A word for Buhari

Since the end of the 2011 elections, the internal cohesion and unity in the CPC have been violently shaken. The party national leaders are no longer respected by the larger membership across the country because of the unjust and undemocratic policy of substitution imposed on the party by the self-righteous but un-electable opportunists that have […]

Since the end of the 2011 elections, the internal cohesion and unity in the CPC have been violently shaken. The party national leaders are no longer respected by the larger membership across the country because of the unjust and undemocratic policy of substitution imposed on the party by the self-righteous but un-electable opportunists that have effectively hijacked Buhari’s mind. In fact, even the desperate measures for reconciliation started by the party have not made any progress. The crisis of confidence is so deep that the national leaders of the party were openly booed men they called for post-election meeting to review the outcome of the election. Protected by Buhari, these undemocratic opportunists stuck to their positions, despite the moral imperative of resigning without being asked after leading the CPC to avoidable defeat at the elections. They selfishly removed popular candidates and replaced them with their anointed boys who had no grassroots support.

The substitution of Mohammed Abacha, Lado Dan Marke and Dan-china in Kano, Katsina and Bauchi States respectively was largely responsible for the loss of these major political strongholds in the North. As expected, the voters, whose freedom of choice was taken for granted by the idealists that surround General Buhari, ultimately revolted, thus leading to the defeat of the CPC at the polls. Frustrating popular candidates and replacing them with those defeated at the primaries was a naïve political strategy and the CPC ultimately paid dearly for that excessive idealism. As Bola Tinubu of ACN argued, popular frustration with PDP is not enough to unseat them without hard work and good strategy.

Leadership is about taking responsibility for our actions. Former British Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown had no hesitation resigning when he was perceived as the cause of his party’s loss to the Conservative Party, led by David Cameron as new PM. When General Buhari recently announced that he would remain in politics beyond 2015, many of his admirers, including this writer, would have expected him to also address the internal crisis of confidence rocking the party and taking measures to remove the dead woods holding back the party. A leader must have the courage to take difficult decisions, including, if necessary, removing those close to him, once they lost the confidence of the larger membership of the party. Dismissing a problem does not solve it. It is like playing the ostrich.

The exit of Mike Ahamba, who was defending Buhari’s petition at his own financial losses but undeterred because of his solid loyalty to the CPC presidential candidate, was the most embarrassing moment for the Daura-born General. In his subsequent newspaper interviews, the Senior Advocate said he had to leave because of what he called the “we group” that surrounded General Buhari and making him endorse undemocratic, unjust, selfish and unconstitutional decisions at the expense of the party.

If Ahamba was making any money from Buhari’s cases, he did not show it. It was clear that he was doing it for the conviction and his belief in the cause. Ahamba, however, regretted that even in the face of wise counsel, Buhari would rather listen to this “we group” than to reason. He said these trusted opportunists of General Buhari were already behaving as if they had won the election that was yet to take place! Instead of strategizing effectively and doing proper homework to capture the country, Ahamba said this group found comfort in complacency. The rest, he said, is now history.

Although Buhari wrote a letter urging Ahamba to come back, he seemed reluctant to address those fundamental issues of concern raised by the Senior Advocate. Indeed, General Buhari is the source of CPC’s strength because of his integrity but the party must build its future beyond him. General Buhari’s personal integrity is not enough unless he has strategic thinkers to advise him and guide him. As it is, the CPC is being run like the Burmese-style military junta, which has no regard for the voter sovereignty. The CPC should be the citadel of justice and democracy. Yet, one of the idealists around Buhari once warned that anyone that challenged the policy of substitution and the suppression of freedom of choice would be expelled from the party.

Pretending that a problem doesn’t exist cannot be a solution; instead, it only ultimately complicates it. Would General Buhari have the courage to carry out a swingeing reform and restructuring of the CPC in order to make it respond to the realities of national politics? Would he have the guts to remove those considered as obstacles to this reformation, even if they are close to him? Is he ready to protect these opportunists at the expense of the larger interest of the party? Can he make the CPC a model for justice for all and in line with democratic standards? Can the CPC afford to continue the policy of substitution and imposition of candidates and at the same time accuse the ruling PDP of the evils of suppression of internal democracy? Solution to these critical questions will largely determine the future strength or decline of the CPC. Overconfidence can defeat even formidable champions. The CPC must go beyond textbook democracy. General Buhari has to open his ears and listen to genuine advice beyond the falsehoods those that surround him tell him.

Hussaini wrote from Jabi, Utako District, Abuja