APC

By Abubakar M. Nyakos

Upon the emergence of Most Distinguished Senator (Engr.) Aishatu Dahiru Ahmad Binani as Adamawa State APC gubernatorial candidate, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri started acting like a wounded lion who runs after his prey not to satisfy his hunger but to gratify his anger. He started blocking some beautiful chances of Adamawa citizens reaping the dividend of democracy through the workaholic Senator. 

He has forgotten that giving back to society and coming to the rescue of people when necessary is a habit that becomes lifeblood to Binani, for it flows through her veins. She can’t fold her hands and see people suffering without doing the needful. It’s unlike her. She is an empathetic politician who always holds her people dearly and very close to her heart. No amount of pressure and effort from the opposition can change that. 

Fintiri’s deep-down sense of insecurity proved to every sensible Adamawa citizen and me that he is far behind Binani in politicking. I used to fancy his political tactics and antics but not anymore. He has reduced himself to an ordinary local champion who manoeuvred himself into the Government House just because of the then APC internal crises. He knows that’s what paved the way for him. 

We are all aware that Covid-19 has globally interrupted pilgrimage for two good years. As a governor with high regard for the welfare of his dependents, he is expected to inspect, renovate and make all the necessary things needed at the Hajj camp before this year’s Hajj activities. 

Unfortunately, he failed to do that. When journalists arrived there and began to ask the pilgrims some questions regarding welfare, etc., they bitterly expressed their grievances, which got to the ears of Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani. She instantly responded to the situation and provided all required at the site: mattresses, mosquito nets, solar panels etc. She did all that within just four hours. Isn’t that gesture laudable? I believe it is. 

Instead of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to accept his failure and laud the revered Senator without bickering, he opted to rent a hotel and order the pilgrims to vacate the place which Binani made conducive for them. What kind of politics is this?  Where was he? Why didn’t he do the needful on time? 

Consequently, Binani constituted a committee that could facilitate and ease some unseen hardships that  Adamawa pilgrims might encounter in Saudi Arabia. The committee was saddled with the responsibility of cash disbursement to pilgrims and the like. 

Through the Executive Secretary of Adamawa  State Muslim Welfare Pilgrims Board, the governor tried to halt and frustrate the process in several ways because of their selfish interest.

1. They refused to give Binani’s committee the list of Adamawa pilgrims

2. They ordered Adamawa Scheduling Officers not to partake in the process.

3. They threatened both scheduling officers and Adamawa pilgrims that there would be repercussions for not following their order. 

That habit alone must make anyone pause and rethink when addressing such a self-centered fellow as a politician. Talk more of giving him a mandate. Instead, he always thinks of himself alone. 

Instead of working on integrating himself, he is busy attracting more enemies through dictatorship! 

Nonetheless, Binani’s committee used I.D. cards to identify Adamawa pilgrims to distribute the money, and Adamawa pilgrims collected what was meant for them and shunned the directive given. 

They thanked Her Excellency, Aishatu Binani, for her untiring support and commitment to the welfare of Adamawa citizens. 

The pilgrims finally prayed for Binani’s victory in 2023 and pledged allegiance to support the Senator with their full chests.  May Binani succeed, amin.

Abubakar M. Nyakos wrote from Adamawa via mnyakos@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Aminu

The Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerians People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said that he would give priority to education if Nigerians give him the chance in the forth coming general election.

Speaking at the official presentation of his running mate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, Kwankwaso also decried collapse of tertiary education under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the former Kano State Governor, Nigeria is bleeding from severe wounds inflicted on it by the incompetence and insincerity of the APC-led government.

“The sad reality is that our country is bleeding from several and severe wounds inflicted on her either as a result of incompetence or insincerity of the operators of government or the total lack of the understanding of how to govern a multi-cultural, multi-religious and multiethnic country like our own.

“Their insincerity and intolerance has inflicted injurious wounds to the social fabric of Nigeria. Their nepotism and parochial approach to governance has inflicted severe wounds to the country. Their ineptitude and lack of empathy has dealt a damaging blow on the body psyche of all Nigerians.

“Their condescending arrogance and sense of entitlement has further widened the fault lines in our country and their nonchalant attitude towards the core functions of governance is causing dangerous escalation of insecurity,” he said.

The former minister of defence further lamented the rising inflation and unemployment in the country, saying the current economic statistics in Nigeria were unacceptable.

Bishop Idahosa, in his acceptance speech, said Nigeria is on a critical juncture where a fresh start is imminent.

“Nigeria deserves a fresh start and fresh ideas. Nigeria deserves a fresh deal that will steer the country away from division and hate. A fresh deal that will steer the country away from incompetence and cluelessness; a fresh deal that will steer the country away from insecurity and economic woes,” he said.

He therefore, urged Nigerians to register and obtain voters card to be able to bring about the desired change in the country.

Earlier, the National Chairman of the party, Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali, said that NNPP is the fastest growing party in Nigeria, adding that Kwankwaso’s sterling leadership is responsible for the growth.

“The NNPP entered the political space at the most critical time and is going to take the opportunity to give Nigerians hope because Kwankwaso is the man Nigerians are waiting for,” he said.

By Sule Abubakar

The contention has recommenced, and I wonder why I should be worried over my enemy’s self-immolating adventure. The brouhaha has resurfaced, and with the usual vigour, social media has been littered with a weightless torrent of abuse, criticism and name-calling! Please, as Nigerians would say, “No dey take a panadol for another person’s headache”!

The highly controversial topic of a Muslim-Muslim ticket re-appeared soon after Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially announced Senator Kashim Shettima, the former Governor of Borno State, as his running mate for the 2023 general election. Tinubu had been on the horns of a dilemma. A situation like that demands wits because any ill-conceived decision might result in the ignominious internment of his political career.

So, Tinubu did the inevitable thing. However, in a rare moment of candour, picking a Muslim running mate is reprehensible, and, admittedly too, that’s the inescapable political cross Tinubu has to carry if really he is out to win the 2023 presidential election!

On June 14, 2022, I noted something in my article “APC, Tinubu and the Burden of a Muslim-Muslim Ticket”. I said: “First things first, one of the principal objectives of any political party is to win an election. So, without being politically correct, APC as a party is out to contest the presidential elections, and with the sole aim of winning! And since winning is their major target, they have the constitutional right to decide what could help them actualise their plans. If it’s a Muslim-Muslim, Christian-Christian, Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim ticket they think guarantees their victory; the sole decision is theirs to make. And if the plan unfortunately backfires, with calamitous results, it means they’ve been hoisted with/by their own petard. You can call that a Frankenstein monster!” This is still very relevant in today’s controversy over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The obvious truth is this, Tinubu has to pick a ‘politically relevant’ northern Muslim to strengthen his chance of winning the election because, strangely enough, that’s the only Hobson’s choice before him! Hobson’s choice simply means taking the only available option or nothing! And according to some people, making such an insensitive choice is self-immolating. But if you critically evaluate your ethno-religious sentiments, you will see that that’s the right thing any sane person in Tinubu’s shoes would do. No serious politician, especially in Nigeria, succumbs to the pressure of religious balance to their political detriment. 

Picking a Muslim running is not even destructive; not picking it would’ve been more disastrous for Tinubu and the APC! And if Tinubu had not made that objectionable choice, it would’ve even been the deadliest self-immolating political choice in his political career – because a true leader makes a seemingly unimaginable choice and firmly stands by it. And that’s what Tinubu has just done here!

According to the structure of Nigerian politics, which I have keenly observed so far, religion is only relevant to our politicians before elections. After all, elections are conducted, they jettison religion and then drift back to their sacrilegious activities. To most Nigerian politicians, religion is an art or a tool of fraudulence that they use to bamboozle gullible Nigerians. This has been happening for years, but it takes careful inspection to notice this. I laugh when I see people who blabber on social media. The earlier you know that the election isn’t won through your monotonous jeremiads and sentimental religious outbursts, the better for all of you. Please, take my analysis as one from an unbiased analyst. 

Politics thrives on the wings of numbers. That is why candidates go for running mates that give them numerical strength. Tinubu knows this; hence, his desire to go for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. So, please, you should allow him to do what he knows best for him and his party! The same way other candidates chose those they think have more electoral advantage, that’s the same way Tinubu also chose somebody he thinks has more electoral value or advantage.

But, of course, Tinubu has the right to do that because the electorate has the equal right not to vote for him. But strangely enough, that’s even Tinubu’s only Hobson’s choice! And since you all think Tinubu has reached his political plateau by choosing a northern Muslim as his running mate, you can all rejoice because of his self-defeating, self-destructive and self-immolating crapshoot! After all, in politics, the downfall of one’s opponent is savoury!

Sule Abubakar wrote via suleabubakarmark2020@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Adamu Garba, a former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said he is back to the ruling party. 

Mr Garba disclosed this in a post he made on Facebook on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. 

Garba argued that the combination of Bola Ahmad Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the ruling party inspired his decision.

“Yes, I am fully back to APC. I could do more harm to my country, Nigeria, if I did not support a combination of a great strategist and a great tactician on a single ticket. It is BAT/Kashim that should take over all polling units in Nigeria come 2023.” Mr Garba wrote on Facebook.

Garba defected from the ruling party in May. He had cited the exorbitant price of the nomination form as his reason for leaving the APC.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), under the leadership of Bishop Mohammed Naga, has expressed its joy over the emergence of a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

Recall that Mr Tinubu announced Kashim yesterday as his prospective vice president if the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerges victorious in the next year’s election.

Reacting to the development in a statement, Bishop Naga described Kashim as an unbigoted person, stressing that “those who are not from Borno State may not know, but you and I know better.”

His statement reads, “Gov. Shettima, in the history of Borno State, is the only Governor that has sponsored the highest number of Christian Pilgrims every year since 2011.

“I am speaking boldly without fear or favour because as CAN Chairman, I don’t receive salary or kobo from the Government or any institution, but the facts need to be told.

“For example, when Gwoza people were driven from their ancestral homes, they fled to Maiduguri, and the Governor personally came to CAN Centre in Jerusalem ward two times in June and July 2014. He gave N10 million for their upkeep at first instance, but the victims weren’t many. By the end of October 2014, the IDPs from Gwoza increased to 42,000 in that camp alone. Governor Shettima came again and gave another N10 million.

“He also gave an additional N5 million to Christians from Borno who fled to Cameroon to be returned home.

“Sincerely speaking, as a Christian and a preacher, absolutely, I have nothing to fear about Asiwaju’s picking a Muslim as his running mate because he is not a religious bigot, and I am happy he has made his mind known to the public in the person of his preferred running mate.

“Seeing another presidential candidate applauding him is a plus for him and supporters of Asiwaju. Congratulations to the awaiting president and vice president.”

However, the coming of a Muslim-Muslim ticket from the APC has caused a lot of reactions, with several social media-based activists vigorously kicking against it, citing the sensitive religious atmosphere of the Nigerian society as their reason for resistance.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The presidential candidate in the 2023 election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given his reason behind picking a former Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.

Mr Tinubu who was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 described Mr Kashim as a competent and credible person.

“I chose him because he is competent, capable and reliable,” the APC candidate said.

He made the disclosure on Sunday in Daura, the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari, when he paid a Sallah homage to the president.

Stating why the homage was paid, Mr Tinubu said, “We came to pay homage to him (Buhari) and to share part of his holiday and lunch. And to discuss the question of my substantive running mate.

“The one we put in as placement has withdrawn today. There has been an announcement to replace him fully with a substantive candidate, Kashim Shettima.”

Recall that it took Mr. Tinubu a while before finally declaring his running mate unequivocally despite the pressure and outcry from Nigerians, especially on social media.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has identified Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 general election.

Tinubu disclosed this Sunday in an interactive session with journalists during a visit to President Buhari in Daura, Katsina State.

Reports had earlier hinted that The vice-presidential nominee may most likely be a former governor and senator from the Northeast part of Nigeria.

Recall that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State had on Saturday disclosed that Tinubu had settled for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Kashim Shettima was a Barno State former governor who served the state from 2011 to 2019.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari as insecurity exacerbates in the country. 

Barr Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, disclosed in a Sallah message to Muslims on Saturday. 

Morka said Nigerians should put the interest of the nation first, adding that Nigerians should pray for Buhari to end the security challenges bedevilling the country.

The party said, “We urge Nigerians to continue to support and pray for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari as it tackles our national security challenges just as we continue to reject insensitive and unpatriotic attempts by some partisans to politicise security breaches by enemies of our land.

“On this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, we urge all Muslims to pray for sustained peace, security and prosperity of the country as the APC-led government continues to prioritise the wellbeing and safety of all Nigerians.

“On this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, we urge all Nigerians to place national interest first in all dealings. We must not yield to retrogressive elements who seek to divide us through terror and hate.”

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The 2023 presidential elections present the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a golden opportunity to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). However, the PDP faces a daunting challenge in how to utilize this opportunity. To do this, the PDP needs to present a common interest from the party’s wide, and sometimes, varying interests so as to secure for the party, sufficient internal and external support during the elections.

PDP got its calculations right. The All Progressives Congress (APC) picked its presidential candidate from the South, especially the Southwest – Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, is APC’s presidential candidate.

The emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate for the main opposition party – (PDP) was a product of three things. The party has settled for someone who has the national outlook; the party wants to outwit the ruling All Progressive Congress ( APC) in one of the latter’s strongholds — the North, and lastly, the party needs a strong war-chest for the 2023 presidential elections.

Atiku’s emergence was smooth, despite the political intrigues that occurred before and during the presidential primaries. The selection of Ifeanyi Okowa as Atiku’s running mate had appeared also a smooth one. But two weeks after, it is causing dangerous stirs in the PDP camp that had appeared united, initially after the primaries. Former Governor Ayo Fayose scratched the ‘ old-wound’ of the call for a southern presidential candidate, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state is fuming, while  Governor  Nyesom Wike’s camp is causing more ‘commotion’ within the party by threatening the much-needed unity in the party. 

To be nominated or selected as a Vice Presidential candidate, the person must bring something to the table — votes, a daring war chest, well-established political structures, or influence in the political party.

Had Atiku picked Wike, the PDP would have appeared to opt for someone that will bring a massive war-chest and “home votes”. At the same time, the PDP would appear to have succumbed to pressure and tried to calm ‘a bull in a china shop’.

The APC, on the other hand, would have been happy, if Wike had emerged as the PDP vice presidential candidate. Firstly, it would have ‘balanced’ its controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket. Secondly, the APC would have used Wike’s candidacy to consolidate its votes in one of its strongholds — the North. In the 2019 presidential elections, the APC used Peter Obi’s Vice Presidential candidacy to de-market the PDP in the north. Peter Obi’s deportation of northerners was massively used against him. Like Peter Obi, Wike doesn’t have longtime friends, political associates or structures in the north, to defend him. However, to be fair to Wike, during the campaign for the PDP presidential primaries, he was able to tour the country, thus making some new networks and contacts. Furthermore, if Atiku had picked Wike, the former would have had to work extra hard in the north, because Wike will be a good recipe for APC’s strategy in the North. With Wike as VP, those people who are unhappy with APC or have not decided, may not want to thumbprint a ballot paper with a “Wike.”

The selection of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as Atiku’s running mate is a product of PDP’s strategy to consolidate its footings in its strongholds — the Southeast and the South-South while not jeopardizing its attempt to strike the APC in the North. Okowa is controversy-free and the North will not have any issue with him.

Any person in Governor Nyesom Wike’s shoes will certainly feel hurt and demeaned — he has been a pillar in the PDP when the party was ‘deserted’ and he’s among the very bigwigs that have never left the PDP to another party. Furthermore, Mr. Wike polled 16 votes to defeat Mr. Okowa who scored three votes in a shadow election by a committee set up by the PDP to pick a running mate as reported by many media houses in the country. Moreover, whether one likes or dislikes Wike, for sure, he has something to offer the PDP.

That window created by Atiku for the PDP to setup a committee to select for him the Vice Presidential candidate, was an error on Atiku, so to say. The selection of a running mate is the absolute right of the flagbearer. Since Atiku already had someone in his mind, that committee was unnecessary. Though, it appears it was an honest attempt to bring everybody on board in making or taking a decision.

When it comes to elections, every political party has its own strategy. Had Atiku accepted the choice of the ‘VP Selection Committee’, it would have been the first time in the history of Nigerian politics, that a political party will solely determine the VP candidate for its presidential candidate. Though the PDP said, it was Atiku that requested the party to recommend to him, a VP. Atiku has the final say!

Atiku Abubakar is a master in negotiations, give and take and reaching out to people, including adversaries. Atiku should sit down with Wike, one-on-one, to resolve all the issues. It’s politics. It’s all about winning!

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja, Nigeria. He can be reached via; 08036070980 or zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Mukhtar Jarmajo 

Mao Zedong, the founder of the Peoples Republic of China, once said, “Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.” By inference, thus, there is so much correlation between politics and war, the only difference being that the former isn’t bloody while the latter is. Therefore, the art of politics is the same as that of war, where two or more opposing parties contest for supremacy either in terms of votes for political power as with politics or territorial control as with war. Additionally, politics and war involve strategies to subdue the opponent through deceptive techniques. 

Perhaps this is why Sun Tzu, the great Chinese writer, philosopher and war strategist, noted that while differentiating victorious warriors from defeated ones, “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” Aside from that, Sun Tzu emphasised the importance of strategy in war. He also meant that only warriors who adopt strategies in defining the means to conquer the enemy are victorious. The third import of Tzu’s quote is that strategists conquer their opponents well before the offensive is launched. 

So just as wars can be won and lost before the first Salvo is released, elections too can be won and lost even before any vote is cast. Meanwhile, it bears no repeating that only strategic politicians achieve such excellence. They study the prevailing political circumstance, analyse it based on the ambitions of the time, and then meticulously plan the best strategy to be used in conquering the opponents. Politicians such as the Bauchi state APC governorship standard bearer, Sadiq Baba Abubakar, are victorious political warriors simply because they understand the art of political warfare. 

During the governorship primary election in Bauchi state, the erstwhile Air Chief turned political czar and let his fellow contenders believe they were more political than him. Therefore only they knew what the road to winning the party’s ticket looked like. After the contest, Sadiq Abubakar won the day, with the runner-up placed at a distant 92 votes away. While they were reluctant that he was not a factor to count, Sadiq Abubakar campaigned vigorously and reached out to stakeholders and delegates to convince them of the substance and import of his ambition. 

In the end, they were convinced that aside from experience he would bring to the table, the erstwhile diplomat is one politician capable of giving the ruling PDP in Bauchi state a run for its money. Thus, he won the primary election before the first ballot was cast. And by Sun Tzu’s standard, Sadiq Baba Abubakar is a victorious political warrior. It raises no eyebrows that as a graduate of political science who also holds a master’s in strategic studies, the Bauchi APC governorship standard bearer can do even more than this. 

Jarmajo can be reached via dattuwamanga@gmail.com.