Akanni Alaka writes on the challenges that will confront the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in marketing his ambition to Nigerians ahead of the campaign season for the 2023 election that will kick off next month.
As much as he and his party are trying to shift focus away from it, it is increasingly becoming certain that the issue of the same faith, otherwise called the Muslim-Muslim ticket, will be one of the issues that will define the campaign of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2023 presidential election.
This was evident when the party presented key officials that would lead its presidential campaign to Presidential Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock presidential villa last week. After the closed-door meeting with the president, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the APC national chairman presented the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum (NGF), Simon Lalong and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo as the director-general and acting spokesman of the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation respectively.
“We are here today to see Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari to brief him and to get his buy-in and approval of plans that we are having regarding our campaign outfits. So, we’re on the same page with Mr. President regarding our organogram and the individuals that are going to be playing different roles within the organisation structure in the campaign outfits,” Adamu said. He said Lalong had been chosen as the DG of its Presidential Campaign Organisation because of his “ability.”
Unending Muslim-Muslim Furore
But the journalists at the briefing were not convinced. After all, Lalong, the only Christian APC governor in the Northern part of the country was previously touted as one of those being considered as running mate to Tinubu to avoid the Muslim-Muslim trap that the party is now ensnared in.
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So, was the choice of Lalong influenced by the need to assuage the anger of Christians across the country, including the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other groups who had vowed not to vote for APC over allegation that floating a Muslim-Muslim ticket does not reflect the country’s religious diversity?
The question was even more germane given the fact that some members of the party had not only dumped the party over the controversies generated by the presidential ticket but had also vowed to mobilise the electorate against it.
The controversies had further gained traction when the APC unveiled the running mate of its presidential candidate in Abuja some weeks ago with some people dressed in Christian clerics’ robes in attendance.
CAN had accused the APC of a deception plot, with the accusation that the supposed clerics were rented to give the impression that Christians were in support of the party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. However, some of the clerics involved in the controversy later addressed a press conference to dispute the claim that they were fake pastors or bishops as they were described in some reports.
Yet, at a meeting with APC Northern Christian Leaders in Abuja after the event, former secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal, had vowed that Christians, including members of the party, would use their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) and prayers to resist the presidential ticket.
At the meeting also attended by former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Lawal restated his earlier assertion that Tinubu’s selection of Shettima as running mate was a fatal error. He further argued that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket was proof of APC’s anti-Christian agenda, noting that the party had eliminated northern Christians from its National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC).
“This is a calculated anti-Christian exclusion agenda that is being implemented. This is truly a wake-up call for all Nigerian Christians. We didn’t start this religious politics; APC and its candidates did; so, all of us should take note and act as appropriate. The truth is that the 2023 presidential election will be all about religion, and sadly, you started it; religion does matter in this context so be ready for the consequences,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Dogara, who was the guest speaker at the event lamented claims that Christians in the North could not deliver sufficient votes for APC being used by some analysts as strange. He also dismissed the attempt to justify the move with the 1993 presidential ticket of Moshood Abiola and Kingibe.
“Consequently, anyone who thinks that events in Nigeria in 2022 are not novel but routine as they were in 1993 is totally incapable of finding solutions to challenges currently ravaging our dear nation.” Thus, Dogara urged Nigerians to resist the APC presidential ticket at the event attended by Adamawa senator, Elisha Abbo; former sports minister, Solomon Dalung, and other Christian APC leaders.
‘Opposition Petrified ‘
However, at the presidential villa, Lalong, Adamu, and Kashim Shettima tried to push the argument away in their various responses. Lalong said he was chosen not because of his faith, but his ability as the APC chairman said: “I’m not a Christian candidate. I was not nominated as a Christian candidate. The party said I’d been nominated because of my ability. I’ve been a very loyal member of the party. I joined APC because I believe in APC. Second, I’m not only the Governor of Plateau; I’m chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum. So I can carry out leadership in any capacity. I only want to express to you that I am surprised that I’m being announced now. I am sure we’ll not disappoint you.”
On his part, Shettima blamed the opposition for the raging storm over the APC presidential ticket. He noted that the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, one of the legacy parties that formed APC had paraded a same-faith presidential ticket in the 2011 presidential election without much fuss.
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The storm this time around, he said, was because the opposition was petrified about the potential of the APC presidential ticket. “Now, the opposition has seen a winning combination and they are petrified, deep down to the marrow of their bones. We will not trade in insults, lies, and mischief, ” the APC vice presidential candidate argued that the focus should be on what candidates have been able to achieve. “How to propel this nation to greatness is much more important than playing on the sentiments of Nigerians. Poverty knows no religion or ethnicity. Insecurity knows no religion or ethnicity.”
On his part, the APC national chairman sounded conciliatory, appealing that the presidential candidate of his party should first be seen as Nigerians before considering issues related to their faith. Just like you have people expressing fears or concerns about a Muslim-Muslim ticket, there are Christians that welcome it as a positive development in Nigerian politics. They are Nigerians,” Adamu said.
He, however, added that APC was “extremely sensitive” to the sensitivities of fellow Nigerians and members of the party while noting that one issue does not determine a candidate or victory in an election. “The party has taken a very careful deep look at the Nigerian situation and the political space. And we believe very strongly that notwithstanding the expression that we’re hearing, we will be working on amicable solutions to the sentiment and we’re very sure by the grace of God we’ll put them to rest before the elections.”
Tinubu’s Home Troubles
But the issue of the same faith ticket is not the only concern that the party will need to put to rest before the election if the ambition of its presidential candidate is to fly. For one, the party will need to tackle the crises generated by its poorly managed primaries which resulted in the defection of its members to other platforms across the country.
The Nigerian Xpress observed that after the loss of the Osun governorship election attributed to the schism in the state chapter of the party, many APC chapters across the country have initiated moves to appease grieving members. This includes appealing to aggrieved APC members to withdraw cases filed against the party over the primaries or the state executive committees in court.
Last week, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase also said the APC was bridging the gaps created by its primaries by reconciling aggrieved members toward a victory in the 2023 poll. He spoke when he visited Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo in Abuja last Thursday. “We are working hard to ensure we bridge all gaps and win with all margins,” he said.
But while such reconciliation is going on in all parts of the country, Tinubu seems to be facing a home problem with the South-west chapters of the APC in disarray.
Aside from the big blow inflicted on his ambition by the recent loss of Osun to the opposition PDP, indications last weekend were that the battle for control of the Ogun chapter of the party between Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Ibikunle Amosun has not abated. Amosun who lost control of the Ogun chapter to APC with his entire loyalists losing their tickets in the party primaries had opened a new battle flank against his successor in Abeokuta, the state capital.
He alleged that Abiodun was rigged into office against Adekunle Akinlade whom he backed on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement in the 2019 election. But he told journalists that the battle was not over as he would work to ensure the removal of the governor in 2023. Amosun also indicated that he might abandon the APC to actualize the quest. He said his next line of action would soon be made public. “Just wait, very soon, you will hear where we are going next. Clearly, you know my stand, and my stand is my stand. I am not supporting this administration that is there now. He must be removed,” he said.
Already, Akinlade, Amosun’s anointed candidate in 2019 has been selected as the running mate of Ogun PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu. Analysts said defection to the PDP by Amosun will be a big blow to Tinubu’s ambition.
Also, the Oyo chapter of the party has been in crisis with the defection of some of the party’s chieftains to other parties. Also, the chapters of the party in Ondo, Ekiti, and even Lagos are still reeling from intra-party crises. Then, he will also have the challenge of the Labour Party which is increasingly becoming popular in Lagos to battle with.
Aside from this, this newspaper can also report that Tinubu will have to contend with legal challenges already filed to question his educational qualifications and other issues relating to his identity and his health as the campaign for the election is set to begin in September.
Buhari’s Burden
The APC presidential candidate will also be fighting off those who think his party has performed so poorly in its over seven years in power that it does not deserve another term in Aso Rock. For one, in the over seven years of the APC administration, the Nigerian economy has slipped into recession twice while a recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had put the inflation rate in the country at just below 20 percent.
Living has become hellish for most Nigerians who are struggling to survive with the continuous rise in prices of goods and services they are confronted with daily.
Analysts also said the APC administration has not been able to respond effectively to challenges posed to the economy by the worsening exchange rate of the naira to the dollar, ballooning inflation, the unending collapse of the national grid, and energy crises evident in the rising prices and sometimes, unavailability of petrol and diesel for domestic and business and transportation purposes.
The Buhari-led APC government has also been amassing huge debts for the country as its failure to curb rampant oil theft in the Niger Delta had not allowed Nigeria to use the global rise in the price of oil as a result of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war to boost revenue.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed had recently warned that Nigeria was spending more to pay debts than the revenue the country was raking in. While presenting the 2022 fiscal performance report for January to April, Zainab noted that while Nigeria’s total revenue for the period stood at N1.63 trillion, her debt servicing was N1.94 trillion, a variance of over N300 billion.
Also, while Buhari inherited Boko Haram insurgency, banditry in the North-west and North-east parts of the country that crept in on his watch has aggravated the problem into full-scale terrorism. The bandits are spreading their terror all over the country as witnessed in a recent security scare that led to the closure of Federal Government owned colleges in Abuja as well as the killing of officers of the elite Brigade of Guards in the capital city. Bandits/terrorists regularly overrun or take over many communities, killing, kidnapping, imposing taxes on the residents, and determining when they will go to their farms.
The Southern part of the country has also not been spared from the activities of bandits. Last week, the Nigerian Railway Corporation announced the suspension of some of its train services over information that bandits are planning to abduct passengers.
Over 30 passengers abducted by terrorists from the Abuja-Kaduna train over three months ago are still in the custody of their abductors. Members of the National Assembly had recently threatened to impeach President Buhari over the worsening security situation, despite trillions of naira budget for security since the inception of his administration.
Nigeria Worse Off Than 2015
Speaking last week, Muhammadu Sanusi II, former Emir of Kano, said the Buhari government had pushed Nigeria into a bigger mess than it met when it came to power in 2015. Sanusi who spoke at an event in Lagos lamented that the country was buffeted by a cocktail of challenges ranging from insecurity, high inflation, and poverty, among others.
“We thought we had a big problem in 2015. 2015 is nothing, compared to what will happen in 2023. We have terrorism, we have banditry, we have inflation, we have an unstable exchange rate, and the worst thing is that those in leadership actually think we are going to thank them when they leave office,” said the former Emir.
He pointed out that Nigeria was the only oil-producing country grieving when oil prices had gone up as a result of the Russia/Ukraine war: “Our total revenue is not able to service our debt. And if anybody does not understand that we are in a complete mess, we are. We were in a deep hole in 2015. And between 2015 and now, we have been digging ourselves into a deeper hole,” he said while noting that the Buhari administration had been lethargic in responding to the challenges.
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“There is no change. There is no sense of urgency. If you are running a company and your sales revenue cannot pay interest, you know you’re bankrupt. When the total revenue of the Federal Government cannot service the debt? And we are smiling. These are the kinds of questions we need to ask. And the reality is that there are so many Nigerians, who, given the opportunity will do well but they simply cannot contest in that space.”
Buhari Made Tinubu Unmarketable
Thus, with the current situation in the country, some had argued that it would be difficult for the APC to market its presidential candidate to Nigerians.
Some had also contended that Buhari was a Tinubu project and he cannot divorce himself from the failings of the administration.
“The unemployment, insecurity, and the bad state of the economy have made Asiwaju Tinubu unsellable to Nigerians. We are going to change the “change” because the APC change has brought hardship and bloodshed to Nigerians,” a pro-PDP group, TAME led by ex-Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, said.
Many had also decried the claim by Tinubu that he would continue with the policies of Buhari if elected president in 2023.
You Can’t Put The Blame On Tinubu
But Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the APC countered such insinuations in an interview last Wednesday.
For one, Oshiomhole said Buhari’s emergence as Nigeria’s president was a collective effort of APC and Nigerians.
He also said the former Lagos governor could not be blamed for the actions or inactions of President Buhari as he had not been part of the administration. “You cannot say someone who never in any way participated in government be credited with the outcome of government policy or be blamed for same,” Oshiomhole said while also dismissing the focus on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of APC.
The former Labour leader also defended Buhari’s record in office while arguing that Tinubu would be his credible successor.
Analysts said Tinubu himself will have many such explanations and defence to make as he begins to market himself to the Nigerian electorate in the days ahead.
