ANALYSIS: APC, Tinubu And The Many Controversies Ahead Of 2023

It started slowly, then faster and faster till it got to the peak. It wasn’t a rain and thunderstorm but the demolition of a political party often referred to as “our dear party” by most of its political leaders. The party’s name suggests that all members are progressives but recent happenings have shown that All Progressives Congress (APC) is fast becoming Crisis Progressives Congress (CPC).

The crisis in APC often revolves around the leadership of the party and the Lagos landlord, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Akanbi Tinubu. This time, it is his political relationship with the one time comrade of the masses, Adam Oshiomhole – former president of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). It is on record that Mr Oshiomhole always had issues with some prominent members of the party most especially when the election draws closer.

When the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf was trying to become the next Governor of Osun State, after Rauf Aregbesola, he told the public that Mr Oshiomhole alongside some leaders of the party would ruin APC. He did not disclose the names of the accused leaders and Mr Tinubu’s name didn’t leave lips of many Osun State political operators. They felt Jagaban had come to influence the election by declaring total support for the current Governor, Gboyega Oyetola – his cousin. This is just to mention one of the several instances where many hold the belief that Mr Tinubu likes being a kingmaker.

For some persons, he is too ambitious to have even conceived the idea of being a president. Even though he has not publicly declared that it is not abnormal for a man with such political pedigree to think of becoming a number one citizen of Nigeria one day. After all, no one is disputing the fact that he played his role well to become a force to reckon with.

This is a man who used his dynamic opposition power to rule Lagos for several years. If the opposition is to be celebrated, many believe Tinubu should be called emeritus opposition leader. As against what many of his foes would not believe, he was one of the master planners who helped the current president, Muhammadu Buhari to secure his place in Aso Rock. Although, he was said to have failed in his bid to become the vice president. But is it not meritorious that his longtime ally got the position?

Even though he is not holding any official position in the National Executive Council of the APC, the title “National Leader” is a threat to many souls. The fact that Lagos remains his stronghold is not what some persons want to hear. But even Ahmed Lawan, Senate president and Femi Gbajabiamila of the House of Representatives belongs to Tinubu’s league. Not that he has not failed. He failed in his bid to have these men at the helm of affairs in 2015 but he triumphed in 2019.

Those who have drunk from the water of politics would still remember how Tinubu was humiliated in 2016 at Ondo State governorship primary election. He never wanted Rotimi Akeredolu. But that was who the then National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and President Buhari supported. The Akeredolu has gone his way to appease Tinubu for a second term.

He may not win today, but that does not as well make him a loser. Beyond being a southwest leader, he was part of those that made APC as the amalgamation of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) led by Buhari; the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led by Tinubu; the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) led by Ogbonnaya Onu; a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Rochas Okorocha, and the new PDP led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje. Needless to mention the powerful roles of Southern Igbo, such as Pat Utomi, Chibuike Amaechi, Osita Okechukwu, Chris Ngige, Annie Okonkwo, Joe Igbokwe, among others.

But all of these persons are also political godfathers in their own capacity. The marriage between Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki might have collapsed but they had godfather and godson relationship in the past. Bukola Saraki and Ahmed Abdulfatai have godfather and godson relationship. This is just to mention the norms in Nigerian politics. What fuels the crisis and worsening it the more is the politics of 2023.

Arguably, Tinubu is silently supporting Oshiomhole because when the duo are able to install their cronies across the country, it will lessen their stress towards a presidential bid. As much as 2023 remains paramount, APC will always have crisis as witnessed in Edo State. It is already rearing its ugly head in Ondo.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus recently said: “The way Oshiomole is dashing us states, sometimes we would think he is our agent working for us for free. Since he became chairman of APC, we have recovered 6 states, and Edo could be next.”

While PDP does not also have credibility, APC continues to swim in muddled water. What then is the way forward for the ruling party after the dissolution of NEC? Will Tinubu exit as National Leader solve the crisis? Should he swallow his presidential bid? Let’s see if APC would put in true democratic ideals to level playing ground for electoral offices, as well as Presidency in 2023.