APC: A better alternative?

Since the return of our great country to the democratic dispensation in 1999, the Nigerian political elite has relentlessly yearned for a more competitive politicking via  electioneering process. There have been palpable and ceaseless moaning and lamentations that Nigeria was slowly but steadily becoming a one-party state.Irked by the afore-painted scenario, the politically exposed persons […]

Since the return of our great country to the democratic dispensation in 1999, the Nigerian political elite has relentlessly yearned for a more competitive politicking via  electioneering process. There have been palpable and ceaseless moaning and lamentations that Nigeria was slowly but steadily becoming a one-party state.
Irked by the afore-painted scenario, the politically exposed persons and groups began to brainstorm and strategize, with a view to checkmating the near-monopoly of the ruling party – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Not long after the 2011 presidential election, which saw the bruising and ego-ruffling of the opposition political parties by PDP, some of the leaders of the Opposition began to seriously see the need for a synergistic effort in order to bring a balance and choice in our political environment.
Thus, on 6 February 2013, three political parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) spearheaded by Ahmed Tinubu; Congress for Democratic Change (CPC) led by retired General Muhammadu Buhari; and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) headed by Ogbonnaya Onu but possibly led by former Zamfara Governor and current  Senator, Sani Yerima, decided to (seemingly) bury their differences – and the outcome was the All Progressives Congress (APC). After some brewing controversies, Independent National Electoral Commis-sion (INEC) finally gave a seal to it on 31 July 2013. There were some sounds of ecstasy in some segments  and re-strategising in others.
While the populace were still thinking about the acceptability or otherwise of the new political party, its interim chairman (former ACN chair), Bisi Akande, fired the first salvo at President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to jump ship and join APC (Armoured Personnel Car-rier, as some call the party). Unknown to Akande, that inglorious invitation to the president was construed to mean that APC’s formation may have been a mistake in the night – since, by asking Jonathan to join it, it sends the signal that the party is short of credible materials for 2015 elections.
Realizing he has misfired and sent theirnew born to sick bed, and, if care is not taken,  early grave, he decided to fight back. Unfortunately, once again (and worse still), he threw caution to the wind, betrayed his age and spoke ‘unstatesmanly’. Tell: doesn’t a former governor of a state and chairman of a major political party know that it is highly unwise to insult your senior in rank (age notwithstanding), not to talk of the president of a country?
Does he also know that by trying to denigrate Mr President, calling him clueless and a kindergarten, he is actually undermining his own age and abusing the entire nation? Or, is it that he does not know how to separate issues from personalities? Is it that he is not aware that the office of the president is an institution that mustn’t be violated, denigrated and desecrated?
Enter Lai Mohammed! The former ACN but now APC spokesman seems to always thrive on controversy. To him and his co-travellers, being a progressive means attacking and undermining the office and person of the president. He and his ilk keep on making unguarded, unwarranted, caustic, inciting and provocative statements. Unfortunately, they fail to understand that Nigerians are more mature and enlightened today. They seem to be unaware that their sour utterances further alienate them from the electorate whose votes they will appeal to tomorrow. Need we remind Akande, Lai Mohammed and co that they must respect offices, even if they disagree with the occupants of such offices? Do they know that their grandstanding and playing to the gallery has not been a good influence on the younger populace, who alas, are understudying them?
Politics should be bereft of dog-eat-dog philosophy. Our political elite should face issues and stop overheating the already heated polity. All of us must also learn to respect the office of our president. Even when we disagree with the person in that office, we can point it out with decorum.
 
Abraham,  an  Abuja-based  public  commentator, can be reached  at: [email protected]