– How to Stay Relevant, Stronger after PMB.
At the moment, President Muhammadu Buhari is a bonding agent for the All Progressive Congress, APC.
He won the 2019 presidential election with 15, 191, 847 votes ahead of the the 1st runner up, former vice president Abubarkar, Atiku, who polled 11, 262, 978 million.
The demographics of this victory shows wide acceptance across the country of the personality and philosophy of Muhammadu Buhari.
Consequently, the President has been a rallying point for all the faithfuls in the party and this is a good reason for everyone to stick together.
So far, so good. In the APC, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni has been on a journey of reconciliation and consolidation to reposition the party on the path of growth and progress.
But to be candid, where would be party be, and how would it fare post PMB? Would it continue to enjoy this measure of acceptance? Would things continue to hold together?
Note that we are looking at the long haul, a marathon and not a sprint. The lifeline of the APC is the people. Hence, its focus must be the people,it mustn’t shift. For this reason, the party must always adhere to article 3 of the its constitution which is embedded in the moto: Justice, Peace and Unity. Without Justice, there will be no peace, in the absence of peace, there will be no unity.
One of the elements that appeal to the electorate is the party’s fight against corruption. In spite of the various allegations that the fight against corruption ‘has lost steam’, it still has its attraction to most of our people and there seems a nexus between the expectatiom of the people, the integrity of the party and its track record. This is what gives the party character, it’s its brand and must not be jettisoned.
Similarly, the ideology and manifesto of the party can be likened to its soul, and everything it does or doesn’t do stems from this source documents from which the personality of the organisation is derived. Already, some prominent characters are saying the party has no ideology, hence more engagement with the public is necessary to avert such allegations in the future. As at today, the party is either deliberately or ignorantly not engaging the public. We owe the people regular engagement through proper channels.
For the APC, political evangelism starts from the character of the lawmakers under the party platform, from Governors, Senators, Rep members , Local Government Chairmen and Councillors. Their behaviour sometimes affect the party positively or otherwise. Hence, beating the electorate up, embezzlement, driving against traffic, etc puts the party in wrong light.
Also, article 7(i) and (ii) of the APC constitution are imperatives which must never be deviated from because the unity and stability of the country depend on them.
The party should also note that performance is always dependent on competence. Crisis most times can be avoided by consensus. On this note, to avoid unnecessary and debilitating crises, Article 20 (i) and (ii) must always come into play.
Worthy of note, the party must consciously establish a good reward system for Members who are contributing to the development and growth of the party as most members are seemingly ostracized in the scheme of things,like in appointments and business patronage. This particular point calls for urgent attention of the President and Mai- Mala led party leadership because the morale of most of us in the party is down and this potence danger as after PMB.
Members should be reminded (always) of Article 2 which is the supremacy of the party constitution, which is second only to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The reformation of the party must toe the above directions,apart from membership registration and updating. The President and party heirachy must ponder over these if the party must survive beyond 2023 and to combat the existing and emerging pressure of the opposition.
I have made this post because I strongly believe that I have a moral obligation to do so.
(Dr Tom Ohikere is the Managing Director of www.apcnewsonline.ng)
