Recent weeks have illuminated the intricate dynamics of Nigerian politics, particularly within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As President Bola Tinubu undertakes his eighth trip to France amidst various undisclosed reasons, his administration appears to be grappling with internal rumblings. The president’s media team has been actively engaged in damage control following accusations of constitutional breaches regarding federal character principles. Allegations have surfaced of over 150 appointments concentrated within a single ethnic group across key economic, legal, and social sectors, a claim the government has countered by asserting all appointments were merit-based.
Beyond the outcry from other geopolitical zones seemingly excluded from these principal appointments, a significant undercurrent of discontent is brewing within the APC itself. Leaders and supporters of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the largest constituent bloc that merged to form the APC in 2013, reportedly feel marginalized within the current executive and legislative leadership. This perceived exclusion has not only reportedly angered former CPC leaders but also the electorate in regions that purportedly delivered substantial votes to President Tinubu in the 2023 elections, even surpassing his ancestral Southwest.
Since assuming office, the Tinubu administration has also faced scrutiny for its approach to the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Policies and their implementation by the current government have been defended by attributing hardships and security challenges to the preceding administration. The government’s strategy in addressing insecurity in the North-West, characterized by a “non-kinetic strategy” involving negotiations, has coincided with an escalation of kidnapping and banditry in states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kaduna – regions that formed the bedrock of the defunct CPC’s support and Buhari’s electoral strength.
Furthermore, some key figures within the current administration’s national security and economic policy teams have allegedly displayed animosity towards Buhari’s legacy. Attempts have reportedly been made by officials like Nuhu Ribadu and Wale Edun to attribute the fallout from the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira to the previous administration’s prudent management of these issues over eight years.
These converging factors appear to have spurred discussions among prominent former Buhari ministers such as Rauf Aregbesola, Isa Ibrahim Pantami, Abubakar Malami, and Emeka Nwajiuba, alongside other Buhari loyalists like Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai, to explore a potential departure from the APC. This has seemingly triggered alarm within the ruling party, fearing the loss of the “used and dumped” CPC bloc. The few known Tinubu appointees with CPC roots reportedly lack the grassroots influence to stem this potential exodus or mend the perceived fractured relationships.
Reports suggest that these former CPC stalwarts are now under heightened scrutiny, with their communications and movements allegedly being monitored. Some are reportedly facing investigations, potentially aimed at intimidation to prevent their exit from the APC. This alleged pressure has further incensed both the former CPC leaders and their support base.
The recent flurry of activity suggests a shift in the APC’s stance towards the “expired” Buhari, who was previously seemingly blamed for the nation’s challenges. The Progressive Governors’ Forum reportedly appealed to Buhari to intervene and urge former CPC members to remain within the seemingly inactive APC. Similarly, the Northern States Governors’ Forum has also reportedly been directed to seek Buhari’s support for Northern unity behind the Tinubu administration.
The panic within the APC reportedly intensified following a meeting between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former President Buhari, attended by several prominent former governors and ministers. This was seemingly followed by an urgent visit to Buhari by the APC Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, who had previously been critical of the former president.
The Tinubu government and the APC are now reportedly attempting to mobilize individuals perceived as disloyal within the defunct CPC to publicly express support for the current leadership. These individuals, known within the old CPC, are allegedly acting for personal gain and do not represent the broader sentiments of the CPC faithful. Their actions are likely to further alienate former CPC leaders and their supporters.
The path chosen by these individuals is viewed by many within the defunct CPC as a betrayal of their bloc, Northern Nigeria, and the Nigerian people.
Dalhatu Danzago writes from Paris, France
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