APC: There Will Always Be Change
These are very interesting times in the political landscape of Nigeria. The intrigues that played out during the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly on June 9, 2015 is a pointer to what awaits political busy-bodies, that perhaps, the real change has finally come. Change should not just mean changing political parties or defeating the ruling party and taking over control of governance. Change should be what it is, becoming different.
The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected by Nigerians to be different from what PDP was in the ways and manner they conducted the affairs of the country. They should know that Nigerians have had enough of impunity, god-fatherism, and enthronement of self and sectional interests above our collective interest and that there is nothing scientific about African time but only real time. Nigerians expect them to be progressive in a wholesome manner. It is time APC understood that it did not become the ruling party simply because its name is a brand, is so beautiful or that the souls of its members are indestructible. It got there by the grace and goodwill of Nigerians; therefore, the overall eco-political growth and welfare of all Nigerians should be its prime target.
It is too early in the day for APC to start having the kind of problems that played out recently because of distrust and miscalculated attempt to impose loyalty. It should learn from the fall of PDP and that a house divided against self cannot stand. APC is part and parcel of the political system of Nigeria and should therefore know that as a political party, it has no power over the conduct and itinerary of the National Assembly, an arm of government known to and established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It should have known that it was wrong and ill-timed to fix a meeting with its members at a time the National Assembly was supposed to convene for its inauguration, most especially, knowing that there was no other letter sent by the president, who incidentally, is a member and the national leader of the party, seeking for extra time other than the one he earlier sent to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Salisu Maikasuwu, for the commencement of proceedings. The National Assembly is what it is, national, an assembly of elected members representing different political parties. Even as the ruling party, it lacks the right to postpone, suspend or hold to ransom the programme of the National Assembly. What happened on the floor of the Senate during the election of its principal officers where a good number APC elected members were not around to vote was of its making; therefore, the party should take responsibility. Accepting things the way they are at the moment and moving on is the best way to go.
What happened on the floor of the two chambers where the party suffered its first major loss should be a lesson to its leaders. They should not blame PDP or it rebellious members because politics is a game of numbers, deft calculations and prompt actions. The lesson for APC is for it to know that it has problems. Among them are: meddlesomeness, indiscipline, god-fatherism and disloyalty. Imagine what Mr. Lai Mohammed, the party national publicity secretary said when asked if the president, who is the national leader of the party, was aware and in support of the selection and imposition of candidates for the leadership of Assembly; he said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not the leader of the party but a product of it like any other member. Eddie Nwayen, Lagos