General Ibrahim Babangida
•Presidency: It will not last
Chuks Okocha in Abuja,
Aisha Wakaso in Minna, Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri
The registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party continued to generate commendations Thursday as former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida; Borno State Govenor, Kashim Shettima; and former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, joined several others to laud the development, calling it a victory for Nigeria’s democracy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Wednesday had approved the registration of APC and withdrawal of the certificates of registration of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which had merged to form the new party.
With APC’s registration, it effectively paved the way for the emergence of a two-party system in the country and a more vibrant opposition that can challenge the dominance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But despite the excitement that has trailed the registration of APC, the presidency scoffed at the emergence of the new party, predicting, “It would not last.”
In his comments on the registration of APC, Babangida said it would usher an era of vibrant politicking in the country, noting that he had always been an advocate of two-party system.
“We will now see more vibrant activities of political parties in the country. Every political party will have to work harder as they will want to sell their candidates to the people.
“I have always been and I will continue to be a strong believer of the two-party system in the country. And I have said it several times, just like the Peoples Democratic Party itself, that the coming on board of APC is a welcome development and with the registration of the party, we will now have vibrant political associations in the polity.
“Also as citizens, you would have the choice to join any political party of your choice,” he stated.
Babangida, who spoke at his hilltop residence in Minna yesterday while hosting the Governing Council of the National Examinations Council (NECO) led by its Chairman, Dr. Paddy Njoku, said though there are other parties, Nigeria now has two strong political parties to compete and convince Nigerians on which of them is the better option.
The former military president said the two major parties would have to work hard to sell their candidates to the citizens, as the people now have strong options to choose from.
Though he refused to comment on the 2015 elections, Babangida called on the electorate to protect their votes and urged them to make the right choice.
He also enjoined Nigerians not to condemn the activities of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which embarked on a strike, adding that ASUU members have the interest of the nation at heart.
“I think that they do have national interest at heart, but to be honest with you I think they should not give up in their negotiations with the government and as much as possible let the public understand the issues at stake,” he said.
Commending the federal government’s efforts at resolving the crisis, Babangida said the government was working hard to ensure that the matter is resolved soon.
Earlier, the NECO governing council chairman, Dr. Njoku, said the examination body had re-positioned itself to meet the yearning and aspirations of the Nigerian child by reaching out to all stakeholders including school children so that the council could achieve its mandate.
Some chieftains of the APC were also seen at Babangida’s residence in Minna to consult with the elder statesman.
Among those who came were the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, who is the Deputy National Chairman of APC; former FCT Minister, Nasir el-Rufai; Senator Nasir Nasif from Bauchi State, and two others.
Also speaking on APC’s registration, the Borno State governor said yesterday that the new party needs not be reminded that Nigerians expect a lot from it and that its leaders should strive exceptionally hard to show to the people of the country that it is out to make a difference.
The governor said the first task before the new party is to quickly convince Nigerians that the quality of governance would be greatly improved to better the lives of all Nigerians regardless of their ethno-religious and socio-political affiliations.
In a statement by his Special Adviser Communications, Isa Gusau, Shettima said with the calibre of credible political leaders, highly respected technocrats, academics, successful captains of industry and rights activists associated with the party, “Nigerians expect prompt indication that the party is coming up with something new to turn the fortunes of the country for the better for all Nigerians.
“Accordingly, such leaders and members must now begin to think critically ahead of formal engagements with Nigerians.”
The governor congratulated the leaders, members and supporters of APC who had worked tirelessly to create an alternative platform to deepen the country’s democratic process.
He also congratulated INEC for once again earning the confidence of Nigerians and reaffirming the people’s abiding fate in the electoral process.
On his part, Shekarau congratulated Nigerians and members of APC for the registration of the party. In a statement issued by his media aide, Malam Sule Yau Sule, the former governor said INEC had proved to Nigerians that it is working to promote democracy and stands by the provisions of the constitution.
He assured Nigerians that APC would be the alternative party they are yearning for that will eventually bring about the change most Nigerians have been clamouring for.
In a similar statement from the chieftain of the APC and one time presidential candidate on the platform of the defunct Nigerian Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, he said INEC deserves to be commended for its bold decision to register APC despite what he called “pressure from powerful corners”.
Tofa in a statement made available to THISDAY in Kano, added: “I would like to extend my congratulations to all the leaders and the parties that courageously merged together to form the new All Progressives Congress.
“I must also congratulate INEC for their sense of justice and patriotism, who despite pressure from many powerful corners, summoned the courage to do the right thing. I do hope that INEC will be similarly sincere in conducting all future elections as this is even more crucial to our survival as a country.”
The presidency, however, was of the opinion that the celebrations over the registration of APC as a political party may be premature and predicted that the party would have a short shelf life.
The presidency also expressed confidence that President Goodluck Jonathan would defeat the presidential candidate of APC, as the leaders of the new party are politicians that had been roundly defeated in the past.
Speaking with reporters yesterday on the implication of APC’s registration, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said APC would not last for a long time because the foundation on which it is structured is wrong.
“The combination is faulty, the ideologies are not clearly defined, the competition would not be intense when the time really comes, so we do not really take this as a very serious opposition.
“These are people that were beaten individually before and collectively we will defeat them randomly. There will still be other parties, there will still be other tendencies; I don’t think we are at that stage of a two-party system or even moving close to one.
“For us this a good thing, it is a great development. I don’t know whether the opposition is credible enough, I cannot attest to that, but at least you know what we have is we’ve had political parties that have been inept previously that have been extremely weak and of no serious political importance before.
“And now they have come together under one umbrella attempting to challenge the status quo. We will see how far they can go,” he stated.
Okupe described the registration of APC as perhaps the most eloquent testimony of the openness, transparency, honesty and political liberalism of the Jonathan administration
According to the presidential aide, “ This would not have happened under many Africa presidents, especially when it was obvious to those who care to study the situation properly that there were obvious hurdles and obstacles to that registration, which could have been exploited and could have been amplified and could have been used by people of lesser integrity to frustrate the APC.”
He said APC’s registration was a testament that the PDP was not scared of the opposition.
“We are not in any way anxious. But we are glad that at least now instead of fighting three or four parties, we can concentrate on one and get it done. But I can assure you that there is nobody in the villa that is worried over the registration,” he maintained.
Okupe, who described some members of PDP as dissidents, added: “It is becoming obvious that there are dissidents within the PDP that there is nowhere else for them to go.
“That is why you hear everybody saying they are not leaving the PDP. There is nowhere else to go. So it is better to fight and fight inside, it is better to present your case and let it be sorted inside. What you are seeing are clear cut announcements by those who are consulting.
“There are more than enough reasons for people to leave, but you know, you don’t leave a winning platform; it is politically suicidal.
“You hear from the opposition that 20 or 40 governors will join them, but these are empty boasts and do not hold water. None of these governors as you can see for yourself is prepared to move.
“What they are trying to do is to move around and ensure that they are heard and at least maybe some of their demands are met. But nobody is going anywhere because PDP is still the real party to beat.”
Okupe also accused some PDP northern governors of nursing an agenda that is different from the president’s agenda, stating: “You must understand that these governors have their own agenda; they have already set the agenda long before now.
“They are just using the Rivers State scenario as an excuse. Whatever the agenda is, they know and God knows, but this continuous moves and perambulation show that there are things they are not telling us.
“However, it does not really matter, as Nigeria is a free country. You can move around and you can consult around, you can do whatever you want, provided you stay within the law, so what you are seeing is politics, like the president said this is 2015 live.”
Okupe also dismissed the perception that there is a crisis in Rivers State, insisting there was none, as no house has been burnt or people prevented from going about their business.
“All this talk is just in the imagination of those who want to stoke the fire that does not exist. There is no problem in Rivers State. I have said it and I am saying it again, Amaechi only has a problem with some members of state House of Assembly, which is not strange.
“So all the talk about Rivers State and about governors moving all over the place has nothing to do with Rivers State. The state is a political camouflage and you can quote me.
“The real thing happening is just intense politicking by people with very serious interests in the polity or who have an agenda they want to make sure it manifests by hook or by crook,” Okupe stated.
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