By Tunde Abatan, tunde2013abatan@gmail.com,08164660217
The much talked National Convention of the ruling All People’s Congress,APC has come and gone as the 70 national officers to pilot it’s affairs towards the 2023 election have been sworn in.
However, what will remain and shape national discourse for a very long time to come is the elevation of hitherto foes in the opposition People’s Democratic Party,PDP on which the ruling party has heaped all blames for national woes to eminence in the APC.
This is why the election by concensus of Abdullahi Adamu,a former governor of Nassarawa state who had seen inside of the opposition PDP and serious flirtations with the Congress for Progressive Change,CPC, is a confirmation once again that a very tiny line if any, exist between the ruling party and other parties in the country.
The elevation and election of a man allegedly yet to answer questions on 149 charge of financial misappropriation to the tune of N15 billion is a sign that the President Buharis anti corruption crusade is a function of where you belong.
Romance the ruling party and it’s leaders and your sins are forgiven. Chastise them and you have your day in court.
On the political turf,election of Adamu said to have become a very close ally of Buhari is a confirmation that friendship with him is dependent on your relevance to his politics and goals.
As of now,what matters to Buhari is not the party you belong but whether you are useful for whatever political agenda he is executing towards the 2023 election and beyond.
To all intent and purpose,elevation of Adamu is also a strategic plot by Buhari in his agenda to build a strong political base in the North as a strategy to checkmate any Southerner who succeeds him as President.
Adamus election is also seen as the answer to Souths clamour for Presidency next year.
It runs in conformity with North’s resolve to hold the political structure to checkmate the power of a Southern President especially fears that such a President may reverse some of the anti- South policies of the Buhari regime.
To compliment this, it is goarding the NASS with it’s majority, to hastily carry out a subtle constitutional amendment to be signed into law by Buhari before his departure.
Since the region had always count on using the game of numbers as principal object in the game of politics, having a strong national chairman is seen as a complement to it’s dominance in both arms of the National Assembly .
Should a Southern president contemplate any unacceptable change in the constitution,both the party and the NASS would always be a strong check.
With 58 members in the Senate,it is a fait accompli that any anti- Northern establishment Bill is dead on arrival.
Adamus emergence is also seen as a confirmation that when it concerns the interest of the North and the rest of Nigeria, the North is one in spite of recent grandstandings of the middle belt.
In another vein, the emergence of Senator Iyiola Omisore is a double edge sword.
It is because,for the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu tendency in the South West,a semi conservative politician of Omisore status is what is needed to achieve a rallying point among other politicians of his ilk in the PDP from the region.
Considering his role in the elections that brought Osun state governor,Gboyega Oyetola into office in 2018, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, tendency in the APC as represented by Tinubu need politicians of all colour and hues like Omisore in its fold.
This is to help checkmate his ilk not only in Osun state but also to rein in the PDP in the South West.
This is to prevent them from galvanising it’s members to diminish or reduce the 2.5million votes recorded in the region for Buhari in the 2019 elections.
By striking a concensus with Adebayo Shittu, former communications minister and a Buhari and CPC die hard in Oyo, the Tinubu tendency is trying as much to have a firm grip on what remains of it’s followers in Oyo state. This becomes imperative as a result of the PDP in power in the state and it’s increasing following.
With Dayo Abdullahi Israel, a strong Tinubu follower and youth influential as National Youth Leader, the South West is determined to hold firm it’s influence in the region ostensibly to reenact it’s decades old block voting strength which appears under threat by a strong PDP opposition in Lagos and Oyo state.
However,since twenty four hours is too long in politics, the on going tactics by both parties is also dependent on Buharis preference among the various contenders in the Southern part of the country especially the South West.
Since,Buhari has successfully kept his cards very close to his chest on his choice,a new scenario may emerge in the months ahead between now and September when the party is expected to conduct it’s primary.
The chain of events will also be decided by developments as regards the ambition of the trio of Tinubu,Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and out going Ekiti state governor,Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Though, both Osinbajo and Fayemi are yet to publicly declare their ambition, yet serious mobilisation by their supporters are quite evident.
The decision of the PDP on where it’s candidate emerge will also determine the tune of politics in the country as the South East region las left no one in doubt of it’s seriousness especially on the platform of the opposition PDP where it has a strong presence.
Interesting times are ahead for the country in the months ahead.
