UPN: Is There Panic In ACN?

Plans to reinvent the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN raises dust in the Southwest as the hierarchy of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN allege it is another strategy of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to undermine it in its stronghold.


Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the national publicity secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN was understandably, seething with indignation at what he alleged as the latest machination of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP directed at his party last Sunday.

Before now, suggestions that the ACN, the dominant political party in the Southwest or its officials could be harassed in its stronghold with a new party could have been farfetched.

But not if the new party is the reincarnation of a popular party that reigned almost unchallenged in the Southwest and had as leader, a visionary ideologue in the person of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

So, it was not surprising that news of the reinvention of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, which governed the whole of the Southwest, including Edo and Delta States in the second republic would come as a shock to the ACN hierarchy. It was especially seen as a direct hit at the underbelly of the ACN, which controls what used to be UPN's domain. And hence, Mohammed's raging invectives directed at the PDP, which he claimed was set on another game of intrigues directed at the ACN.

The fear of the ACN was that it had all the while claimed ownership of the progressive political legacies of the respected sage, Chief Awolowo who founded the UPN and left a legacy of political and economic philosophising that is yet unmatched in recent memory in Yoruba land, and arguably in Nigeria.

So reintroducing Awolowo's last political party, ACN officials apparently believed, was an attempt to undercut the support base of their party at home.

Even more disturbing for the ACN was the fact that the move to reinvent the UPN is being championed by Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, leader of the pan Yoruba social cultural group, Odua Peoples Congress, OPC.

So a mixture of Fasheun's undiluted Yoruba centric cultural credentials and Awolowo's political image was something the ACN hierarchy found more than troubling.

Fasheun's OPC has since the 1993 presidential election fiasco come to symbolise a sort of cultural standby force in the Southwest with the group's operatives in many instances being praised for living above board where regular policemen have failed.

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So noting that the PDP has decided to go for broke last Sunday, Mohammed at his press conference alleged among others, that one of the champions of the new UPN recently won a pipeline protection contract from the Federal Government, which according to him, was to provide finances for the reinvigoration of the UPN.

"The PDP is keenly aware that it has totally lost the confidence of all Nigerians, and the long-suffering people of this great country are now ready and eager to vote out this clueless party," Mohammed said last Sunday.

"Keenly aware of this fact, the PDP has now realized that if indeed the 2015 elections are free and fair and conducted in a conducive environment, there will be no chance for the party.

"The party has decided to go for broke: Either there will be no elections in 2015 or the polls will be conducted in an atmosphere of chaos, thereby paving the way for the PDP to do what it does best - rig the elections!"

Noting what he claimed to be the PDP's game of subterfuge in the Southwest, he said:

"A multi-billion naira contract has suddenly been awarded for the protection of oil pipelines in the region. The main beneficiary of the contract has suddenly realized that the Unity Party of Nigeria, formed by the respected statesman Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is no longer in existence, and has thus decided to revive it."

He further asked, "Is it a mere coincidence that the main beneficiary of the multi-billion naira oil pipeline protection contract is also the same fellow who is promoting the revival of the UPN?"

"Is it true that the so-called revival of the UPN is to provide a platform for anarchists and end-gamers in the South-west to infiltrate the ranks of the progressives and throw the region into chaos?"

Following a meeting of the conveners of the new UPN in Dr. Fasheun's Century Hotel, in Lagos last Wednesday, Dr. Fasheun replied ACN's Mohammed:

"UPN has come to provide such a credible platform. Those championing the resuscitation of UPN aim to bring sanity into the Nigeria's political space, beginning with the South-West." "A credible political association such as UPN will serve as a reliable, focused, people-oriented political vehicle. UPN shall meet the true yearnings of Nigerians for quality education, for free health for all, for a functional transportation system, for rural-urban integration and for mass housing."

Accusing Mohammed of lying against him on the issue of the oil pipeline contract, he said: "He lied against me and the Oodua People's Congress, OPC by misinforming the public that I had secured a N2.4 billion contract to guard pipelines. Trouble dey sleep, yanga go wake am. Let us reemphasise that we shall not go out of our way to look for trouble, but if trouble comes knocking, we shall return fire for fire. A word is enough for the wise."

One of the strongmen of the old UPN, Chief Ebenezer Babatope contacted on the development claimed ignorance of the move behind the reinvention of the old UPN. Babatope who was director of organisation of the UPN and one of the closest associates of the late Awolowo, nevertheless confessed in a telephone chat with Vanguard that he would remain a member of the PDP until he exits politics.

Babatope, a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT of the PDP when pressed on the issue, however, confessed that one of the brains behind the reinvention of the party was a former personal aide of his while he was minister of transport during the Sanni Abacha regime.

The move to reinvent the UPN, controversial as it may be, however, remains a double edged sword for the PDP and those against the ascendancy of the ACN in the region. In the eyes of some stakeholders the ACN which presently governs all but one of the six Southwest States could remain unassailable if the incumbent governors produce the kind of performance that was associated with the old UPN or even better.

http://m.naij.com/news/30762.html

interesting!

Apart from Baba Fasehun, who else was at the meeting convened at Century Hotel?

Where did Baba Fasehun get the financial resources to register and fund a political party

Baba may have conceptualized and founded OPC. the truth however, is that he has lost political control of the organization to his younger and more dynamic assistant, Ganiyu Adams. Ganiyu Adams enjoys the patronage of the godfather of South Western politics, Tinubu. Therefore, except if this is a grandplan of Tinubu to ensure the PDP snag the Southwest region in 2015, (at presidential level)I do not see how this "UPN" kite will fly.

I may be wrong.

Dont mind the ACN. They are only good at talking trash. When they went on rampage and denigrated and insulted the late sage's wife, HID Awolowo, they didnt think it will have consequences? Some fools came on here to support the Tinubu madness. Now they will have to live with the backlash. It is very lame to blame all their problems on GEJ. Very petty.

They forgot that they only got overwhelming votes in Lagos and Osun during the last election. So their propaganda that PDP and other parties are no longer relevant in the southwest is nothing but lies. They will surely loose Oyo and Ogun in the next election. Ekiti will be a tough contest if Fayose runs. Let them keep blaming PDP for their foolishness.

thelastPope: Dont mind the ACN. They are only good at talking trash. When they went on rampage and denigrated and insulted the late sage's wife, HID Awolowo, they didnt think it will have consequences? Some fools came on here to support the Tinubu madness. Now they will have to live with the backlash. It is very lame to blame all their problems on GEJ. Very petty.

They forgot that they only got overwhelming votes in Lagos and Osun during the last election. So their propaganda that PDP and other parties are no longer relevant in the southwest is nothing but lies. They will surely loose Oyo and Ogun in the next election. Ekiti will be a tough contest if Fayose runs. Let them keep blaming PDP for their foolishness.

This ur analysis get as e be o! Methinks you should restrict yourself to Vatican politics.

Fayose?!!! Like, seriously

I am patiently waiting to see the Ara that Baba Fasehun wants to perform with his "UPN."

Reptyle:

This ur analysis get as e be o! Methinks you should restrict yourself to Vatican politics.

Fayose?!!! Like, seriously

I am patiently waiting to see the Ara that Baba Fasehun wants to perform with his "UPN."

You have a right to your opinion but dont forget that ACN got less than half the votes in Oyo and Ogun in 2011. Fayose is very popular in Ekiti. I dont necessarily like the guy, but you cant take away his popularity. Ondo was another proof that ACN doesnt really have the stronghold it claims to have in the SW

This is not a matter of political calculus, its simple arithmetic here.


ACN dies by attempting to go national like AD, UPN simply take over from them.

The only snag is that ACN want to eat their cake and have it, but SW politics is never like that. Now they whine and cry like baby attacking anything that moves!

UPN ko!! I don't even know its Awolowo's party until now

If UPN is serious they would definitely win some states in west cos there are so many core Awoist there there4 is that tendency to share west btw PDP ACN and UPN.

Osc: If UPN is serious they would definitely win some states in west cos there are so many core Awoist there there4 is that tendency to share west btw PDP ACN and UPN.

Exactly what ACN is afraid of. Knowing their history, they would rather see Fasheun off to the great beyond, than see UPN resurrected. Unfortunately for them Fasheun seems to be playing the game with a copy of Tinubu play book.

The next few months will be interesting; I'll keep a tab on this.

UPN or up nepa it doesn't matter, so far its a credible political party that's ready to give the top guns a run for their money, who cares ?

The woe of ACN started with Ondo election.
It was obvious that the leaders of ACN are not interested in developing Southwest as they claimed
with their regional integration ideology, but rather interested in power.
Moreover, the fight with Awolowo's family was very unneccessary considering that their leaders;
Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande, Lam Adeshina, Segun Osoba et al got prominence using the name and influence.
Lastly, many Yoruba leaders like Olu Falae, Bolaji Akinyemi, Ayo Opadokun who actually were at the fore-front of
June 12 struggle were betrayed by the people parading themselves as Yoruba leaders today.
Not to mention Tinubu role in the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal, these are evidently anti- Yoruba interest.

If UPN is re-introduce, I see a divide in ACN strong hold, because, Awolowo's image loom larger than Tinubu political dynasty which is tainted with much corruptin and inordinate accumulation of wealth.

This will be interesting and I will be following the developments. Hopefully, Tinubu et al would come up with some genius of an idea else they're doomed come 2015.

I'll like to see this as a purely yoruba affair regardless. You can never trust these yoruba people. If & when they settle their differences, then they turn to traitors and fight other tribes.

dose comment are robbish.i have some question to ask.1 is dr fasehun a politician? 2 as he leaved d laibration of yoruba region to gani adams? 3 how specificaly it take to register a political party? 4. how dose dr fasehun got the money to register the party? 5.as the party going to take all member of pdp,acn,lp to be his party members.some ting is happen we dnt knw yet.

Of course there is panic, in fact there is more than panic, there is palpable paralyzing fear of an imminent collapse. If ACN was that powerful, how come they came third in ONDO, even PDP that they claim the Yorubas don’t like came Second and Labour party largely unknown elsewhere remains First.

eniaponle6363: dose comment are robbish.i have some question to ask.1 is dr fasehun a politician? 2 as he leaved d laibration of yoruba region to gani adams? 3 how specificaly it take to register a political party? 4. how dose dr fasehun got the money to register the party? 5.as the party going to take all member of pdp,acn,lp to be his party members.some ting is happen we dnt knw yet.

O boy !!!

eniaponle6363: dose comment are robbish.i have some question to ask.1 is dr fasehun a politician? 2 as he leaved d laibration of yoruba region to gani adams? 3 how specificaly it take to register a political party? 4. how dose dr fasehun got the money to register the party? 5.as the party going to take all member of pdp,acn,lp to be his party members.some ting is happen we dnt knw yet.

I wish I understand your questions very well. But let me try to educate you on the ones I seems to understand.
1. Fasheun is a politician. He contested for presidency during the SDP era as far back as 1992.
2. "Laibration" (sic) of Yoruba is not in the hand of Gani Adams neither is it in the hand of Fasheun.Liberation of any ethnic group is a continuous struggle that last till eternity. The work of rebuilding Nigeria was started by Lord Lugard in 1914, and even till now in 2013 GEJ is still building Nigeria.
3. There is nothing special about registering political party. Its only noise makers (APC) that went on propaganda mission and that made registering a political party a rocket science, because of their insincerity and personal aggrandizement. It takes Rochas Okorocha less than two weeks to register Action Alliance which he later abandoned.
4. How much does it take to register a party?
5. Its not about making other party members to join UPN, its about making sure that the programme that the likes of Lateef Jakande- who was ran Lagos for just only 5 years and left indelible mark in Lagos without borrowing as if borrowing is going out of fashion- is revitalised. The programme of the likes of Bola Ige of the old Oyo is re-introduced. The political agenda of late Adekunle Ajasin that brought so much industries to Ondo is revisited. The works of Ambrose Alli and Bisi Onabanjo are brought back into our political space.

That is what is causing panic in Tinubu's camp. The camp knew they used Awolowo legacy to gain power. They bastardize of the legacy and turn against Yorubas at crucial moments, abuse same elders that held their hands to power.
In their search for power, they are hobnobbing started hobnobbing with Hausa to play second fiddle to Buhari CPC!

This is a good write-up.

Like seriously, some of you think my generation give a damn about those wanting to ride on the dark horse with Awolowo's name and get into power and will blindly vote for them? Make una wake up... Day don break, this UPN will be like NCP!

Alxmyr:

I wish I understand your questions very well. But let me try to educate you on the ones I seems to understand.
1. Fasheun is a politician. He contested for presidency during the SDP era as far back as 1992.
2. "Laibration" (sic) of Yoruba is not in the hand of Gani Adams neither is it in the hand of Fasheun.Liberation of any ethnic group is a continuous struggle that last till eternity. The work of rebuilding Nigeria was started by Lord Lugard in 1914, and even till now in 2013 GEJ is still building Nigeria.
3. There is nothing special about registering political party. Its only noise makers (APC) that went on propaganda mission and that made registering a political party a rocket science, because of their insincerity and personal aggrandizement. It takes Rochas Okorocha less than two weeks to register Action Alliance which he later abandoned.
4. How much does it take to register a party?
5. Its not about making other party members to join UPN, its about making sure that the programme that the likes of Lateef Jakande- who was ran Lagos for just only 5 years and left indelible mark in Lagos without borrowing as if borrowing is going out of fashion- is revitalised. The programme of the likes of Bola Ige of the old Oyo is re-introduced. The political agenda of late Adekunle Ajasin that brought so much industries to Ondo is revisited. The works of Ambrose Alli and Bisi Onabanjo are brought back into our political space.

That is what is causing panic in Tinubu's camp. The camp knew they used Awolowo legacy to gain power. They bastardize of the legacy and turn against Yorubas at crucial moments, abuse same elders that held their hands to power.
In their search for power, they are hobnobbing started hobnobbing with Hausa to play second fiddle to Buhari CPC!

Man wake up..this is 2013, ACN is strong in south west and Edo because the governors are performing and giving people hope of a better Nigeria not because of one stupid History of a once upon a time party called UPN. The day ACN stop to build schools, good roads, hospital, water works, etc, is the day they will become history in any of the states they currently control.

Abeg wake up..day don break....

Dem don dey file out....

Omo_Tier1:
Man wake up..this is 2013, ACN is strong in south west and Edo because the governors are performing and giving people hope of a better Nigeria not because of one stupid History of a once upon a time party called UPN. The day ACN stop to build schools, good roads, hospital, water works, etc, is the day they will become history in any of the states they currently control.

Abeg wake up..day don break....

You are the one sleeping and far from reality. Deluded by the euphoria of power thirsty Tinubu and Buhari APC.
The reality on ground. ACN does not represent SW and has never proved to the people that they are working for the interest of SW. Hence there's a shift from Tinubu dynasty to re-allignment of the Progressives as was witnessed in the second republic.
Jakande performed wonders in Lagos without borrowing a dime. Today Fashola has indebted Lagos into debt that it will take another 25 years to pay. What is on ground to show for that enormous debt?
Wake up man and smell the coffin...

Bob_E: Of course there is panic, in fact there is more than panic, there is palpable paralyzing fear of an imminent collapse. If ACN was that powerful, how come they came third in ONDO, even PDP that they claim the Yorubas don’t like came Second and Labour party largely unknown elsewhere remains First.

Truth is ACN is strong only in Lagos. If you look at the election results from 2011 and more importantly the Ondo results, you'd find that the party does not win resoundingly. The margins are usually slim. That is a pointer to the strength of the party.

I keep saying it, the biggest selling paper in Nigeria, Vanguard sells less than 50,000 copies a day. Most voters dont hear all the noise the ACN makes on the pages of the newspapers. Grassroots politics wins elections!

UPN ? i dont see them causing panic in ACN, they dont have the political juggernauts to do that, the AWO sentiments has also withered considerably over the years, this is not 1999 elections !

emiye: UPN ? i dont see them causing panic in ACN, they dont have the political juggernauts to do that, the AWO sentiments has also withered considerably over the years, this is not 1999 elections !

If AWO's sentiments was withered considerably in SW, why was ACN using regional integration as a tool to sway voters in Ondo election. Why is Aregbesola always talk about regional integration tailored towards former UPN policies?
Ask Senator Sola Adeyeye, who still wear Awo's cap, he tell you a different story.

The Fantasies of Fasheun.
Senile old man, Dream on!

seanet01: The Fantasies of Fasheun.
Senile old man, Dream on!

Since he is senile, why is ACN through Lie Mohammed panicking?

Resorting to cheap blackmail and false accusations.