Lagos APC and lessons from Osun
Afew days ago, I was listening to newspapers press review on a local radio, where a Lagos APC stalwart claimed that his party would rule Lagos for the next twenty years.
His assertion was not the first in Nigeria, nay the world. The beetle, a pop musical group in late 1960s claimed that they were more popular than Jesus Christ. At the end, the group separated. A political leader in western Nigeria, also claimed that Jesus was not able to see His children, but he was able to see his own. Not knowing that Jesus is alive.
A few years ago, one leader from PDP claimed that his party would rule Nigeria for 36 years. A few year later another of the same party asserted that PDP would rule Nigeria for 70 years. What has become of all these assertions? Nothing.
The APC in Lagos has put itself on the ladder of disintegration, and if care is not taken, it may spread to other southwest states. The leadership of APC in Lagos is playing god and the Almighty God may assert His power over all human beings. It was Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who indirectly popularized Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by refusing to pay Lagos State Local Governments’ allocations after three court judgments against the Federal Government.
Every reasonable Nigerian especially those living in Lagos were against the Federal Government’s stand, and, were ready to side with then governor of Lagos. After the general election of 2007, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu came out to thank Lagosians for their support of his political party, A.D.
Any fool can nurse the ambition of becoming anything in his life with the support of the so called ‘power-thatbe’. Election in Nigeria has now gone beyond ‘follow your leader’. Everybody can now think for himself or herself.
Leaders of political parties should know that many Nigerians now know better and they are not ready to mortgage their conscience.
What many of these die-hard politicians don’t realize or accept is that it is the marginal voters that decide elections.
If care is not taken what played out in Ekiti when Governor Ayodele Fayose won election to the government house the second time will also play-out in Lagos. APC in Ekiti State divided their votes between Fayemi and Bamidele and that gave Fayose an edge over APC candidate.
Another era of Governor Otedola is about to play in Lagos again with the current stand of the leadership of APC in Lagos. It is still possible to avert this ugly and terrible disaster Lagos. APC leadership should manage this situation very well to avoid disaster for the party in Lagos State.
I repeat, it is not the die-hard card carrying members that decide elections, but, marginal voters.
You can see what I mean in the State of Osun’s Governorship election. Persecution of political opponents always leads to their popularity, so the leadership of APC in Lagos should be careful.
Dr. Sunday Ajai, Lagos