The long-term speculations about the emergence of a mega party in the political landscape may have materialised recently, when the supposed mega party, Action Democratic Party, officially approached the Independent National Electoral Commission and submitted all required documents for its registration as a political party, ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The ADP, headed by an interim National Chairman, Engr. Yagbayi Sani, said that it was out to deliver Nigerians from the untold hardship, which the All Progressives Congressled government has plunged them into since its assumption of office in May 2015.
Sani also declared that the ADP was determined to dislodge the ruling APC at the centre come 2019 general elections.
political analysts opined that identifying publicly with the new party may be counterproductive, especially as many of the proponents allegedly hold key and sensitive positions, not only in the APC, but in the Muhammadu Buhariled administration
He said, “The current pathetic and weak conditions of the existing major political parties in Nigeria as well as the challenging socio-economic and political situation in the country, gave birth to this child of necessity.
“This situation has also led to public frustration and pains, as a result of which the general public now yearns for an alternative political party made up of credible Nigerians that will chart a new innovative course of action to put Nigeria on the path of sustainable development and national cohesion.”
He added that so far, he was happy with the optimism Nigerians have shown in accepting the party, which he said was still in its embryonic stage. But most Nigerian politicians, believed to be the brains behind the mega party are yet to be visible or identified with the ADP.
However, political analysts have opined that identifying publicly with the new party may be counterproductive, especially as many of the proponents allegedly hold key and sensitive positions, not only in the APC, but in the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Be that as it may, political observers, who have been keenly watching events as they unfold, opined that the emerging party may eventually not live up to the expectations of Nigerians, especially, if its sponsors are ‘careless in some areas like the ruling APC.
INVISIBLE SPONSORS
Despite the arrival of the mega party on the political horizon, which has sent a warning signal to the ruling APC and the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party, observers, however, believe that the non-visibility of its major sponsors on time may cause it more harm than good.
According to them, this situation may discourage Nigerians, who have long been awaiting the party to move the country forward.
Though, there have been several speculations that major sponsors of the party are aggrieved members of the ruling APC, led by a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu and some disgruntled PDP stalwarts, who are ready to see Buhari off the seat of power come 2019, many rumoured proponents of the mega party have continually denied their involvement. But a PDP stalwart, who pleaded anonymity, told The Point that the denial was expected, since most people would at present distance themselves from any involvement in the new party, because of the timing.
“It is important that they all lay low until the timing is right, so that people are not framed and thrown into jail for pursuing an agenda different from theirs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tinubu, reacting to his involvement in the formation of yet another political platform to challenge the APC in the 2019 elections, said he had no intention of abandoning the ruling party, which he laboured to build.
He added that despite the mistakes that had been made by the APC, he remained committed to the “ideals that fuelled” the formation of the ruling party.
The former Lagos State governor said that the national purpose of the APC was bigger than the desire of any individual. “I have devoted my political life to achieving what has been achieved.
My heart is too much of the people and my mind too fixed on establishing a positive historic legacy… rather than engage in destructive pettiness,” he said.
He added, “This APC government, is for the betterment of the people and the national purpose is bigger and more important than any individual’s desires. This is a party I laboured with others to build.
We would not abandon it for another. Millions of Nigerians who voted are watching and praying. “In our journey to national betterment, plans and policies will be made, then amended. Mistakes will occur and then corrected. Achievements will be had and replicated.
Through it all, I, Asiwaju, will remain true to the progressive ideals that fuelled the creation of APC.” Likewise, a source close to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also denied his involvement in any shape or form in the proposed mega party, saying that the concern of the former vice-president was the success of President Buhari, and he would not do anything inimical to the collective interest and ideology of the ruling party.
Pleading anonymity, the source said, “I think we should ignore those who, out of self-interest, are trying to drive a wedge between the former Vice-President, Abubakar and his party, the APC.
“Right now, our nation needs unity of purpose, not political brinkmanship; we are facing formidable economic and structural challenges, and we should focus on fixing the many things that prevent us from unleashing our economic and entrepreneurial potential, instead of pretending that a little political theatre will magically make things work.”
POSSIBLE PROBLEM FROM ZONING OF OFFICES
In pursuit of its quest to grapple with the ruling APC, leaders of the emerging ADP had already zoned its National Executive Committee slots to the various zones of the country. According to a document released by the political association, the National Chairmanship position has been zoned to the North-Central, while the Deputy National Chairmanship has been zoned to the SouthWest.
The South-East zone is to produce the National Secretary as well as the National Legal Adviser, while the North-West has the National Organising Secretary zoned to it, while the National Treaturer will come from the South-South.
The ADP made provisions for two zones to produce the deputy national chairmen, just as it created a new office of National Diaspora Adviser, which has never existed in either the PDP or APC.
Other allocations of offices were as follows: North-Central, National Welfare Secretary, National Vice Chairman, Vice National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Woman Leader, Assistant National Secretary, Deputy National Treasurer; National Vice woman leader, National Vice Youth Leader and Ex-Official (2 males, 1 female); North-West, National Woman Leader, National Vice Chairman, Vice National Publicity Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, Deputy National Youth Leader, Deputy National Welfare Secretary, Vice National Woman Leader and Ex-Officio (2 males,1 female); North-East, Deputy National Chairman, National Vice Chairman, National Auditor, Deputy National Financial Secretary, National Vice Woman Leader, National Vice Youth leader and Ex-Officio (2 males, 1 female).
From the South-South, the Vice National Welfare Secretary, National Vice Chairman, National Youth leader, Deputy Woman Leader, National Leader- PLWD, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Vice National Youth Leader and Ex-Officio (2 males,1 female) would emerge; while the South-West will produce Deputy National Chairman, National Publicity Secretary, National Vice Chairman, National Financial Secretary, Vice National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Youth Leader, Deputy National Auditor, National Vice Woman Leader, National Vice Youth leader and Ex-Officio (2 males,1 female) and the South-East has the slots of Vice National Publicity Secretary, National Vice Chairman, National Diaspora Adviser, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Deputy National LeaderPLWD, National Vice Woman Leader, National Vice Youth Leader and ExOfficio (2 males, 1 female).
The Point also gathered that the ADP would be zoning its presidential slot to the North, a development which analysts believed may not go down well with the South-West components of the party.
Analysts opined that the SouthWest last occupied the number one seat when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was elected in 1999 and his exist in 2007 saw the emergence of late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who could not finish his first term of four years.
Yar’Adua’s death in office paved the way for his deputy, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, from the South-South, who completed Yar’Adua’s tenure and was elected in 2011 for a term, the emergence of President Buhari in 2015.
It was argued that promoting an other Northern candidate for the Presidency may leave the South-West out of contention for the number one job for another four or eight years, a development which may be a hard nut to crack for the leaders of the emerging party.
IMPENDING WAR BETWEEN OBASANJO, ATIKU
One of the awaiting challenges, which sponsors of the incoming mega party may have to contend with is the age old crisis between former President Obasanjo and his erstwhile vice, Abubakar.
There were speculations that both Obasanjo and Abubakar are stakeholders in the emerging mega party. However, the rumpus between the duo may end up creating a herculean task for the new party.
According to sources, both Obasanjo and Abubakar have already picked their interest in the party, but the sponsors, who may likely support Abubakar for ADP presidential ticket, may have a lot to face from Obasanjo, who had allegedly given a condition for his supporting the party.
The Point gathered that Obasanjo’s condition for lending his support to the mega party was that his embattled vice while in office would not by any means smell the presidential ticket of the party come 2019.
Another source, who does not want to be named said that “when Obasanjo was approached to lend his support to the new party, he pointedly told the proponents of the new party that he was prepared to back it on the condition that Abubakar was not picked as the party’s presidential candidate.”
Another source, who also hinted at the development, confirmed the strigent condition Obasanjo gave before the party could get his total support, which is not fielding Abubakar as presidential candidate, saying, “It is true, that is very correct.”
He further revealed that the reason Obasanjo did not want to make another mistake with Abubakar stemmed from his regret for coming round to support Buhari despite his reservations.
Meanwhile, The Point gathered that former governor of Lagos State, Tinubu, was already secretly pushing for an Abubakar presidency come 2019.
Recall that Tinubu recently tipped the former vice president as the solution to Nigeria’s problem, adding that it will take people like Abubakar, to make life more meaningful for Nigerians.
The Point also gathered, however that Tinubu was the only major ally in the mega party, who has refused to buy into Obasanjo’s position on his former vice, although Tinubu has continually denied his involvement in the mega party.
PROBLEMS OF OLD RECYCLED POLITICIANS
Another quagmire which ADP may need to battle, if it cares to win the support of many Nigerians, is the parade of old and recycled politicians, who seemed to dominate its membership, and who Nigerians believed are responsible for the state of the nation today.
Analysts believe that the ADP, from the look of things, would be dominated by the same set of old and recycled politicians, who had spent time in either of the PDP or the APC, which by implication, means that the same set of ideas and policies, which led to the failure of past administrations in the country, would be foisted on the people once again.
The senator representing Kogi West in the Senate, Dino Melaye, said that it was high time those he described as old cargoes are chased out of the nation’s political landscape. He described them as the major problem of the nation, adding that they were responsible for our present terrible state He challenged the youths that if they are desirous of weeding out the old and recycled politicians from the system, they must come out and participate actively in political activities in the country, and take their rightful positions, up to the leadership level.
Meanwhile, the only female presidential candidate in the 2015 elections, Prof Oluremi Sonaiya, said that the major challenge Nigerians would have with the coming ADP is the dominance of the same old and recycled politicians who have achieved nothing for the country in the past.
She said, “I will say that if the mega party is going to be peopled by the same set of Nigerian politicians, who have been recycling themselves in different political parties in the country over time, then it will not help this country.
I am saying this because I know that the party will be full of the same set of politicians, whose primary objective is to take over power at all cost and enrich their pockets. “For me, I don’t see the party as the messiah to save this country.
What new idea does it has for this country? Who are the people there? Are they not the same set of people that we know in Nigerian politics?” She however urged Nigerians to flush out the recycled politicians in the coming electioneering period, adding, “I hope Nigerians will one day come to the conclusion of chasing all these old politicians who have deceived us for decades, away with their votes and usher in new set of people with good ideology to move us forward. And I believe that now is even the time.
Nigerians ought to have known that these set of people have nothing to offer us, except enslaving us and impoverishing the people. It is time they are flushed out of Nigerian politics for new people with good ideas that will help us.”
