It is
remarkable that in the course of the recent bashing of the All Progressives
Grand Alliance by some defecting, notable members of the party and other sundry
detractors, Anambra State Governor and by extension, leader of the party, Chief
Willie Obiano, largely stood aloof from the fray. It seemed the case that Obiano
chose not to utter a word over the altercations in recognition of the need to
play the statesman and diffuse the gathering tension. With the benefit of
hindsight however, there can be little doubt that aside from prudence, and the business
of delivering good governance, the Governor was rather preoccupied with how to
grow the party and take it to higher levels. As the foremost public office
holder elected on the ticket of the party, it naturally devolved on him to take
the lead in harnessing the potentials of the organization. This resolve to assume the historic
responsibility of fulfilling the mission of APGA is evident in certain
occurrences in the party. The recent declaration for the party by the immediate
past Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr Alex Otti is a significant
development.
Coming at a
time critics have been unrelenting in their negative portrayal of the party,
the decision of Otti to join APGA just like the earlier case of Emmanuel
Iheanacho, former Minister of Interior, indicates that the public perception of
APGA has not changed despite the spirited attempts to run down its image. With people of such stature as Otti and
Iheanacho embracing APGA at times like this, it means that the defining values
of the party are still intact and perhaps, being better nourished. Whichever way we look at it, increasing party
membership, more so, of the enlightened and elite cadre at a supposed time of
crisis, connotes a vote of confidence on the leadership of the party.
The rapport
between the Governor and the party apparatchik represented by the party
chairman, Victor Umeh is believed to be a factor in the unity of the party
leadership. Deriving from this strength of oneness, firmness and purpose, the
party has been able to stay focused. The solidarity of the two offices
invariably lent the party the armour to withstand the spate of subversions
against it; and further availing Governor Obiano the climate for realising good
governance.
A political
party is supposed to be an association of persons sharing similar philosophies
for organizing the state and utilizing its resources for the welfare of the
citizens. To this extent, political parties are ‘ideological’ movements such
that members’ commitment to the principles of the ‘ideology’ becomes the
staying force of a party irrespective of the extent of territory it controls in
a polity. Unfortunately, many Nigerians have been misled into the erroneous
impression that the worth of a political party is measured by the number of
power centres it acquires from elections. Recall the subsisting legal challenge
to the plot to deregister political parties in Nigeria for inability to win
stipulated legislative /executive seats in elections.
General
Ibrahim Babangida made a misguided attempt at creating two ‘ideological’
parties in 1990. The parties were artificial and constricted by the fact of
their imposition. Worse, they were to operate in an environment that was the
very antithesis of the sanity they were supposed to engender. Military rule had
long bred a milieu of corruption in the country. But the regime’s unwritten
policy of ‘settlement’ in particular dealt a mortal blow to party loyalty.
Again, recall the quicksand of shifting interests in the SDP and NRC over the
June 12 election saga, from the annulment through the Interim National
Government to Abacha’s coup.
Whereas
many political parties of the Fourth Republic are considered directionless and
fragile, some are at a loss understanding the cohesion of APGA. The party rates
as one of the most brutalized, yet resilient opposition parties. APGA has kept
afloat in the stormy waters of Nigerian government and politics principally because
of the interwoven fortunes of its mission and leadership. It had been
registered in 2002 to aggregate progressive tendencies in national politics and
offer a geo – balance to other regional – based parties. As a movement, APGA is
concerned about giving a voice to the voiceless; revisiting the plight of the
marginalized; and charting an inclusive process for forging a stable political
union in the country.
Governor
Obiano has been mindful enough not to abandon the party faithful that helped
him come to power. It is not necessary to alienate party supporters from the
system just to prove that government is a serious business. By rallying members
of the party and giving them a sense of belonging, Obiano has struck the fine
balance to hold government and party together. Even while not a politician
until last year, it is noteworthy that the Governor recognizes the place of
party caucuses and their input in decision – making.
In the
light of APGA’s historical and policy perspectives then, membership longevity,
as desirable as it is, does not weigh as much as personal commitment in
impacting on the fortunes of the party. Thus, it is easy to see how Willie
Obiano, though a relatively newcomer in APGA is already leaving his imprint in
the repositioning of the party for a greater role in national affairs.
Reconstruction of the APGA machinery had become imperative for similar reasons
that necessitated the recreation of Anambra’s economy and society. In tandem
with the demand of charity, it is only natural that the rebuilding of APGA
should commence in the zone where the party first sprouted.
Otti had
hinted at this inspiration on the occasion of his courtesy visit at Government
House, Awka, on November 12, 2014. Explaining
the rationale behind his pitching tent with APGA, Otti remarked he was swayed
by Obiano’s commendable footsteps in private and public office. A high profile
corporate player as Obiano himself, Otti was as much impressed by the
Governor’s smooth transition from the boardroom to politics as by his laudable
strides in office in so short a time. APGA
has further become attractive as a party without a dictator – godfather
standing in the way of participatory democracy and development.
With Obiano
beginning to transform Anambra State in the critical areas of governance, it
would be a super story if Otti and Iheanacho, accomplished professionals who
also share the APGA spirit, realize their governorship aspirations in Abia and Imo
States respectively. For the challenge before Nigeria’s political parties today
is to assume relevance by giving vent to the people’s needs.
By Ifeanyi Afuba,
a member of APGA, wrote from Nimo, Anambra State.
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