by Gbenga Olorunpomi
I am a member of the All Progressives Congress and I make no apologies for that. I love my party and most of the politicians therein. I believe most of our governors are the best-performing in the country because they have delivered on their promises, some under very unfavourable circumstances. I also like the fact that my party celebrates the political office holders that have done well in their offices and holds them in the highest esteem.
The last sentence in the opening paragraph is the crux of my piece. Celebrating true achievements and achievers. If there is anything that distinguishes the APC from the ruling PDP, it is our ability to recognize and reward quality and loyalty. Let me explain.
Between 1999 and 2007, two governors in the PDP did very well in my estimation; Donald Duke of Cross Rivers and Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna. These two performed excellently in my view and did enough to be the mascots of the party. While the latter is now a senator who is battling to retain his seat as he is in a power-struggle with the Vice President, the former seems to have completely left the PDP. Mallam Nasir elRufai, who helped to draft a party manifesto, was practically hustled out of the party. Same happened to Audu Ogeh, former party chairman. Can anyone tell me where Chukwuemeka Chikwuelu is right now? Even the former president, Olusgeun Obasanjo, has been discarded and made to suffer insults by the young Turks in the party.
Things are a lot different in the APC. Here, we reward excellence. We have a system that ensures performance is rewarded with recognition and responsibility. All our performing governors, senators and reps are accorded the respect they deserve. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the mastermind and chief instigator of the opposition, is revered. General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.), the People’s General, is practically worshipped. Former Chairman, Bisi Akande, is much respected.
Governor Babatunde Fashola, by virtue of his achievements, is the Chairman of the Strategy Committee of the APC. Governor Rotimi Amaechi, noted for his forthrightness, is the Chairman of the Elections Committee. Engineer Segun Oni, despite only joining the APC recently, was elected National Vice Chairman South West, because of his intelligence and track record.
While the APC is putting their intellectuals to work, only the ruffians, suspected and known crooks excel in the PDP. When asked who the best governor is in the PDP, the members are quick to mention Akpabio of Akwa Ibom. They talk of his stadium and other projects but they never add that he earns more revenue than most of the states in the south west combined. They never mention the Gombe governor who has constructed over 600 km of roads in less than 40 months.
PDP is the party that had the option of picking either Senator Isiaka Adeleke or Senator Iyiola Omisore as gubernatorial candidate in Osun and opted for the latter. This is the party that has Jelili Adesiyan, Musiliu Obanikoro and Buruji Kashamu as party leaders. Tony Anenih, Bode George, Edwin Clark are the elders of the party. What a stellar cast of characters!
While APC states are working towards self sufficiency, PDP states are expectedly lagging behind. Between 2010 and 2012, Lagos reportedly raked in a total of N607.7 billion and Rivers followed with N173.1 billion, while Delta realised N106.4 billion. Even Edo raked in N53.53 billion, while the wealthy Akwa Ibom only made N35.6 billion.
I’m not unaware of the imperfections of the APC. Every day, I wage an internal battle with the leaders I am close to ensure things get better. However, I know some of the problems we have are signs of purging and re-organisation. The party is going through a teething phase and as such, some measure of pain is be expected. But when the ruling party sees nothing wrong in a federal government buying weapons on the black market, then you know where the problems lie.
My country deserves better leaders at the federal level. I believe the APC model is the best there is today. No matter the presidential candidate, my thumb print will surely appear beside the broom.
——————
Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija
Believe me or not none of these leaders that deserves second chance be it PDP APC LABOUR PARTY and what have u becos they not posses the qaulity of a good leader all they there for is just for there own belle.
Are writting these to recieve acculate or is this just to have ur party win the presidencial race,well in whatever reason that have prompted u to write this article i’m here to tell u that ur party APC is never difference from every other parties that exist becos they all come frm thesame root therefore i tamed both the parties and its leaders as fraudstars and thieves and looters who do not have the country’s interest at heart.