Re: Why CPC should be wary of defectors

Like the writer pointed out, the party is now home to estranged members of other political parties who mostly lost out in the power equation in those parties and are desperate for where to hang out. It is equally true that since Buhari began tour of the states to commission these offices, the huge crowd […]

Like the writer pointed out, the party is now home to estranged members of other political parties who mostly lost out in the power equation in those parties and are desperate for where to hang out. It is equally true that since Buhari began tour of the states to commission these offices, the huge crowd of people who trooped to the streets to welcome him has been unprecedented.
One thing that is clear from the writer’s assertion here is that the unprecedented crowd that turn out in those places that the party offices were commissioned or where estranged members of other political parties were received were not there because of the popularity of the defectors but that of the former head of state. For instance, Katsina literally stood still for Buhari during the reception for the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari and co. who defected to the new party and not the defectors. Non of the defectors in Katsina including Masari can pull any crowd excerpt hired thugs. And come to think of it, what did Masari really want? Political power at all cost as it were. The once docile Masari suddenly realized that his former party needed a reform and became its vocal advocate and in another breath, he dumps the party because it can never be reformed. Here was a party on which platform he contested and won the House of Representatives seat and later became speaker. At that vantage position of speakership, he never realized that his party was in need of reform. When his attempt at launching himself into the party’s mainstream failed, he soon discovers that the party lacks “credibility” and he became a man of “principle” that ought to be with a party that has ideological principle. Masari’s sudden volt face only reinforces the greed factor and selfishness of those who clamour for political positions.  
The former speaker should be informed that what defines a true leader is his ideology; his principle. The CPC’s ideological base today is an individualistic stand of the former head of state cultivated over the years. It is this ideology and principle that endeared him to his teeming supporters who are ever ready to laid down their lives for him.  What is the ideological base? Honesty in governance; discipline in civil life, credibility in holding public trust; rejecting the idea of elevating theft to a national statue, lack of greed.
Where was the former speaker when Buhari was sweating out in the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP)?  CPC is a fall-out of the power struggle that dodged the ANPP. It was registered to accommodate the former leader and his supporters who were aggrieved because of the way the General was treated during the last presidential elections and how the ANPP was run. The former speaker was not part of this principled struggle that culminated in the emergence of this ‘baby.’ He did not show it here. So, to my mind, he should not also reap. He should not use the Buhari short-cut which always serves as quick-fix ticket to political positions.
It is being insinuated that the political forte Governor lbrahim Shema is building ahead of the 2011 governorship elections is being threatened with the former speaker’s defection as they believe that he may also vie for the governorship seat.  It is a fact that they are growing army of opposition politicians in the state. There is also the existence of labyrinths of intrigues and high-wired political scheming in the state which are tailored attempts at derailing Shema’s second-term ambition, which has precipitated the heating- up of the state’s political cauldron. It is true that within his party, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and outside of it, the anti-Shema forces are on the increase with a network that criss-cross divergent interests.
However, these anti-Shema forces are familiar and speaker Masari has been one of the arrow heads. They are a handful few whose voices will remain muffled by the thundering voices of the masses in the state whose lives are changing for the good by the transformation that is going on in the state. It is the same masses that will decide who their leader will be in the coming election not these so-called leaders. 
Shema has been surviving the murky waters of Katsina State politics because the masses want him and he has kept fate with them.  The governor in a state -wide perception audit recently received an overwhelming approval rating in all sectors for his performance as the state chief executive. An average 81 per cent of respondents endorsed the governor’s re-election in 2011 should he decide to run for a second term. This is an indication that the governor’s giant stride does not go unnoticed. The survey result is a thumb up for services rendered. The series of endorsement going on in the state by different group is also a testimony to this.
So, the Buhari whirlwind will not just sweep Masari into power in the next election. There is even no need for Shema to lose sleep over his defection to CPC.
Like Mr Ede pointed out in his piece, the mass exodus of the so-called top notch of other parties to CPC especially from the ruling party has created fear among party members that the crises that dodged such massive cross-carpeting to ANPP may rear their ugly heads in the new party. That is why it needs to be watchful and careful of the category of people it opens its door for in the wave of defection that is sweeping through other parties.
Labaran Ademu, Brigade Quarters, Kano.