Katsina’s APC: A need for introspection

However, as the build-up to the 2015 general elections gathers momentum, some disturbing developments in the polity point to the need for treading with caution. Apart from war songs by some notable politicians, violent tendencies are creeping into the electioneering campaign, to the extent that some are resorting to the use of thugs to intimidate […]

However, as the build-up to the 2015 general elections gathers momentum, some disturbing developments in the polity point to the need for treading with caution. Apart from war songs by some notable politicians, violent tendencies are creeping into the electioneering campaign, to the extent that some are resorting to the use of thugs to intimidate their opponents.  A case in point is the recent unfortunate incident of the killing of a PDP supporter, allegedly by a supporter of the APC. This is a sad development in the state’s march to greatness.
Democracy has nothing to do with violence, as such it is a condemnable act and all well-meaning indigenes and citizens of Katsina State should rise to the occasion by not only denouncing violence but reject politicians with history of violence or its tendencies. As a supporter of the APC who is conversant with Katsina politics and especially that of the oppositions, I posit that the party should beam its search light on those who are out to destroy our party by not only causing disaffection among its members but also seem to be conniving with the ruling PDP to destroy the ever-growing electoral chances of the APC in the state.
Though the murder of the PDP supporter is a subject of police investigation, there is the need for the investigation to be extended to all those aspiring to occupy elective positions especially those with baggage of violence in their political history. I said this because, there is every tendency that, some over ambitious aspirants might in their attempt to outwit their opponents resort to all manner of actions to realise their objective. This is necessary in view of the fact that some persons are not comfortable with the closeness of former speaker Masari and our leader, General Muhammadu Buhari who is seeing as the pillar behind Masari’s aspiration. Therefore for such persons to hide and collude with external forces and perpetuate any evil may not be a surprise.
After all, already, there are rumours making round that a former Senator from the Northern Katsina zone who is known to have fallen apart with General Buhari is allegedly conniving with a certain elder from the Southern Katsina zone and are said to have been sponsored by some powerful interest to ensure that Buhari’s interest and politics are jeopardised from home. Unconfirmed reports indicate that these two heavyweights are lured into the pull-Buhari-down project by some vested interest at the national level. The elder who is a leading contractor is said to be hoodwinked into this political misadventure after he was promised some favours in return of his effort at seeing ensuring that the project sails through.
With this piece of information, it becomes necessary for both the APC and General Buhari to be wary of those who masquerade themselves as party elders and also those whose loyalty is in serious doubt particularly looking at their political sojourn of inconsistency and lack of principles. It is on record that some leading party members with a particular reference to a former National Assembly member from Daura zone were at one time trusted by General Buhari but they betrayed that trust and went ahead to wine and dine with the arch rivals of the General who have perpetually stand in his way in their avowed stance to ensure that he is humiliated and stopped from achieving his lifetime vision of providing succour to the oppressed and the downtrodden.
Already, those known to be close to General Buhari are facing tough challenge ostensibly aimed at targeting the General himself. Recent exchange of hot words between a serving Senator who minces no word in his loyalty to the Daura-born General reveals a grand design by some powerful interest led by an elder who is alleged to have his roots from Niger, the said elder is alleged to have secured over N9bn loan which he is struggling to clear hence his involvement in the pull-Buhari-project.
Those fake advocates of the masses are at their game again, unconscious of the age-long adage ‘once beaten twice shy’. The APC is not APP or ANPP and General Buhari is richer in wisdom and experience, too. A stitch in time saves nine. We must stop those hiding within our fold to perpetrate ignoble acts that will be blamed on their opponents. In fact, it is my candid view, that whoever amongst the aspirants has any trace of betrayal against the electorates or General Buhari, should not only be stopped from his ambition by disallowing him the  opportunity from achieving his aim under APC, but ensure that he is kept in the dark as far as party activities are concerned.
Lawal wrote in from Kofar Sauri, Katsina State.