra first lady, ignited the fire which doused the day of glory of incoming Governor Charles Soludo.
Yet, the reaction of Bianca Ojukwu by physically slapping the aggressor, portrays imprudence.
Though,one could excuse her reaction on clear emotional grounds.

It is clear that in a fight between the pig and it’s subject , it is saner for the later not to be drawn out or else he or she will end up in the mud.

However, foul the language and effontry employed by Ebelechukwu, who from the video,actually walked past three other guests, to Bianca to draw her out from her own corner, it is not enough to justify in a way, the now legendary dirty slap, the cantercarous former first lady received.
Yes, it is obvious the first lady crossed the line and draw the first blood but restrain on the part of Bianca could have changed the scenario.

While Bianca’s spontaneous action portrays the climax of an unknown but silent cold war between the duo, it was also a direct humbling of the former first lady who may never have another opportunity to redeem her image.

What is more,she got an upper cut on her rumoured Senatorial ambition with the public opprobrium she attracted to herself .

That she publicly assaulted a widow and wife of a venerated warlord whose image still looms large in Igbo consciousness is enough poison in her rumoured Senatorial ambition.

The imprudence by the duo tragically portend a big diversion for Governor Soludo whose day was almost marred by Ebeles rudeness.

What is more, Ebele shouldn’t expect much courtesy from her successor, Soludos wife, who must have watched with dismay how an outgoing first lady almost spoilt her day of joy.

Ebeles ‘free show’ last Thursday is also a sample of what other less privileged state officials must have gone through while her reign as first lady in Anambra, a state peopled by men of means and intellect lasted.

But then, nemesis had it’s way as the first families planned retreat to Houston in the United States was at least temporarily aborted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC,
which laid siege on embattled governor Willie Obiano at the Murtala Muhammed Airport,Ikeja ,Lagos.

At least, before his now aborted ‘honey moon’, he has some days to cool his heels at the EFCC detention facility painfully without his cantercarous wife.

Interesting days lies ahead of the nation as series of unfolding events will reveal the serious undercurrents which had affected governance in the last 23 years of democracy.