Nigeria induces migraine. Recurringly. What is, often challenges comprehension, while what ought to be, seems too far remote from becoming. Yet, for all the mind-bending challenges inherent in living within Nigeria’s brutish political grid, the victims of the system appear either oblivious of the danger around them, or are too simple-minded to care. Survival has become the primary goal of life for many and in that setting, nothing means much to anyone any more, beyond what it takes to survive. The traduced often have no problems laying down their lives for their traducers. Every new day in Nigeria generates more confusing scenarios that further challenge sanity.
All Progressives Congress [APC], the ruling party of the moment, has proved almost unmatchable in dealing with the Nigerian situation. The ruling party has been nothing but a nightmare for country and citizens since its advent in power in 2015.While there are few sparks within the ruling party, the overwhelming essence of the party’s existence reflects nothing but misery and pain for the people.
Almost nine years after it assumed command of the ship of the Nigerian state, APC has continued to grope in the darkness of conspiracies in which it was born. It seems permanently in search for excuses and scape goat for its gross failings, even as the ship of state totters. But APC knows what the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] that held sway before it, did not comprehend; retain the grip on power by all means and even your arch opponents will embrace you in due course. It is a survival game in the jungles of Nigeria.
The ruling party may be caught, presently, in the thick of scandals and internal wranglings, but who cares? It maintain its grip on power. That is all that matters. Not even the recent entrapment of the National Chairman and symbol of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje in a very awkward web of multiple suspensions and charges of corruption back home, seem to matter. APC takes all that in its stride. Try as the party may to keep a straight face, however, with the travails of Ganduje at the hands of the anti-corruption agency in Kano, the ruling party can rightly be said to be entangled in a web of corruption, from top to bottom, to apply Muhammadu Buhari’s clumsy phrase that is apt in this instance.
Whatever the dynamics of local politics in Kano, Ganduje and APC cannot wish away the grave import of the party chairman’s present dilemma. But does APC care? There is scant evidence that the party, its leadership or its government cares. For good measures, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun was reported to have ordered the withdrawal of policemen from the anti-corruption agency in Kano. That is the agency Ganduje is contending with. The withdrawn policemen from Kano may probably have been deployed to Kogi, to participate in the ongoing edition of the ultimate search in that axis. Afterall,it is a family affair, as they say it in Nigerian politics.
In any other normal society, the APC should have its hands full at the moment, with a moral battle, a struggle for its very survival. That, however, is not the way things work in Nigeria. Over here, the bigger the integrity deficit, the bigger the public endorsement. For better appreciation, check out the many people who came out recently in Abuja, carrying placard to defend Yahaya Bello of Kogi state, declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC]. The support for Bello may be contrived, but no matter. Bello knows what they all know at APC; that under a grim regime of pervasive hunger and poverty, such as the party has instituted, it is not difficult to find people to march even against themselves.
If only Bello will summon courage and decency to come out from hiding, he may realize that he, too, may become a hero. Why not? Afterall, a community in Taraba rolled out red carpet for convicted kidnapper and criminal, Wadume, who returned home penultimate week, after serving his sentence for crime. And you still want to understand Nigeria.
While APC is ensnared in series of what ought to be national integrity challenge, it has continued to be waving a buoyant flag as the beautiful bride in the Nigerian political firmament. This country!
To further understand the oddity of Nigeria, you may need to pay close attention to Imo State and the unfolding politics therein, among other developments. Last week, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of the State and former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, resigned from his erstwhile party, Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], the major national opposition party. Ihedioha had all his known successful political career forged in PDP. He was, until last week, a major factor in the party, nationally and in Imo State. Consequent upon the decisions of the National Working Committee and National Executive Council meetings of the PDP, which held a fortnight ago, it became apparent to Ihedioha, as it was to many, in and out of the party, that atrophy has set in at PDP. Survival appears not guaranteed, not in the near future.
Between former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, an unconscious pact seems to have been struck, to dismantle the PDP. Propelled by personal greed and selfishness, the two unrelenting individualists, first undermined the zoning formula that had served and sustained the PDP well, then they launched a mutually destructive battle that has left PDP hobbled. So, Ihedioha the former PDP stalwart left, with many top party chieftains in Imo State, in tow
Ihedioha leaving PDP is not actually the main story here. It is his rumoured prospective next destination party. This is where the tragedy and the illogicality of Nigeria come up in bold relief, once more. Ihedioha was toppled as governor in Imo State by the APC, the same APC that has hobbled Nigeria and should, under normal circumstances, be gasping for breath. The former Imo State governor has not declared where he is heading to. Speculations and overtures are rife, however, that he may end up in APC. Oh yes.
While the politician has not yet shown his hand, nobody knows exactly who is flying which kite over the political landscape. Ihedioha to APC. How? But why not? Afterall, Nyesom Wike who described APC as “cancer in stage four” of deterioration, is presently farming in the precincts of the same APC, even as he keeps one leg in PDP, like a claimant to a disputed family land.
Of course, there is Labour Party [LP] as a viable option for Ihedioha and his allies. LP emerged a force to reckon with in 2023, but then its strength still remains anchored, substantially, on the stellar profile and integrity of one personality. In any case, LP is a work in progress. Politicians in Nigeria are not given to moving into a house that is not fully furnished. So, it remains to be seen if Ihedioha and his allies will be ready to roll up their sleeves and choose to go to work at LP. With PDP having been rendered virtually uninhabitable by Atiku and Wike, it will not be surprising if more chieftains of the party head towards the door before the next crucial NEC meeting of the party scheduled for August.
Now, why will a former PDP chieftain, undone by APC be ready to cross over to the fold of his nemesis? The answer is simple. APC is in power. It holds out a better prospect of winning future elections, however that is defined. Performance in governance by the destination party has nothing to do with the calculation. Nor does integrity come into consideration. None of those matters. As long as APC clings on to power, it will remain an attractive destination for Nigerian politicians, including those whose homestead have virtually been devastated by the Atiku-Wike fire outbreak. Nigeria is truly incomprehensible.