Crass opportunism, vile tactics and cheap propaganda as nemesis of a party

In mythology nemesis as a general concept is the personification of retribution, especially the indignation or anger of the gods when men show signs of hubris, arrogance or over-confidence. In prosaic or ordinary accounts, nemesis is rendered admonishingly as “the evil that men do, catch up with them and live after them”. This wisecrack is truly symbolic of the sense of premonition of in-escapable danger that lay ahead of 2015 regarding the practiced political gimmicry of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party had employed all tactics fair and square; illegitimate and foul to bludgeon a weak-kneed Jonathan government out of the way or out of reckoning. Sensing that no political marketing strategies would fly or achieve support unless it focused on a “change” agenda propagandised on the ethic of individual empowerment, governance best practices, etc. the APC devised a campaign stratagem about helping the individual in consonance with the avowed role of society or the State; and in furtherance of the benign aspirations of the people. The effort was monumentally successful even as the campaign of “Change!” grew like a wild fire.

There developed a growing tension between the APC and its closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which the former had opportunistically presented to the whole world as visceral, clueless and immoral. Vainly proud of its political leadership of Nigeria, the PDP was content with itself but had become more exhausted and more thinly spread than it realised. The APC, on the other hand, was idealistic, self-righteous and ready to invoke the prerogatives of power but had been fostered ab initio to reject their consequential responsibilities. The large supply of intelligent men and women which flocked to it were not utilised, the tendency of its chief helmsman, President Muhammadu Buhari, regarding practiced or habitual reticence was breeding dis-content and discouragement even among the leaders. The party’s floundering or awkward beginning was also troubling. Things were however going so much the party’s way as to lead one to fear that there was a deliberate purpose in its methodology or poise.

Five serving Governors, many incumbent Senators, and a large pool of House of Representatives members including their Speaker decamped or defected to join the APC. There was unwonted enthusiasm; everywhere was aglow with feverish expectation. The PDP, flustered or dis-orientated, barely struggled to keep its membership within its fold. Suggestions that the action of these “erring” members was immoral or unacceptable were curtly brushed aside by the APC. The party had vaingloriously assumed the moral highground of the nation. She had afterall cobbled together the finest men and women in the land whose mission was to salvage the country from the mis-rule of the PDP. Those who failed to imagine that a probable loss of the APC in the 2015 general elections “would further demoralise the nation” were deemed beyond the pale; they were intolerable. Saraki, Tambuwal, Kwakwanso, Shekarau, Masari, Al-Makura, etc. were all men of honour and integrity as they joined hands to form the APC with the express implication to dismantle the structures of the PDP nationwide. These men were celebrated and egged on in their defiant attitude towards their former party’s pleas for restraint and understanding. In a pompous denunciation of the critics of the decampment blitz, usually-austere Femi Gbajabiamila boisteriously drew the attention of everyone to the fact of the sole prerogative of the members of the House to elect, for instance, its Speaker and other House leaders; that Speaker Tambuwal was not holding the mandate of the PDP which he might be required to surrender were it the property of the party even as he switched camps. Everyone was invited to sense the APC’s fervent faith in the future of Nigeria; to believe in her civilising mission, etc. For these and other reasons many men gave their friendship, their trust and their private views in support of the APC offensive. Often, political instincts can be helpful but more useful are the requirement of consistency, steadfastness, sincerity and truthfulness. An obvious lack of moral courage to uphold the truth at all times will appear to be the irreverent avowal of APC’s political opportunism.

Even as Nigerians are alternately amused or disgusted by the on-going musical chairs of a generally ill-motivated defection blues deceptively clothed or arrayed in selflessness and public spirtedness, it is apt to identify the Buhari presidency as the one whose presumed integrity and touted affable character appeal have received the greatest moral bashing. For how can a President celebrated for his no-nonsense posture, his virulent anti-corruption pronouncements and his infective principled bearing or body language allow himself to swim in the murky waters of “do or die” politics? What we are watching now is an immoral scene in a macabre dance drama wherein principles are stood on their heads as a politician is this morning denounced as a traitor, a looter and a disgusting or dishonourable fellow and by the evening of the same day is cleared of all charges and declared a patriot, an “uncommon defector” and a great leader of men and their affairs even as he switches to the president’s party. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who is the national chairman of the APC and who doubles as its spokesperson is an insufferable sight to behold. He invidiously abuses the rules of logical thinking or of correct reasoning in interpersonal discourse even as he spews expletives at opponents in a manner that derogates from the supposed excellence of his office and the profundity of the subject matter. His nature is distinctly that of an adventurer and not that of a balanced interventionist. Some have wondered if he is not the projected undertaker of the party. Even the EFCC’s menacing all-night watch or siege on residences of perceived “enemies of the public treasury” or that body’s un-professional verbiage is less vitriolic or acerbic than Oshiomhole’s un-sparing diatribe or harangue. The Department of State Security (DSS) has become the government’s attack dog for whipping the president’s political adversaries into line. Its officers could whimsically block the entrances into legislative assembly sessions thereby preventing the perceived enemies of the party in government from performing their constitutional roles or duties. The police, ever so subservient to government functionaries, are prepared to suborn a supporter of the ruling party providing him state or official cover for his malfeasance so he may escape un-detected or un-challenged. But Oshiomhole has outshone them all in unbridled brigandry and cheap talkativeness.

It is curious that Oshiomhole is stridently calling for the resignation or is threatening the “impeachment” of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on the untenable ground that the “crown” he is wearing belongs to the APC family. His attention ought to be politely drawn to s 50(2) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended just to distinguish the malapropism between “removal” and “impeachment”. The APC should continue to bear the alleged inanities of Saraki until after the expiry of this tenure. What is good for the goose is also food for the gander, history seems to be reminding the APC.

We must constantly be reminded that our actions today are the building blocks of tomorrow’s history. Whenever we sow the wind we should, in the fullness of time, be prepared to reap the whirlwind. The unfortunate victims of this comedy of errors are however the ordinary people who are denied good governance or whose social contract terms are smugly breached or abused without consequences.