Ezeoke’s final blow to ANPP

Ezeoke is at the centre piece of this drama that is continually unfolding. The maverick of Nigerian politics, as he is popularly known, was a foundation member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He decamped along with other PDP agents like Rochas Okorocha and Admiral Augustus Aikhomu to form the UNPP and then they […]

Ezeoke is at the centre piece of this drama that is continually unfolding. The maverick of Nigerian politics, as he is popularly known, was a foundation member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He decamped along with other PDP agents like Rochas Okorocha and Admiral Augustus Aikhomu to form the UNPP and then they consummated what has now become an ill-fated merger with the APP to become ANPP. All the other members of the UNPP who joined the ANPP have since returned to the PDP after successfully creating confusion at the ANPP 2003 National Convention. Ezeoke like he did during the alliance of the NPN and the NPP in the 2nd Republic apparently stayed behind to conclude the assignment.

He succeeded in forming a new group within the ANPP on behalf of the presidency with Alhaji Adamu Aliero and Sani Yerima the governor of Kebbi and Zamfara States at the time.  The group as usual exploited the machinery of the party and ensured that Aliero emerged as the chairman of the party’s National Convention Committee. The National Convention was easily manipulated to ensure that Ezeoke and his cohorts in the group Senator Saidu Kumo became the National Chairman and Secretary respectively. Kumo is representing the interest of the Borno State governor, Senator Modu Sheriff, a reputable member of the Villa Group.

Aliero was soundly rewarded when the PDP allowed him to take over the party’s structure in Kebbi State to facilitate his defection and eventual appointment as Federal Minister of juicy FCT.  Yarima was compensated through the selection of leaders of his phantom presidential campaign committee to become the party’s representatives in the troubled Government of National Unity (GNU).

The successful takeover of the soul of ANPP by the Villa Group created opportunity to strategically face their target which was the frustration of the presidential challenge of General Muhammadu Buhari against Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua. The group started by attempting to manipulate the ANPP National Convention of 2006 aimed at picking the presidential flag bearer. It mounted pressure internally and externally to pave a backyard way for Sani Yerima to become the party’s candidate but the tension at the Eagle Square did not allow the planned imposition thus, Buhari emerged to fly the party’s flag. The Villa Group quickly retraced itself and succeeded in producing a running mate for Buhari in the 2007 election. Buhari naively succumbed and made Ezeoke his running mate while the latter still holds onto the position of the National Chairman of the party.

This pairing greatly weakened the ticket and gave the Yar’adua/Goodluck ticket a smooth ride. This created a great crisis in the party and a slight on the National Working Committee that recommended Dr Ogbonaya Onu, Chief Harry Akande and Chief John Oyegun as formidably running mates to Buhari unaware of the grand plan of the Villa Group. The pairing failed and the nation mourned.

The group again quickly regrouped after achieving its plan to ensure adequate platform for negotiation of its compensation in the new government. It urged Buhari to proceed to court. The Buhari case became a focal point of our democracy nationally and internationally. It created panic around the presidency. This availed the Villa Group the needed opportunity to renegotiate to be part of the national cake with the emergence of a GNU arrangement.   

Kumo and the nominees of Yerima became direct beneficiaries of the compensation for the Villa Group. The group continued their grand plan and moved to destroy all forms of evidence needed to fight the Buhari case at the tribunal.

Ezeoke announced the withdrawal of the party in the case and directed all structures of the party not to provide any support for Buhari in the case. He also requested that his name be struck out on the charge sheet as the running mate. It was a technical blow for the case. Buhari continued the matter in court without sufficient depth and evidence. Notable leaders of the party like the governors of Bauchi and Zamfara amongst others soon began the search for greener pastures and they found the PDP platform a more reliable stand for their aspirations. This left the party further weakened.  

The Villa Group ensured that the party has not held its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in the last two years, a flagrant disregard for the party’s constitution which expressly provided for NEC to be held quarterly.

The latest move by the group has commenced with the flag off of another plot to ensure PDP’s easy return to power in 2011.  It started in July 2009 when a group with the backing of the Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekerau orchestrated a plan under the leadership of the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr Musa Yesufu to checkmate the group. The plot was punctured.

The National caucus put in place a committee headed by the governor of Yobe State, a new convert for the group. The committee was mandated to recommend within two weeks a way to reposition the party. The committee has evaded all platforms created for the submission of the report after five months! The plot is to hold down the party and buy them time for their next move.

The fresh move from this group is to release an action plan that will sustain Ezeoke in the saddle of the party leadership till September 2010. This will ensure the perfection of the group plan for an easy PDP victory in 2011. The group under Ezeoke might ensure the party does not field viable candidates in all elections towards the 2011 elections at all levels.

It has already started with Anambra State where Ezeoke and his anointed candidate in his home state are allegedly working in league with the candidate of the presidency in the state. The ANPP candidate has since withdrawn into oblivion.

The group has released a nomination guideline for all elections even when the party is in disarray. The aim is to impose lame candidates at all levels but keep the party weakly in existence by negotiating with the presidency.

Ekeku wrote from Lagos Street, Garki II, Abuja