Single party structure won’t work ( 4)

THERE was also the Great Nigeria’s People Party ( GNPP) headed by Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim ( 26 February 1926 – 1992). In October 1979, the ruling party NPN had the president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and seven governors while the UPN had five governors, the NPP had three, the GNPP had two and the PRP had two. After the October elections in 1983, the NPN retained the President with five more governors

There were no political parties from December 31, 1983 when General Muhammadu Buhari took over power till he was overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1985.

On October 7, 1989, the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida GCFR, addressed the nation during which he decreed the existence of two parties in Nigeria, the Social Democratic Party( SDP) and the National Republican Convention ( NRC). According to him, “by this decision, the AFRC has declared its acceptance of the principles of a grassroots democratic two- party system. It is our belief that the system shall: provide a grassroots basis for the emergence of political parties, establish a grassroots or mass platform for the emergence of new leadership, give equal rights and opportunities to all Nigerians to participate in the political process irrespective of their wealth, religion, geo- political backgrounds and professional endeavours, de- emphasise the role of money in politics, reduce, to a minimum level, the element of violence in our electoral process, preclude the emergence of political alliances along the same lines as in the First Republics and, therefore, give Nigerians a new political structure within which to operate.

“It shall also ensure the emergence of a new, more dedicated and more genuine leadership cadre, which will not be a more proxy for old political warlords, chart a new pattern of political recruitment and participation which will enhance Nigeria’s stability, establish strong instructional structures which not only sustain future governments, but also be strong enough to stand the test of time and finally establish a political system that will be operated according to the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the Federal Republic”.

By annulling the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, General Babangida himself annulled his two party structure in Nigeria. On June 26, 1993, in a broadcast to the nation, he regretted the annulment, he said “I feel, as I believe you yourself feel, a profound sense of disappointment at the outcome of our last efforts at laying the foundation of a viable democratic system of government in Nigeria”.

From 1999, the PDP was in power at the centre till 2015. The party’s officials boasted that the party would be in power forever. I remember Alhaji Kawu Baraje of the PDP boasted on Wednesday, September 11, 2011 “We will continue to make it and PDP will continue forever as the dominant political party in Nigeria”.

The PDP Chairman at that time, Chief Vincent Eze Ogbulafor ( 24 May 1949 – 6 October 2022) said on November 22, 2009 that the PDP will rule the country for the next sixty years.

However, the Patron of the PDP then, former President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR on February 16, 2015 tore his PDP membership card in Abeokuta. The tearing of the party’s membership card by President Obasanjo was like a curse. Some felt it was a spiritual curse. It was like an imprecation- an invocation or evil or calamity on the PDP. Till today, the anathema has remained with the PDP. Since then the PDP has not won the Presidential election. On April 1, 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR GCON lost the presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR of the APC. The defeat of former President Jonathan ended the invincibility of the Presidency in Nigeria.

At present, the APC is the ruling party in the country but it is an amalgamation of many political parties. It was founded on 6 February 2013).

Those who founded the APC were from ANPP- Ogbonnaya Onu, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Ibrahim Gaidam, Kashim Shettima, Abdulazeez Yari, Ali Modu Sheriff, Rufai Sani, Kabiru Gaya, Maina Ma’aji Lawan, Buka Abba Ibrahim, Lanre Amusu, Abdulrahman Adamu, Saliu Momoh, Ramatu Tijjani, Geoffrey Yilleng, Solomon

Iyobosa Edebiri, Nelson Alapa, S. A. Kawu Sumaila, Peter Edeh, Gambo Magaji, Emma Eneukwu, George N. Moghalu and Attahiru Bafarawa.

Others are from ACN Tom Ikimi, Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Raji Fasola, Olusegun Osoba, Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, Lai Mohammed, John Akpan- Udoedehe , Osagie Ize- Iyamu, George Akume, Lawan Shuaibu, Audu Ogbeh, Achike Udenwa, John Odigie- Oyegun, Chris Ngige, Rabia H. A. Eshak, Yusuf G. Ali, Usman Bugaje, Abike Dabiri- Erewa, Boni Haruna, Chief Henry Dele Ajomale, Garba Abari, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Abubakar Audu.

From CPC— Muhammadu Buhari, Umaru Tanko Al- Makura, Garba M. Gadi, Okoi Obono- Obla, Tam David- West, Sabo Nanono, Hadi Sirika, Osita Okechukwu , Bernard Banfa, B. D. Lawal, Haruna Yerima, Shittu Adebayo, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Adaugo Obi, Oscar Udorji, Lucy Ajayi, Osagie Ehanire, Buba Bajoga, Ife Oyedele, Jimi Lawal, Rotimi Fashakin, Solomon Ewuga, Abubakar Malami, Barr. James Ocholi and Yahaya Ibrahim Shinko.

From APGA, we had Rochas Okorocha, Annie Okonkwo, Osita Izunaso, Emeka Okpara, Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Ezennia Denton Ogbuehi, Esq, Chuka Ama- Nwauwa, Marshal Uche Okaforanyanwu, Chuks Chinwuba, Barr. Obiora Samuel Igwedibia, Ayim Chinenye Nyerere, Stanley Ugochukwu Ohajuluk, Peter Chigozie Okonkwo, Jacob Sunday Chukwu, Prof. Fabian C. Osuji, P. C. Onuoha, Olisaemeka Akamukali, Romanus Egbuladike, Maigari Duigiyadia, Pius Ewherido, Great Ovedje Ogboru and John Bala Takaya.

After the merger, were Chibuike Amaechi, Aliyu Wamakko, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Murtala Nyako, Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal, Abubakar Baraje, Adamu Aliero and Danjuma Goje.

The APC, which is in power today in the centre, could be in the present shoes of the PDP in future, who knows. The certainty of the Nigeria’s politics is the uncertainty.

Politics in Nigeria is always interesting. What a country. What a people.

Concluded

Teniola is a former Director in the Presidency.