By John Murai
Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in line with the electoral act as amended is expected to lift the ban on political campaigns on 28TH September for the commencement of campaigns.
Meaning, political parties from that period can openly canvass for votes to enable their candidates to scale through.
The internal wranglings in some political parties may however mar or make them succeed in the race. Taking the two major political parties—the APC and PDP as my case study and why Nigerians should shine their eyes.
2023: Northern Students Endorse Atiku Abubakar For President
Wike, Makinde, Bode George, Ortom, Dankwambo Jonah Jang and others are on daily basis demonstrating to Nigerians that their personal ambitions supersede that of the masses.
They have shown this by creating unnecessary in-house crises in the country’s main opposition political party, the PDP not minding its consequences.
If truly they are for Nigerians and working to restore the lost glory of Nigeria as they claimed, they should have no option but to support their presidential candidate, Wazirin Adamawa Alh Atiku Abubakar as promised by particularly, Wike, Who publicly during the PDP presidential primaries declared that whoever emerges as the party’s flag bearer, he will support the person hundred per cent. He has since negated that promise as events in the last couple of days have shown.
On the other hand, what transpired behind the scenes which led to the emergence of JAGABAN, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC Presidential candidate during its primaries might have been a major issue amongst the contestants particularly his closest opponent, the Dan Amanan Daura, former Minister of Transportation Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi.
But for the interest of the party and Nigerians, as well as maturity to some extent, they decided to sheath their swords and personal interests and declared their support for the APC Presidential candidate demonstrating fully that in every election there must be a winner and a loser, which is good for internal democracy.
Wike and co should note that power comes from God, and He gives it to whoever He wishes and their unnecessary wranglings further expose them to the masses that they are just but fighting for their personal and selfish interests.
Talking about the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party PDP Dr Iyorchia Ayu who’s head Wike wants to behead unceremoniously, is a demonstration of arrogance at the highest level.
Readers should be reminded that the same Wike initiated the forceful and untimely removal of the immediate past PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. What were his sins? Wike and co are yet to tell Nigerians what his sins were!
For the record, Wike orchestrated the ousting of Sen. Ali Modu sheriff as national chairman of the PDP, former kaduna state Governor Ahmad Makarfi as acting chairman, forced Dr Ahmad Adamu Muazu to step down after the party lost the 2015 general election and installed his brother, prince Uche Secondus whom he later removed in the office and brought in the current PDP national chairman Iyorchia Ayu. Unfortunately, he still wants to remove Ayu at all cost after his calculations to secure the party’s presidential ticket woefully failed.
How can Nigerians believe Wike? I asked rhetorically.
Readers may also recall what transpired in 2007 when our beloved late President UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA was elected; Ahmadu Ali from the north was the PDP national chairman then.
In 2010 when we lost late YAR’ADUA, GOODLUCK JONATHAN as his vice then constitutionally took over. But the question remains what happened in 2011 and 2015 when President Goodluck Jonathan contested? Was there no North and South and the power rotation issue?
I think an elder STATEMAN CHIEF Edwin Clark Who stood his ground should come out and talk to Nigerians in this case.
The North still mourns(particularly the minority tribes) the 2011 Post election violence all in violation of the power rotation issue, where was Wike then? Why didn’t he talk?
” Addressing the 11 fallacies of Governor Wike’s media chat” written by former president GOODLUCK JONATHAN’s Aide Reno Omokri further exposes Wike’s desperation and lies.
In the excerpt, Omokri a versatile writer tackled Wike by accusing the south of jettisoning zoning during the tenure of Former President GOODLUCK JONATHAN and that Prof Iyarchia Ayu did not promise to resign once the party’s presidential candidate emerged from the north and that NEC of the party is the only constitutional body to advise him to resign but have since past a vote of confidence on the national chairman. Thank God Omokri is not from the north.
The crisis and another plan to force Ayu out of office would further create doubts amongst many Nigerians that PDP cannot be trusted anymore.
Here, I must commend the leadership of the ALL-PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS APC and president Mohammadu Buhari for managing its internal crisis at least at the presidential primary level where almost all the key players are supporting the party’s FLAG BEARER wholeheartedly with the sole aim of winning the election first and consolidating power beyond 2023 before anything else.
Going by these happenings, it is pertinent for journalists to take up their pens and write reports and articles to help shape the 2023 General election so that in the hereafter they will not be held responsible for not discharging our utmost tasks of INFORMATION, education and entertainment to the best of our knowledge and ability.
Nigeria is beyond personal and regional interests and the masses must watch out for those promoting religion, region, and ethnic politics Primarily to appease their selfish interests.
I must pose here to commend my Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed, Akwa Ibom state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, and former Senate President Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki among others who contested and Lost but still hold on to the PDP presidential candidate, Alh ATIKU ABUBAKAR despite the fact that they have issues but they kept it as internal affairs of the party which would be resolved amicably.
Look at the state of our country today. Collapsed educational system with the academic staff union of universities ASUU being on strike for about seven months now ( public universities where children of the poor are schooling), high rates of unemployment which is giving rise to most social vices today such as kidnapping, banditry and even insurgency.
Life generally is becoming unbearable for most Nigerians as people hardly eat thrice a day with rising inflation and abject poverty but what you hear from NIGERIAN politicians is an internal crisis and what they will personally benefit from and not the masses.
My people in the north will say, “anyi walkiya gari ya waye” meaning, a glimpse of light exposes everywhere”, the masses are the answers to the future of this country and our politicians going by the happenings build up to the 2023 General election at all levels have exposed themselves, demonstrated their bizarre national consciousness, Bias mind and what have you. What is left now is for all of us as Nigerians that want our children and grandchildren to enjoy the fruits of our leaders’ past eschew all sorts of differences be it political, ethnic, religious, or whatever differences and go for candidates that will take us to the promised Land because, insecurity, hunger, inflation and dearth educational system knows no religion, region or ethnicity.
Greater Nigeria.
Murai writes from Bauchi.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
