APC and new realities

The crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) is at best self-indicting. That APC, a party that harangued the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to no end, would be wallowing in the same mire of internal wrangling that appears to be retarding the progress of the entire country is regrettable.

The APC was a vibrant opposition against the immediate past PDP-led government at the centre. Its ability to effectively weave facts and propaganda together to keep the past administration constantly on its toes was considered ingenious. But to think that the APC will be inching towards implosion less than one month after it took over the reins of power at the centre is rather unfortunate.

For the avoidance of doubt, the party rode to power on the strength of the goodwill it enjoyed from the Nigerian voting population, buoyed by its lofty promises to bring a new order in the polity. The change mantra so stuck that parents who could neither afford three square meals per day for their families nor pay the school fees of their children had hoped that May 29, 2015 would spell the end of such miseries.

Prior to the general election, the APC carried on as if the problems besetting the country could be solved by merely wishing them away. From insecurity, aggravated by the Boko Haram insurgency, to worsening unemployment situation, and from the level of poverty to ethnic and religious challenges in the country, the then opposition party pretended they were challenges that could be sorted out by a wave of the hand. It presented itself as a party that has a ready-made answer to Nigeria’s malady.

But from what has been happening since May 29, it appears that Nigerians may still need to wait for many months or years before the much-trumpeted succour. So far, the actions of APC show that, ab initio, there may not have been any plan or sense of direction other than just being in the driver’s seat of governance.

The inaugural speech of President Muhammadu Buhari has since been flayed by many commentators for lacking depth, particularly its silence on economic direction of the government. The speech was not detailed enough as to allay the fears of the Nigerian people on long-standing issues.

The few steps so far taken by the APC-led government have not given hope of a bright future for the country. For instance, the duplication of office of media assistant to the president appears not to be anything different from what transpired in the previous administrations.

It is indeed saddening that the party which also promised to make a mark within 100 days in office is singing a new tune now. A few days ago, while addressing journalists at the State House, President Buhari had said that the 100-days demand places unnecessary pressure on public office holders.

It would be recalled that prior to the presidential election, shortly after he emerged as the standard bearer of the APC, Buhari had, in a letter titled ‘My 100 days covenant with Nigerians’, pledged to publicly declare his assets and liabilities, and encourage all his appointees to publicly declare their assets and liabilities as a pre-condition for appointment.

“All political appointees will only earn the salaries and allowances determined by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). I intend to lead with integrity and honour and commit myself totally to everything that is of concern to our people: security, employment, health, education, good governance and others,” Buhari had said.

“This covenant is to outline my agenda for Nigeria and provide a bird’s eye view of how we intend to bring about the change that our country needs and deserves. This covenant is derived from the manifesto of my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). It, however, represents my pledge to you all when I become your president.”

Today, the prevailing level of uncertainty occasioned by lack of economic policy direction has affected businesses as no one knows what tomorrow holds. Businesses cannot thrive in climates that are uncertain.

We are, therefore, inclined to admonish the APC leadership to heed the advice of Phillip Massinger, an English dramatist, that “he that would govern others first should be the master of himself”.

Moreover, the ruling party should reflect on the observation of Penn Adair Rogers, an American humorist (1879-1935), that “the more you read and observe about this politics thing, the more you’ve got to admit that each party is worse than the other”.

We hope that this “let’s be patient” plea by the APC and its supporters will not amount to an endless wait.