Fellow Nigerians, please permit me to say right
away that the ways of politicians are never that
of ordinary mortals. Otherwise, we would not
have found ourselves in the present peculiar
mess which culminated in the virtual fiasco at
the National Assembly, last Tuesday, June 9,
2015. The emergence of Senator Abubakar
Bukola Saraki as Senate President has ignited an
unprecedented conundrum in the Upper
Legislative chamber for several reasons known
and unknown to the general public. What is clear
is that it was a high-wired game of political
chess which caught even the most politically-
savvy members of our society napping. It is a
tale full of sound and fury but signifying nothing
but plenty of intrigues and abracadabra.
But it wasn’t as if the outcome of that
combustive election had not been predicted and
foretold. The platform had been provided by the
inability of the amalgamation of different
political parties that made up the All
Progressives Congress (APC) to enter into a
prenuptial agreement, prior to sealing the union,
as to how to share power then and in the future.
It was similarly tantamount to a polygamist
failing to prepare a comprehensive Will ahead of
his death and then suddenly dropping dead
intestate. The hullabaloo would naturally
reverberate across the seas and to far-flung
places.
The APC had managed its multi-faceted
marriage well pre-2015 elections to the
admiration and adulation of most Nigerians who
had expected the unification to be scattered to
the winds after the primaries that produced
General Muhammadu Buhari as the APC flag-
bearer. But, mercifully, the cracks were ably
glued and even solidly cemented as the
Presidential aspirants came together in an
atmosphere of uncommon maturity and vowed to
work jointly with their Party’s candidate. Such
camaraderie was seen as indication of a new
political order and remarkable sagacity in our
clime. It was one of the reasons many Nigerian
first time voters got connected to the change
mantra of the APC and gave their unqualified
support to an opposition party that was fighting
for a life of its own.
Against all odds, including intimidation,
manipulations and near-bastardisation of the
electoral process, Nigerians went out with
renewed determination to exercise their voting
rights and stood stoutly to monitor and protect
their votes with anything and everything. The
burden of expectation would soon manifest its
ugly head after the monumental victory. I had
written articles about this and in particular the
inherent danger of ascribing talismanic powers
to President Buhari and his team. Unknown to
us, this was going to be the least of the
problems of APC. The lurking danger would turn
out to come surreptitiously from a different and
unexpected direction, in this case, power-sharing
formula.
The CPC had succeeded in producing the
President while the ACN got the Vice Presidential
slot. The third and very influential bride was the
New PDP. A not too distant party in the
wedding party was the ANPP. APGA also played
the role of bridesmaid. One would have assumed
the New PDP would get a sizable chunk of the
vast estate from the deal but this was not the
case. Outsiders like us had warned about the
danger of not taking good care of all interested
parties in this holy matrimony. In fact, I had
sermonised in my article titled Let’s Honour Our
Heroes (Thisday, May 2, 2015) about the need to
accommodate and compensate the New PDP in
the arrangement without any prevarication
whatsoever:
“The first point to note is that APC must resolve
all its power-sharing squabbles amicably and
equitably. The greed factor must be jettisoned
for fair-play. Every partner in the greatest
political merger ever in Nigeria must be treated
with respect and decorum. No attempt should be
made to treat anyone as an inferior member of
the union. Once that is taken into consideration
and settled pronto, the party would enjoy the
bliss it deserves after a most excruciating
campaign. What kills most amalgamations is
egocentricity. I already foresee a war of attrition
if APC does not immediately halt the present
macabre dance by some of its members. The
Party and the Government that it will establish at
executive and legislative level must not see itself
as a coalition of Parties with separate ideologies
and detrimental interests. Having fused into one
it must behave as such and cater to the core
doctrines embedded in its manifesto.
“Let me be more specific. The APC has been
locked in a logjam over the zoning of the highest
positions in the land. The way I see it is that
CPC has already produced the number one slot.
ACN has provided the number two. ANPP has
secured the boss of all bosses the National
Chairman of APC. The New PDP which came
into the union with five formidable Governors
and a multitude of National Assembly members
is yet to get any position. This appears to me as
grossly unfair and disproportionate. It is one of
the reasons many onlookers and non-party
members like me supported the candidacy of
Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Senate
President. We must learn to honour our heroes.
Dr Saraki with Governors Rotimi Amaechi and
Rabiu Kwankwaso risked everything to make this
Change Movement possible. They and their other
colleagues took the bulls by the horns and took
the battle to the doorsteps of PDP. It is
unfathomable how anyone would say they don’t
deserve any chunky positions in the grand
alliance…”
Unfortunately, it seemed no one hearkened to my
admonitions. Obviously, Saraki was vehemently
opposed by some top guns and practically turned
into a pariah within his own party. Yet he was
the first to throw his hat into the ring for the
position of Senate President. It seemed that
other contestants were only put forward mainly
to thwart Saraki and not because of the added
value that they would bring to nation building.
Without any fear of contradictions, Dr Saraki is
one of the most cosmopolitan politicians in
Nigeria today. He is in the league of the El-
Rufais, Donald Dukes, Babatunde Fasholas,
Rotimi Amaechis, Adams Oshiomholes, Kayode
Fayemis, Pat Utomis, Godswill Akpabios, Rabiu
Kwankwasos, Tanko Al Makuras, Ibikunle
Amosuns, Abiola Ajimobis, Waziri Tambuwals
and many others who have shown enough
promise of a greater Nigeria. I will be proud to
showcase a Saraki in the gathering of world
leaders and wondered how anyone would seek to
suppress the obvious potentials of such an
urbane and confident politician.
I followed the shenanigans that ensued with rapt
attention and keen interest. Every obstacle was
placed in Saraki’s path to make sure he did not
emerge as the winning candidate for the post of
Senate President. Feeling rejected and dejected,
but nevertheless determined to succeed, he must
have turned to his former friends at PDP for
support. At any rate, it should have been obvious
to any discerning mind that it would be difficult
to win the election without the co-operation of
PDP Senators. The numerical strength of the
PDP, with more than 40% of the Senators, made
this a matter of stark fact. Since it did not
appear some powerful members of his party
favoured him, Saraki was buoyed by the support
that he would get from the PDP. This was the
beginning of the chaos that would explode and
engulf the House of APC.
What happened when the APC leadership decided
to shoot itself in the foot by summoning a Party
conference with the President at the same time
the Senate was being inaugurated is now the
subject of intense speculation as to who, how,
and why? What is clear is that this opening
gambit played spectacularly into the hands of
the Saraki faction. Call it what you want, a
coup, double cross, ambush, outflanking,
outsmarting, or any other nomenclature; this was
surely a great military strategy at work. It is
interesting that some of those in the forefront of
the denouement are all military, from Senator
David Mark to President Buhari. The deft move
cut the opponents dead in their tracks. Whislt
they were scurrying back to the Senate, having
been left in the lurch by a President who had
earlier stated in no uncertain terms that he was
not going to interfere in the matter, Senator
Saraki was being returned unopposed as Senate
President by 57 Senators elect out of 108.
The PDP which had co-operated in securing the
Senate Presidency for one of their former
colleagues suddenly saw a wind of opportunity
as there were still not enough APC members to
elect a Deputy Senate President from the ranks
of APC. Seizing the moment they immediately
put up Senator Ike Ekweremadu as thier
candidate for Deputy Senate President. He duly
won. I believe there was nothing Saraki could
have done about this even if many feel he should
have waited for his late-coming colleagues. APC
simply did not have the numbers at the time and
there is nothing in the Constitution stopping the
PDP from doing this.
Indeed, given the disunity in the APC it is a
wonder that PDP did not decide to go for the
Senate Presidency itself. With its block of 49
solid votes it would only take Senators Lawan or
Saraki to split the APC vote for a PDP candidate
to win by default. There would have been
nothing wrong with this, as the Constitution
does not stipulate that it is the sole prerogative
of the ruling party to present the Senate
President or indeed the Deputy Senate President.
There is no doubt that the Constitution expects
some sort of democratic input into the selection
of the Senate President and his Deputy. It
envisages that all shades represented in the
Senate must participate in this process. If it
wanted only the majority party to present a
candidate or candidates it would have said so.
In any event this country had just come from
witnessing the glorious feeling of what true
democracy can bring about. Why should APC
which is the prime beneficiary of that spirit of
democracy seek to egregiously deprive one of its
own from engaging or enjoying this kind of
spirit?
It is also instructive that ACN, one of the
integral parties of the APC spearheaded the PDP
revolt which led to His Excellency Aminu
Tambuwal of Sokoto State becoming Speaker of
the House of Representatives in 2011 over
Honourable Mulikat Adeola who was the
anointed candidate of the PDP. PDP cried foul
at the time but APC blew the trumpet of
democracy and the constitutional right of
members to elect their leader. The PDP realising
the truism in this position sheathed their swords
and embraced Tambuwal thereafter. The Party
closed ranks and worked together. It is not clear
what the difference is now and why APC should
be complaining when what is sauce for the
goose should be sauce for the gander. What
goes round comes round. For PDP it was
certainly payback time. And they did so real
good. At least, APC should have pretended that it
was not pained at all. After-all, our dear Brother,
Tambuwal remained The Speaker to the very end
despite picking the gubernatorial mandate of
APC and PDP bore its anguish with equanimity.
Now APC must, like PDP in 2011, must close
ranks and move forward. It is gratifying that the
number one father of the nation and the
quintessential leader of APC, President Buhari,
immediately congratulated the new leaders of the
National Assembly and pledged to work with
them. Other national leaders including the
Chairman of the APC, Dr John Oyegun, and the
projected Chairman of the Party’s Board of
Trustees, former Vice-President Alhaji Atiku
Abubakar, also did the same. This is what
Nigerians need in this climate of change and I
know that my dear brother and Publicity
Secretary of the Party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
would now have the chance to join his fellow
Kwarans in jubilating a rare feat by Oloye Saraki.
I must again single out for praise Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu for the stoic way he has handled
the smashing of his carefully laid plans. Like the
statesman that he is, Asiwaju has refrained from
pouring oil onto the raging fire even though he is
obviously piqued and miffed. That is as it
should be. At the end of the day it is Nigeria’s
interest that is paramount and not personal
interests. Tinubu has the culture of bowing to
superior logic and I’m he has risen above
unproductive altercations. I’m looking forward to
seeing that special photograph of reuniting with
his dear Aburo in the next few days. Nobody
wants a divided ruling party because that cannot
augur well for the much sought progress that the
country and its long-suffering citizens are
clamouring for.
These are momentous times for Nigeria.
Everyone agrees that Dr Bukola Saraki has the
qualities for making a good Senate President
who will work in grand collaboration with the
Executive led by President Muhammadu Buhari
to stop the rot in our polity. Like the President,
Saraki wanted this position and worked for it.
He is not a reluctant candidate who simply
contested or was drafted for the sake of it. The
problem he faces currently is the strong
suspicion that he may enter the Presidential race
in 2019. We shall elaborate more on this
speculation, sooner than later.
But whether true or false, this is no justification
for throwing away this charming baby with the
bathwater. God bless President Buhari for
dousing this volatile tension.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/saraki-and-the-battle-for-2019/211856/#.VXuuFvO9BdA.twitter

Ok na!

Oya na!!

Very detailed

NO NEWS

PDP WILL TAKE POWER BACK IN 2019

did not even read that, so no comment.

How will I read all dis long story?Bt from d headline,I will say dat if his ambition will make him work sincerely as a senate President, den let him carry go. all am interested in is anything dat will bring good governance

Epistle!

This is so detailed and truly said. This shouldn't be seen as a battle of supremacy instead it should be seen as a way in which G-5 of pdp wanted their share. APC should close rank now and focus on all other subjects that matter now, that is, satisfying Nigerians and deliver on their election promises.

Now I know why u are a renowned Journalist

Nice write up

It is called greediness by d ACN in APC bt the NEW PDP knows how how to play the national politics than them all...what goes around,come around..

Good. what everyone should know is this, You can't win a presidential election without the north. secondly 2019 is for north again. so who is PDP going to present that will beat BUHARI? nobody. And if Bukola is thinking of presidency lol forget it. mark tot of it today he's a humble house leader from senate President. I actually like saraki more than LAWAL. he's got the brain no doubt. so let's keep watching d drama

fashoo2010:
It is called greediness by d ACN in APC bt the NEW PDP knows how how to play the national politics than them all...what goes around,come around..

how could u call it greediness when is very clear that this same ACN of the APC are main architect of the change they deserve total control over the party

fashoo2010:
It is called greediness by d ACN in APC bt the NEW PDP knows how how to play the national politics than them all...what goes around,come around..

Ironically there will be no apc today without one man Tinubu.


There will be no buhari today with Tinubu


In fact, Atiku would have flogged buhari silly at the primaries without Tinubu.


So when you go back and forth, you will still come back to Tinubu.


Tinubu is a fast learner, I am particularly happy the pdp guys have shown their hand early. I am sure the asiwaju is somewhere glad for that.

Sentiment doesnt supersede Principle.

All the Grammar don make the story tire from the beginning...

He shld at least be lenient with his Big English.

Abi he expect pple to carry dictionary for side ontop mere opinion?

Yoruba man and betrayal are like bread and butter

Mightymanna:
Yoruba man and betrayal are like bread and butter

What's ur problem?

Sentiment doesn't supersede Principle.

It is sentiment when you say since "The CPC had succeeded in producing the
President while the ACN got the Vice Presidential
slot. The third and very influential bride was the
New PDP. One would have assumed
the New PDP would get a sizable chunk of the
vast estate from the deal but this was not the
case. campaign.“Let me be more specific. The APC has been
locked in a logjam over the zoning of the highest
positions in the land. The way I see it is that
CPC has already produced the number one slot.
ACN has provided the number two. ANPP has
secured the boss of all bosses the National
Chairman of APC. The New PDP which came
into the union with five formidable Governors
and a multitude of National Assembly members
is yet to get any position. This appears to me as
grossly unfair and disproportionate. It is one of
the reasons many onlookers and non-party
members like me supported the candidacy of
Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as senate president'

But it is principle to say that parties executives/ officials were not produced through consensus agreement/arrangement or Zoning , but through election.

If zoning was agreed, then why did 2 newPDP and APGA candidates insisted in holding presidential primary election against CPC ANPP and ACP preffered consensus candidate Gen Buhari?

What if they, newPDP won both the primaries of the presidential and party chairmanship elections?

Won't they say it is democracy at play?

It seems they gave false impression that they rather believe in election than consensus agreement/arragment or Zoning. And when they saw they were defeated on the two fronts and probably on the fourth, they cry marginalization and air sentiments..








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