Opinion: Important questions the APC must answer

by Ndukwe Onuoha

APC-Governors-620x330

It is because of this fact that many ‘chieftains’ of the APC are actually former PDP members. Vocal opposition politicians… all have their roots in the PDP.

 It’s been a rather interesting few weeks in Nigeria, with the political space getting more than its fair share of publicity. For those who for some absurd reason have not yet heard, the biggest news item is the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Finally, the thorn in the flesh of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been allowed to bloom, and it promises to be an interesting show on the politics channel from now to 2015. So buckle up, get your popcorn and soda ready, for the show is about to get really exciting.

A lot has been written on the APC and how it is going to give the PDP a run for its money, but not a lot has been written about how it will do this. Before we all get high on our own supply of exaggerated optimism over the APC, it is pertinent that we ask a few basic questions:

i. What does the APC stand for?
ii. How different from the APC is the PDP?
iii. What is the APC’s stand on the secularity or otherwise of the Nigerian state?
iv. Who is the APC’s flag bearer in the run-up to the 2015 elections, and how will (s)he be chosen?

This is by no means an exhaustive list of questions, but for the purpose of this post, they shall suffice.

As to the first question, what does the APC stand for? Really. Right from pre-registration, the merging parties have used every opportunity to tell Nigerians that they are remarkably different from the PDP which they hope to overthrow at the centre, but not much time telling us just what makes them so. Yes, we are told that the APC is made up of progressives, supports ‘true federalism’, upholds ‘internal democracy’ and is poised to return Nigeria to the path of greatness, but pray tell, what exactly do these mean? Without the ‘hows’, these statements are nothing but mere words fluttering in the wind. To give them meaning, the APC must, as a matter of urgency, ignore the PDP for the moment and start a steady campaign of letting Nigerians know what exactly their manifesto is. What makes it progressive? What is true federalism, and how do they support it? Internal democracy – really? How exactly will they make Nigeria great again? These are questions that need to be answered, and urgently too.

Following this closely is the question of just how different from the PDP, the APC is. With his penchant for ‘decamping’ at the slightest provocation, the Nigerian politician is the poster boy for politics of clear-cut ambiguity. In other words, the average Nigerian politician stands for nothing and falls wherever the juiciest promise lies. It is because of this fact that many ‘chieftains’ of the APC are actually former PDP members. Vocal opposition politicians like Nasir el-Rufai, Aminu Bello Masari, Annie Okonkwo, Tom Ikimi, Femi Fani-Kayode, Rochas Okorocha and Patrick Obaihagbon to name a few all have their roots in the PDP. That these people found it very easy to switch camps, and – for most of them – secure top positions in the APC says much about the difference (or lack of it) between the two contending parties. So, really, how different from the PDP is the APC?

Just a few days after it made the composition of its interim leadership public, the APC was accused of being nothing more than an Islamist party, a charge it has vehemently denied. But in a country sitting precariously on the edge of ethnic and religious tension, the accusation is not one for the APC to sweep under the carpet, especially when it is not entirely far-fetched – the leadership IS made up predominantly of the Muslim faithful. If the party hopes to make appreciable inroad in the South-East, South-South and ‘Middle Belt’ region, it will not only need to correct this ‘religious imbalance’, but will also need to make its stand on the upholding of the secularity of the Nigerian state known. Already, its frontline members like Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Sen. Sani Yerima and Sen. Buka Abba Ibrahim are believed to be, in varying degrees, religious zealots whose sole aim it is to make Nigeria an Islamist state governed by the dictates of Sharia law. Merely denying these allegations will not do; the APC must come out and categorically tell Nigerians where it stands on the issue of religion and the state, and must go a step further by enshrining this view in their party manifesto.

Lastly, the APC must ensure that when the time comes to pick its presidential aspirant, the candidate must be one who commands the respect and admiration of Nigerians, and must be chosen in a transparent, democratic fashion which will satisfy winners and losers alike. This is perhaps the biggest burden that the APC bears. For a political party that constantly harangues the PDP over its alleged lack of internal democracy, the APC is accused of being run according to the whims of certain individuals, while its candidates for election are merely anointed by ‘owners’ of the party without recourse to party primaries and laid-down democratic norms.

Like I mentioned earlier, this is by no means an exhaustive list of questions which the APC must answer in its quest to take over the reins of power from the PDP, but it is a start. As many Nigerians join the debate, many more questions will surface, and the APC will have many opportunities to endear itself to Nigerians. For now though, it is good to know that there is a rather serious alternative to the party in power, and that the electorates have a real option when it comes to making the choice of who leads Nigeria, going forward.

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Read this aticle from Ndukwe’s Blog

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

One comment

  1. I would have appreciated ur write up more than ds, but u spoilt it using political & religious sentiment, on d issue of pdp members in apc is never a crime. Does it mean if a criminal repent & join a church, d whole congregation has become a criminal? Even dey are still corrupt dey can dominate g good ones dt are progressive minded in. Apc. On d issue of religion party, i will only agree wt u, if b4 merger eah party acn, anpp, cpc & part of apga has been reffered to as religion party. If d parts are not religious d whole can not be.

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