APC: Old wine in new bottle

It is a simple and ingenious scam known as “ECOMOG Beer”.  This beer is “brewed” by filling an empty bottle with the remnants of all brands of beer from previously opened bottles and used glasses. When a guest arrives they sell him this beer and pocket the money. If he complains about the taste, he […]

It is a simple and ingenious scam known as “ECOMOG Beer”.  This beer is “brewed” by filling an empty bottle with the remnants of all brands of beer from previously opened bottles and used glasses. When a guest arrives they sell him this beer and pocket the money. If he complains about the taste, he is simply told that the beer must be flat. On a much more advanced level of fraud police once apprehended a gang of criminals who collected medicines which had passed their expiry date, replaced the labels and re-sold the medicines to unsuspecting buyers. Except for the fact that it isn’t a criminal undertaking, the registration of APC is reminiscent of these two businesses which prosper by deceiving the public.
There is no doubt that the Peoples Democratic Party has failed woefully to impact positively upon the lives of average Nigerians. The total sum of their successes lies in borrowing money to fund financial irresponsibility and creating a billionaire class of super rich in a country of outstanding poverty. That PDP chieftains have no plan other than to continue enriching themselves and their cronies to the detriment of the nation as a whole is self evident. Theirlack of manifesto, policy summersaults, broken promises, dishonoured agreements, financial scandals and abysmal budget performance are the real causes of the worsening security situation and grinding poverty in the nation today. Although there is ample evidence of this failure, presidential spokespersons and party stalwarts continue to assert that the PDP government is performing “satisfactorily’.
However, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, international human rights groups, European Union and the general public beg to differ and remain adamant that the performance of the PDP has been lamentable.When top PDP officials were boasting that the party would “rule” for an unbroken 60 years it was based upon the disorganized opposition rather than any outstanding success in administration. Although they may be able to dislodge PDP at the polls, it would be a monumental surprise if the APC can provide the solution to our problems. Their main problem is that they are not a new party but simply an alliance of the same old re-cycled politicians who over the years got us into this mess.Practically every top official of APC has at one time or another been in PDP and this is not a good sign.
Ever since the highest office of the Presidency was won without a manifesto, politicians have come to view articulating a manifesto as an unnecessary waste of time.The 2015 election will like most others be centred on personalities rather than issues, so even if APC wins what will change? The sincerity of those castigating the PDP and making inflammatory allegations on behalf of the APC is questionable as most of them were key players in the failing PDP administration.
A major failure of the PDP is their acceptance of ethical and moral laxity by their leaders. Over the years under the PDP Julius Berger PLC has built homes for governors, ministers, and presidents, members of the National Assembly are given free phones and lines by inefficient and fraudulent telecom operators. Senators and representatives receive gifts and monies from ministries and agencies that they are supposed to supervise. First ladies start NGOs and government money is pumped into them without accountability, and state governors develop their home towns beyond other areas in their states. Since assuming office President Jonathan has caused a housing estate to be built in his village, a federal university to be located there, the access road to be rehabilitated, and the church to be renovated — all tied one way or another to public expense. Although unethical, none of these acts is actually against the law. Nigeria like many other countries is still facing challenges in terms of security, employment, business opportunities, water supply, health delivery and vocational education.
The APC should focus on proposing solutions to these problems and moving the nation further forward. Observers find it hard to see who in the APC set up can claim the higher moral standards required for successful administration of the nation. The paucity of new blood in our politics is not helped by the APC merger.  Once again failed aged politicians will have succour rather than go home and rest to give the youth a chance. Youth and vibrancy are scarce in our political arena,to say the least.  Perusing the list of governors or ministers, political education and visionary ideology is almost non-existent. As for all the special advisers or senior special assistants, most of them have passed their used by date! What the nation requires and indeed deserves isnew blood, new ideas and new approaches which will yield performance that is exceptional not simply “satisfactory”.
There are people who can provide this new approach but the signs are not good as opportunities for their emergence are limited.
It goes without saying that PDP needs to be replaced by a party with conscience, a manifesto, and philosophy and a commitment to reducing the cost of governance and delivering the dividends of good administration. The looming political crisis of the 2015 elections highlights all the ills associated with politics in Nigeria where bitterness, attack, blackmail, insults, killings and outright lies have become the order of the day.
We must look further than 2015 elections to find new blood. Looking at the APC top officials, if ever there was a case of old wine in a new bottle, this is it. Reports of a heated polity, ongoing preparations for vote rigging, inciting campaign statements, political assassinations, and a general apprehen-sion all tend to give a sense of déjà-vu.