Anarchy looms in APC

• As cracks in Presidency deepen

The disharmony of interests that has been ravaging the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government from inception has seemingly come to the climax, generating symptoms of threat of implosion of the party-government.

There are strong indications that the perennial aliment of President Muhammadu Buhari since the current administration has created leadership vacuum that has made cohesion of governance difficult. Certain principal officers in the Presidency and some members of the Federal Executive Council   have also, at different times, been accused of exploiting the vacuum to their personal advantages in the government.

This phenomenon degenerated into frequent accusations of a cabal in the Presidency that has hijacked the federal government. This culminated into the APC-controlled federal government becoming bifurcated into in-groups and out-groups competing for better share in the authoritative decision on who gets what, when and how much from the government.

Some notable state and political actors have, at different times, raised alarm of a cabal determining controversial or conflicting decisions or actions in the federal government.

National Daily investigation revealed that all these manifestations reflect a function of unrestrained power struggle between APC leaders from the inchoate stage of the Buhari administration, commencing with the struggle for the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly to subsequent corruption allegations and prosecution of certain principal officers in government, among others.

State and political actors like Senate President Bukola Saraki, Chief Bisi Akande, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, etc, complained in their respective ways about the Buhari administration being hijacked by a cabal or an oligarchy that was not part of the negotiation and formation of the APC, or the emergent social movement for change, which culminated into the overwhelming victory of the party to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 General Elections.

Perhaps, the most destructive symptom of the raging disharmony of interests and the exploitation of leadership vacuum for personal relevance in government since the absence of President Buhari has been the stratagem to cause unnecessary constitutional crisis over the executive powers of the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who has been standing in for President Buhari. Principal officers in the Presidency have distorted the process in such a way that they make Nigerians believe that President Buhari proceeded  on medical vacation in London, the United Kingdom, with executive powers and has been governing Nigeria from the sick bed. Apparently, Acting President Osinbajo has to wait for permission from the ailing President in UK before making executive decisions or taking actions as was the case with the assent to the 2017 budget.

More so, the controversy over the rejection of the confirmation of the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, by the Senate; and the insistence of the Presidency that Magu remains EFCC chairman irrespective of Senate’s decision threatens the fabrics of democracy, fundamental principles of governance relating to separation of powers and checks and balances, which is currently generating conflict between the legislature and the executive.

Moreover, some APC leaders have shown signs of being uncomfortable with the ugly situation in the party government.

Accordingly, Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, was compelled to the league of state actors protesting the reign of cabal in the Buhari administration.

The Senator had made a metaphoric protest about the cabal in the Presidency. He expressed the metaphor that while “weaker animals” were praying for the return of “Lion King”, “the hyenas” and the “the jackals” are scheming, based on the assumption that the “Lion King” will never return.

Sani had communicated Aisha Buhari that: “Prayer for the absent Lion King has waned. Until he’s back, then they will fall over each other to be on the front row of the palace temple.

“Now, the hyenas and the jackals are scheming and talking to each other in whispers; still doubting whether the Lion King will be back or not.

“Now, the Lion king is asleep and no other dare to confirm if he will wake up or not.

“It is the wish of the hyenas that the Lion King never wakes or come back, so that they can be kings.

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“It is the prayers of the weaker animals that the Lion King comes back to save the kingdom from the hyenas, the wolves and other predators.”

Buhari’s wife aptly responded to the metaphor, disclosing that the prayers of the “weaker animals” had been answered, and that “the hyenas” and “the jackals” would soon be evicted from “the kingdom”.

She maintained: “God has answered the prayers of the weaker animals. The Hyenas and the Jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom.

“We strongly believe in the prayers and support of the weaker animals.

“Long live the weaker animals, Long live Nigeria.”

National Daily inquiry further disclosed that it may be a herculean task for President Buhari quitting the ‘hyenas’ and the ‘jackals’ from the animal kingdom. There are indications that the two animal species may be found beyond the Presidency; thus, a power temptation that could precipitate unmitigated internal rivalries in the APC.

Some APC leaders have shown inconsistency in supporting the party-government.

Generally, the President’s health status may have communicated the need for overarching support by all party members. Ironically, most party leaders exploit it to pursue personal benefits.  They speak well of the President when the power equation in the presidency favours their political bloc or affiliation that serve their interests in the in-group and out-group dichotomy; they opt for pacific silence when the President regains power control; in some instances, they engage in clandestine recruitment of civil society actors either for protest or subtle advocacy against the president under the guise of activism.

Thus, the threat of dealing with the two animal species in the kingdom could a precipice for monumental conflicts that may exacerbate the incoherence of the APC and the government; which may throw up another animal kingdom within the framework of the state of nature where might is right; indicating that animal looms.

Meanwhile, National Daily investigation further revealed that Aisha Buhari may not have the mandate of her husband to issue the threat of dealing with the controversial animals in the kingdom. That may further deepen the cracks in the Presidency, especially, between the principal officers who call the shot and those loyal to her in the seat of power.