By Ayodele Fagbohun

In the ongoing debate and controversy that accompany party crisis nationwide, issue of party supremacy euphemistically called party discipline, continuously recurring like a decimal, is the only master key for cohesion and survival of any political party aspiring to take over the affairs of the state for effective governance. And by extension to sustain political stability for the country and material progress of the entire citizenry.
The preamble to the constitution of the All Progressive Congress (APC) states clearly, expressly and without ambiguity as follows in the last sentence couched in crisp, terse and pungent language: “To this end, the party shall be supreme.”
How supreme is the enforcement or rather abiding with party discipline in the conduct of party business especially the APC which processes this attribute vis-à-vis the spate of excruciating intrigues, disharmony and violent disagreement threatening like a monstrous reptile about to swallow up the party a fell swoop? Save for timely, some may say belated intervention of the leader of APC, President Mohammadu Buhari.
Mohammadu Buhari s if in a war-time calling for truce and cessation of hostility amongst the warring APC chieftains, with the immediate disbandment of the National Working Committee (NWC) took the party, APC sympathizers and its unrepentant detractors by storm.
Some party officials who donned caps of war mongers intended to flex unnecessary and wanton muscles on non tangible issues; scheming for tinsel political offices; vengeance and vitriolic on the embattled National Working Committee (NWC) led by former veteran activists and accomplished politicians Comrade Adams Oshiomole, were taken aback when Mr President in his wisdom nailed the coffin of this reckless and deadly horse-trading.
However, some who were obviously stupefied by the action of President Buhari to still the raging storm, threatened action and of despair and without a sense of shame to wash their dirty linen in public and morbid fear to practice internal democracy within the party.
Any aggrieved politician for that matter who is afraid to exploit the conflict resolution mechanism embedded in party constitution and abide by the final verdict in the highest hierarchy of the party.
But race to the court to seek redress is quality of antiparty activities, affront on party supremacy, indiscipline and political venality.
Either by cash or kind, whoever drags his party to face court action on account of serving the people on elective office has automatically portrayed his/herself as a political harlot for whatever reason at all has dragged the name of his political party that sponsor him or her for the elective position in the mud.
That, however, does not in any way suggest flippant disregard to the individual liberty of every aspirant to be short changed or deprived of one’s legitimate aspiration in accordance with the constitution and extant rules and the norms of the land.
To nip in the bud this kind of unwholesome unforeseen situation, political parties as a mother of policy should employ services of seasoned lawyers/solicitors in retainership to assist in attending to this all important professional advice with exigencies of time.
Even in the scripture Paul, the Apostle of considerable scholarly profundity in his address admonished the church, Laity and clergy alike not to think lightly of the Lord correct us. For the Lord disciplines those whom he loves; He lays the rod on every son whom he acknowledges.’
It follows that absence of discipline could be part of social malaise capable f truncating the fabric of the society. Hence it is imperative for our leaders in every theatre of operation in private and public life to make discipline their watchword executing socio-economic projects for the good of the society without resorting to ethno-religious and other extraneous considerations.
Discipline, an attribute of good and spirited leadership in a well planned economy was responsible for the emergence of visionary statesmen like Obafemi Awolowo in Nigeria, Kwame Nkrumal in Ghana, Julius Nwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Nelson Mandela in South Africa. They all lived abstemious frugal life. Some toiled to organize political group while some joined a well organized political group Nelson Mandela was in the Africa to be elected s prime minister of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela did not hop from one party to another before realizing his ambition to serve the people.
Convention People’s Party founded by Kwame Nkrumah gave independence to Ghana, Nkrumah as elected president introduced programmes which boosted the economy and liberated the .people of the former Gold coast (renamed republic of Ghana) from colonial bondage.
Julius Nyerere, a British trained university product when colonialism was at its peak in Africa, fondly referred to as Nwalimu, the leader. He was a pragmatic leader who transformed the rustic and primitive economy of Tansania to relative modernity to ameliorate the worsening condition of the rural folks in the countryside.
Dr Nyerere, President of the Republic of Tanzania in East Africa was an epitome of ascetic discipline and humility in both private and life. He was neither flamboyant, ostentatious not exotic in his efforts to drive the economy of Tanzania just emerged from the pillage and cruelest grip of colonialism.
Obafemi Awolowo worked assiduously alongside few likeminds like Michael Adekunle Ajasin to found Action Group rated as the best organized political party in Africa, South of the Equator until the military insurrection took place by stealth.
The rest is history!
Now, this is another rare opportunity to mend fences and exercise self restraint and discipline. In this wise, we should re0unite under the umbrella of APC as an alternative to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Due to corruption fuelled by its politically bankrupt leadership and debauchery over the years people’s Democratic Party has plunged the nation into ruins. The nation is yet to recover from the heinous rule of PDP.
Let us pause cogitate on the message of the national leader of All Progressives’ Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, not the messenger. Hear him: “Not only did we believe the venal, purblind PDP was leading the nation into a pit, we sincerely held a common vision of progressive good governance. This was the overriding reason for the APC.
At this juncture, I urge the Afenifere leader, Baba Ayo Adebanjo to borrow a leaf from the late sage Obafemi Awolowo from whom he (Ayo Adebanjo) has garnered a wealth of political experience of more than 50 years.
Regardless of his ingeniously crafted democratic socialism and staunch stoic principle, Awo on his release from prison extended olive branch to some rabid NCNC leaders and ultra-conservatives, Papa Imafidon from the defunct mid-west, Theophilus Benson, former federal minister in the NPC/NCNC coalition government.
They all teamed up with Awo in a spirited attempt (Though thwarted by the British military powers-that were) to usher in a new political dawn in the ill-fated second republic.
This is not the time for puerile and destructive critism that may not be helpful to the present aggravating, excruciating and dire situation we daily contend with.
Ayo Adebanjo in the evening of life should, like his mentor, Awo should forget about strange bed fellows in a political organization as a determined factor for a nation to move forward and to assert its rights within the orbit of modern nations.
Even in a family unit, there lies petty squabbles, domestic internecine feuds, infighting amongst siblings and parents making or reducing the Nigeria/Biafra’s civil war to a child’s play. What then are we talking about?
I make bold to say that no one/group either ethnic or religious no matter how powerful they claim to be can hold this country to ransom as power and might belong to God.
What we direly need of is self-abnegating and disciplined leadership at every commanding height of the economy, especially in this instance a strong political will to carry out or enforce if need be rigorous party discipline across the board and in the main uphold party supremacy without fear or favour.