By Williams Eghebi
The unexpected military-like takeover of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by some displaced members of both All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) should not cause unnecessary turmoil in the polity. This political voyage will only translate to the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. The reported adoption of ADC by David Mark and co-travellers is like raindrops off the duck’s back. The exercise is dead on arrival especially when some founders of the party have vowed to keep them at arms length. It is more laughable that a chunk of the desperate political power-seekers provided the hearse with which PDP was driven for cremation.
No sane Nigerian should give ear to David Mark when what’s on the table is how to ensure a better future. Aside been part of the coup that derailed the second republic, he denied Nigerians every element of comfort. As the Minister of Communications during the infamous military rule, he said access to telephone was the exclusive reserve of the noble rich. He vowed to kill Late M. K. O. Abiola if given his electoral mandate in 1993. As the 12th Senate President of Nigeria between 2007 and 2015, it is easier to pass the head of a cow through the eye of the needle than to pinpoint his achievements.
As the third citizen for eight uninterrupted years, he watched his Benue people butchered and deprived of their farmlands, and means of livelihood. Today, Benue State is a large refugees camp, where basic medicare, food rations, formal education and other mundane facilities are in short supply. His valued hobby is a routine use of his chopper to commute from Abuja to Otukpo to play golf.
Nasir El-Rufai will not attract any attention as President Olusegun Obasenjo had chronicled enough about him although there is urgent need for review considering his actions while he was the governor of Kaduna State.
Mr. Rotimi Amaechi was in government for twenty-four years. With only two years unemployed, he has become hungry. I advise him to visit the train station he built in Marada, Niger Republic, for alms. He needs be reminded that he led the coalition against Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. What an affront for him to seek support to be the next president.
What President Tinubu needs is a strong and credible opposition which in my opinion will provide alternative perspectives to his policies and programmes. This will ordinarily be a reason to cherish the reinvigoration of ADC with some experienced politicians. However, a cursory evaluation of the antecedents of the captains of the new ADC provides nothing but politicians with the experience to situate only their personal interests.
Yes, we need a president that can deliver more than what Tinubu presently offers. Sadly, we cannot find that assurance within ADC. There is a semblance of hope in Peter Obi who is reported to be dining with the party. Mr. Obi’s situation is like somebody worshipping in a church where other worshippers do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. No salvation can be found there.
Senator Dino Melaye expressed utmost joy while introducing Mr. Obi inside the cramped room where the new ADC was unveiled. It was expected that the co-travellers would proclaim him the sole presidential candidate. This was not to be as there were as many presidential hopefuls in the room as the number of attendees. This is where the fairytale begins.
The motivation for some of the pushers of ADC is just to stop President Tinubu from office in 2027. They are yet to bring alternative blueprint that may encourage Nigerians to look their direction.
Some media outlets say Mr. Obi has not left Labour Party. This is gratifying as his stay with these strange bedfellows will not extend beyond the next moon cycle. When Mr. Obi finally leaves the gang in search of another platform to seek the plum office, these same people will shout at rooftops that he’s not politically stable. This is exactly the quagmire in front of the former governor of Anambra State. I raised a poser this morning on my Facebook page, asking if the millions of the Obi-dients will follow him to ADC. The responses were resounding; almost wholly agreeing to be with him wherever he goes.
With party primaries holding next year, it is not too early for Mr. Obi to seek alternative platform especially with the barrage of legal issues within the Labour Party. I honestly do not think ADC is an option. Promising to serve only a term will not sway the position of the die-hard apologists of the superiority of the North. He should not be a pawn by serving as a placeholder for 2031.
President Tinubu may not have attained all the expectations of the people but we cannot replace him with someone that has no record of delivery on promises. If Mr. Obi builds a structure devoid of our common oppressors, the dynamics may change. When the reverse becomes the case, the Bourdillion landlord will coast home effortlessly in 2027. This is nearer certainty than probably.
*(Source: Ika Mirror)*
