SIR: One of the biggest political challenges that President Muhammadu Buhari is facing is the opposition within his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially at the National Assembly.
How Buhari tackles the ‘rebellion’ will determine how smooth he will run his government, the fortunes of his party, the APC, especially in future elections, and how members of the APC will view the supremacy of the party.
Being the President of the nation, Buhari enjoys the support of his party leadership most importantly, that of the party leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and other senior party stalwarts, thus Buhari has upper hands against the opposition within the APC.
Having opposition within a political party is natural and healthy for a democracy, however what is happening in the APC is unique – the “rebels” have their calculations linked to future elections and are in close romance with the ousted external opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Buhari has some very strong and reliable weapons to tackle this opposition within his party; first, he must make sure that procedures and laid down processes are followed to the letter in every aspect of government business including in the legislature, especially when it comes to public fund expenditure. Secondly, Buhari’s posture of no more business as usual should be unfailingly adhered to.
Buhari should also take the path of reconciliation and employ the spirit of give and take: This would be the best for all the parties – the APC, its leadership and Buhari would be appeased, while the APC caucus of the National Assembly will be crisis free. But would the gladiators, especially in the Senate submit to party supremacy, which they preached to the masses during election
These two are strong weapons because a lot of individuals in the National Assembly who are aligning themselves to the opposition within are doing so hoping that when the kill is ready, they will enjoy the spoil.
Buhari should also take the path of reconciliation and employ the spirit of give and take: This would be the best for all the parties – the APC, its leadership and Buhari would be appeased, while the APC caucus of the National Assembly will be crisis free.
But would the gladiators, especially in the Senate submit to party supremacy, which they preached to the masses during election? Looking at Buhari’s position on the National Assembly crisis, one can say Buhari has no issues with any of the actors, the President is rather asking them to follow and accept the supremacy of the party, which was sold to the masses during the 2015 elections.
Anybody the All Progressive Congress (APC) presented was voted for, and most of the actors were beneficiaries of the APC sack.
