It is no longer news that the All Progressives Congress, APC is in serious crises due to its inability to resolve the lingering zoning arrangement for party positions and the lack of commitment by the caretaker committee in setting up the various sub-committees ahead of its February 26 National Convention.
As things stand, the APC is well on its way to perdition and political oblivion if the corrupt elements masquerading as leaders in the party are allowed to have their way.
There are strong reports of an unholy alliance by these corrupt former and sitting Governors, and a presiding officer of the National Assembly for APC Chairmanship to impose 78-year-old Abdullahi Adamu, a former governor and Senator from Nasarawa State, as the APC ‘consensus’ candidate for the National Chairman of the party.
The hatchet job being perfected by these strange bedfellows seek to adopt the Septuagenarian as its candidate in exchange for some negotiated positions going into the 2023 general elections.
This latest move erodes the good efforts being put in place by party members to adopt a smart, agile and young candidate, who will be most acceptable to all in the overall interest of the party. Adamu’s imposition despite his senile age, fragile health and the baggage of corruption allegations dangling around his neck, will portray the ruling party as a conglomerate of “old fashioned” party leaders, who are not inclined with the current reality on ground and the various technologies and innovations available in the running of a ‘smart’ political party of this modern era.
An outmoded, sit-tight, authoritarian political party is what you get, when these corrupt leaders, who have placed their selfish interest above that of the party, are allowed to take decisions on behalf of a larger group.
It is in the public domain that Adamu Abdullahi, is a regular guest at the office of the EFCC on account of his fraud charges on the allegation of diverting N15 billion, while he held sway as the Governor of Nasarawa state. His son, Nuraini, is also enmeshed in charges bordering on money laundering and he was subsequently arraigned by the EFCC.
This is the time for President Muhammadu Buhari to assert his authority and firmness on his directive that aspirants with corruption cases on their neck, should not be considered for the position of the National Chairman of the party as it will plunge the party into further chaos.
President Muhammadu Buhari is already 79 years old. So can the APC afford to hand over such a sensitive position of National Chairman to this 78-year-old Senator, who should be at home looking after his health and playing with his grandchildren.
It is also in the public domain that Adamu Abdullahi has used every opportunity available while speaking to the Media that APC will never give the party to a Southerner. Views of this nature portrays the type of leadership style he will bring into running the affairs of a party that is on the brink of collapse.
Among the array of contestants that have indicated interest in becoming the national chairman of the party, Adamu Abdullahi’s name should never be mentioned, if we are being serious about running an inclusive party that hopes to win future elections and unite Nigerians.
The weary look on the majority of the serving governors faces says it all. They are not a party to these evil machinations and it is about time they call out the desperate ones among them and allow genuine party leaders to work out a model that will be acceptable to everyone.
This illegality, if allowed to stand, will not only set the APC backward in its build up to the convention, but also send the party to its early grave. A stitch in time saves nine.
Tiamiyu Hassan wrote in from Kano.
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