The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC recently released the names of some prominent Party Chieftains across some states of the Federation to serve in various committees, including a committee tagged ” conflict and reconciliation committee”.
I have carefully perused the names from top to bottom and, perhaps, not surprisingly, Oyo state is missing in action as usual.
I think the Oyo state chapter of the APC must have been used to such snubs and spurns by now though.
That is not the crux of this piece but I shall return to deal with the issue later.
There are more pressing reasons occassioning this write up.
It is good and proper for a political party to periodically look at how It could rejig and strengthen Its operations.
What I found unpleasant however is why the Apex organ of our Party will prioritize whatever fears It had to envision the Committees over and above the perception problem, which the Government and invariably, the party is facing from the public presently.
In fact, I have been wondering whether the personalities in charge of our Party in Abuja are living in a different Planet!
Bi oode o dun, bi igbe ni Ilu ri. If there are conflicts in the households, the Towns automatically becomes a bush.
It has come to a point where we must speak the truth to Government from within.
As we speak, costs of foodstuffs, drugs, transportation and other necessities have hit a record high.
In less than six months of this Administration, lives have become extremely unbearable for the average Nigerian citizen.
A larger percentage of Nigerians have now adjusted to having a meal per day. It is the popular 0-0-1 formula.
Most unfortunately, Nigerians are beginning to claim that they would rather have a Buhari third term than what we currently have.
Can you blame them? During Buhari’s regime, a bag of Rice, before the unnecessary, yes unnecessary closure of the Borders was selling for #12,000.
Even, after the Border closure, a Bag of Rice climbed up to #22,000 and before he eventually left office, it rose up to #30,000 and was never above that.
As we speak, a bag of Rice costs #52,000!
During Buhari’s regime, 1kg of Gas, in his first term cost about #350 and by the time he exited it was selling for between #650 and #700 now, 1kg of cooking Gas costs between #1,000 and #1,200 depending on where you’re buying.
Essential drugs for the treatments for Malaria, hypertension, asthma and Diabetes have either double, triple or, in the cases of asthma and Diabetes, become impossible to buy by common man and I think no one needs a tutor for the unfortunate consequences of that.
I have seen and read a lot of arguments on the desirability or otherwise of the removal of subsidies on Petroleum products.
I am an Economist but neither am I a fool.
Judging from the spiral effects of the decision to remove subsidies on the President’s first day in office, it is now clear that the decision is akin to a breastfeeding mother who chose to wean a child without adequate preparation.
Such a child is doomed.
No matter the arguments Government put up in defense of the action, to the poor masses who suffering the brunt of the action, such arguments convey no meaning.
Now, one would wonder why I am attaching the Leadership of the APC to the policies of the Tinubu Government.
The Party, the APC is for all intent and purposes the father of the Government.
After all, all of us are conversant with the acronym, “party is supreme”.
As at now, I think the party should rather be concerned with intervening, cautioning and advising the president.
A father is a father only when he demonstrates capabilities to put his house in order.
From May 29, 2023 when president Tinubu took oath as president of Nigeria, what should be paramount to our party is how the Government will better the lives of every Nigerian citizen.
Unfortunately, it is obvious that rather than seeing to good governance, both the party and Government are dissipating energy on 2027 and that is the truth. Clear as cristal.
The APC and president Tinubu have been given a first term mandate of four years, renewable by Nigerians in 2027.
The only thing that can guarantee that renewal is good governance and not schemes.
For now, Nigerians are not seeing good governance.
I specifically mentioned the committee tagged ” conflict resolution and reconciliation”.
When I saw it, what readily came to my mind is the dissolution of the Rivers state Executive committee and Its replacement by a caretaker committee.
I just wonder, how many conflicts will the National Secretariat perpetuate deliberately for the ” conflict resolution and reconciliation committee” to have Its hands full.
I have no problem with the party attempting to rejig but for now, there are more pressing matters calling for the attention of the party Leadership other than preparations for 2027.
Sola Abegunde.
