By Ayodele Fagbohun

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Barring unforeseeable circumstances and hitches of human constraints, the oft repeatedly postponed National Convention of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is re-scheduled to hold on Saturday to douse the smoke of rank indiscipline and intra-party squabbles bedeviling the party.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who doubles as the leader of APC had recently warned members to put their house in order and conduct successful, rancour-free and acceptable convention for the ruling party to retain power and consolidate its hold on the nation come 2023 presidential election.

Any spanner wittingly or unwittingly thrown in the works of the convention at this crucial moment of preparation may spell doom for the party and fuel the antics of some political desperadoes to rock the boat. It will be a complete disservice and disaster to the cause of our fledging and weak democracy.

Sad enough, it will equally portray the ruling APC as rag tag unorganized political organ that only got its mandate by fluke, but practically destitute of right ideological framework to perform.

Thus, the abysmal failure and inability of the country to rank amongst developed and fast developing countries of the world.

This coming convention is an auspicious time for APC member to further re-assure Nigerians that it will make necessary amends and utilize every opportunity to ensure peaceful convention that will raise good governance in all its ramification, in spite of the daunting challenges staring us in the face.

The rumblings of discontent, jostling for position and other attendant problems inherently latent within APC right from inception. This is no doubt the peculiar characteristic of political parties at least in contemporary African politics.

Also, APC is a coalition of irreconcilable and strange bed fellows. The CAN, ANPP, CPC and faction APGA came together and took over power in a keenly contested polls from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Hitherto, party formation and system which started in Lagos Nigeria to protest draconian policies of the British Colonial administration, increased tempo of fervid nationalist movement. It gave impetus to the building up of NCNC, Action Group, Northern People’s Congress (NPC), NEPU, etc for the agitation of Nigeria’s independent and sovereign nation.

Now, it is a different scenario and sardonic narrative in the formation of APC. At initial stages, it was agreed even gentlemanly how party and public offices and positions could be shared amicably amongst geo political zones based on individual efforts and contribution of members. Everyone according to his needs, periodically, this could be rotated amongst the zones, North/South of the country to ensure justice, equity and just egalitarian society.

As soon it attained mantle of government in 2019, the presidency went hay wire; trying to hold the country into ransom if not for the maturity and statesmanship of President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, the ruling APC, befuddled by petty intrigues, gangsterism, power-broking faceless cabal within presidency to scuttle orderly and progressive government; hell-bent to hold tenaciously and perpetuate the status quo ante and to foil machinery of governance; soil and erode party discipline the apparatus of party system for the enthronement of sordid and violent driven licentious political vulgarity.

By special dispensation and like dues ex machine, APC whose hierarchy drawn from the rank of veteran politicians with progressive solid background is poised to rescue party system; consolidate democratic norms and value.

Thank Goodness, there is always silver lining amid the dark cloud. President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-military general is a self confessed democrat having contested three times and failed as presidential candidate and won overwhelmingly on the fourth time under the auspices of the largest political party in Africa perhaps after Africa National Congress (ANC) in South Africa.

Accordingly, the first African Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka said Muhammadu Buhari was the only man standing in the Nigerian Army, canvassing for 2015 presidential polls.

Now the die is cast. The founders of APC should have a rethink and have retrospective glade on the past unedifying and nefarious political activities. If continued unabated it could have grounded the country and brought national shame and disaster to the people.

The founders and chieftains of APC must return to the drawing-board and straighten records to put the party in top form. Political gangsterism in the rat race for presidency must stop. And sanity must prevail to nip in the bud the inordinate ambition and desperation in the rank of the so called new breed politicians.

Some young politicians holding elective and executive position across the country are advised and called upon to be contented with the exalted offices and face squarely the national assignment to excel for sky is the limit.

Spirit of live and let’s live must be the watch word and emphasis placed on what can unite the country as a solid democracy; rather than on dwelling on petty extraneous considerations capable of causing disunity and aggression on the already self inflicted fragile country sitting on a tinder box.

By all means, let APC run quickly and learn fast from Africa National Congress (ANC) whose activities radically altered political configuration of the Apartheid South Africa. Our situation in Nigeria is not as bad, pathetic notorious and hard compared to the suffering, privation and hardship experienced by the majority black people languishing in the Apartheid enclave in South Africa.

While the tiny minority white settlers dominated and controlled the organs of government unchallenged to the criminal neglect and utter peril of Africans who own the land.

It is on record that ANC vigorously fostered the likes of Mbeki, Nelson Mandela in leadership prowess. Aafter epic and highly sustained bitter and protracted struggle, President Mandela and ANC finally assumed black majority rule in the erstwhile colour bar white dominated minority rule in South Africa.

Coming nearer home, Action Group of Nigeria led by Obafemi Awolowo aka Awo was rated the best organized political party in Africa South of the Equator.

At this significant turn of events when power and authority shall definitely change hands come 2023 general elections, APC should be reconstructed as a virile, resilient and invincible structure like the NCNC, AG, UPN, CAN, etc to salvage the future of party politics in Nigeria now in a quandary and near paralysis of inaction.