By Hassan Abdullahi, Kano City.
The manner in which Senator Adamu Abdullahi, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Party Chairman, came to power was enough to raise eyebrows; but because President Muhammadu Buhari had vowed to leave what he called a “lasting legacy” for the nation, few paid attention. Skeptical Nigerians had decided to , once more, take Buhari at his word. The process leading to Adamu’s “selection”, who is also known as “Sarkin Yakin Keffi” had been skewed to favor him, by deploying the conspiratorial “consensus” method that paved the way for credible candidates to be dumped.
Before his emergence, Adamu had been dubbed as “anti-south” for his perceived hatred of people outside his stock. This is considered strange considering the existence of Nigeria’s over 330 different ethnic groups. On the other hand, some political watchers scored him high on discipline; they say he is a perfect fit for the job because “he is tough” and could meet eyeball to eyeball with stubborn party members who refused to toe the “official” party line, like Bola Ahmed Tinubu who insisted that no other person was qualified for the APC ticket other than himself despite his ill-health.
APC was right to go for someone considered tough, based on unsavory experience from past chairmen, who converted the party chairmanship position into a weapon to further their interest. While Comrade had used his to suppress popular candidates, Mai Mala Buni tried to bring back former president Jonathan to pave way for his emergence as Vice-President. All their schemes became choked in failure. As it seems, the Aare Obateru of Ife did not learn from history. No sooner he became chairman in March, that he set about unveiling his true colors.
A specialist in “hide and seek” games, Adamu began to sneak in and out of office pretending to be carrying the party along. Well, on hindsight, it may be possible to conclude now that he was actually playing out his own script—not that of President Buhari! In a precarious twist, after less than 100 days in office, and against the wildest imaginations, Adamu told a bewildered nation that one Senator Ahmed Lawan was Buhari’s consensus candidate! He released the news in such a reckless manner as if to say, you guys “go kick your arse”! Of course, he got what he never bargained for: his own National Working Committee members stoutly opposed the move and even came out to condemn the it–openly.
Adamu retreated to somewhere in his house only to reappear and commit further blunders. The same Ahmed Lawan and Godswill Akpabio who did not participate in any primary had their names submitted against those who did! This was sheer impunity. At the end, his so-called tough stance failed woefully when confronted by the Tinubu machine, capitulating in such a shameful manner. Today, the APC has baggage to contend with. Not only is the APC flagbearer a sick man, he is embroiled in falsehood and perjury! And people are asking: Is this the legacy President Buhari talked about? They are asking, because even if Buhari belongs to “nobody” and “everybody” as he once declared, he is the President of the nation and should not be seen to shirk his responsibilities.
His actions must convince Nigerians not only to keep faith but continue to believe in him. Senator Abdullahi Adamu has not managed the affairs of APC differently from how Oshiomole and BunI did. And it is ironic, in the sense that some people obviously think they are bigger than the nation—and the law. Nevertheless, 2023 is around the corner, and it is important for Adamu to sit up—or lose the election. There are no two ways about this. This is the time to strengthen democracy—not ethnic superiority. Senator Adamu must know that power is transient and he is too old to play funny games.
When he was made the Reconciliation Committee chairman, he flunked that assignment; now as party chairman, he should not repeat the same mistakes. He has a chance to redeem his image and restore pride to his party that is already being destroyed by corruption, internecine battles and ethnic jingoism.
