HOW NOT TO RECONCILE A POLITICAL PARTY
By Ahmad Sajoh.
When I appeared at the AIT on the 9th day of the August protest, I made a straight statement about the situation within the Polity. I said we cannot end violent tendencies within the citizens if political leaders spew unnecessary toxic and violent rhetoric within the public space. With their huge stake in a stable Polity, the political class should be the ones to promote stability and general societal reconciliation.
I remember immediately when I left the studio, I received a call from a very top politician and senior member of the PDP. He started by jokingly telling me to abandon the APC and join his party the PDP. I thanked him for what I considered a compliment but reminded him that I view party fidelity as sacrosanct. One of the things I dislike about Nigerian politics is the fact that politicians see political parties as temporary refuge for political convenience.
He said he was aware I was principled. Again I appreciated the compliment but still waited for the main reason he called. He then came to that by telling me unlike my party the APC which encourages divisions and conflict within the party, his party the PDP is set to establish a National Reconciliation Committee to drive a National Reconciliation process that will see them end all conflicts within the party. I felt hurt that he could say such bad things about my party, the APC. I equally felt that he was over exaggerating the situation in his party where the conflicts are more profound.
Yet, I couldn’t help but observe the many gaps and lapses within my own party. Too many crises in the different state chapters and too little efforts by the National Secretariat to address them. From the establishment of the party to the amendment of the Constitution of the party eight years later a Board of Trustees was never constituted.
The successor body to be called the National Advisory Council is still yet to be set up. That is a major setback if one considers the voice of elders and Senior members of the party as a stabilizing force. And no matter how one looks at it to reconcile a political party after all the divisions and disagreements of nominations prior to a National circle of elections requires a strong National voice to bring back everyone together. But we are yet to see that in the APC. We pray that the upcoming NEC of the party in the coming weeks will take a bold step to make reconciliation a key priority.
This brings me to the real kernel of my present write up. When we learnt that the leadership of our party in Adamawa State had pledged to reconcile the party in the state we felt very happy even though we had a lot of reservations. This is because we believe a more comprehensive reconciliation should have involved a more neutral group from the National Secretariat. The reason of course stems from the fact that the persons spearheading the reconciliation process within the State also need to be reconciled with a number of people within the party.
There is an African proverb that says “the basis of reconciliation is truth” And if truth be told the party leadership is part of the contentious issues that should be reconciled within the party. But we gave the process the benefits of doubts. They tried to meet many stakeholders in many locations. Let me confess that I was not privileged to meet them but I spoke with those who did.
The verdict is that making the efforts alone should be appreciated. But the lessons of the interface did not make much impact on the young leadership. Today I read a very disturbing story about the group condemning the Buhari government with a very unfortunate jab at the past Minister from Adamawa State.
For a group desirous of reconciliation and unity within the party, that was totally uncalled for. Haba ‘yanuwana, me yayi tsanani haka? There is no need for a “dog eat dog” posture within our party at this point in time. We need more peace and unity than divisions and disagreements. Both the Buhari government and this one are APC governments. The party gave birth to both governments. No parent openly expresses preference for one child over another.
What really worries me is the fact that they took time to pour encomium on the current Minister from the state while condemning the past Minister. That is to say the least self-serving. My conclusion about such an opportunistic position is that if the current Minister leaves office anytime after his tour of duty, the greater expectation is that he will be abandoned by this group for the new person.
That definitely is not a very good leadership trait. I will sincerely appeal to the current leaders of the party to consider the overall interest of the party and its teaming supporters by Uniting the party instead of dividing it. No one is impressed by their presentation, not even their ardent supporters. The path to failure in leadership is to believe in one’s own lies. Listening to the voice of reason is the Hallmark of greatness in leadership.
I also listened to them trying to ask members to avoid being part of a group within the State. Look my dear brothers and sisters you cannot claim to be democratic while condemning and questioning the very essence of democracy which is freedom of association. Every citizen has the right to belong to any grouping they so desire to belong to.
As a matter of fact the people telling others not to join a particular political group were themselves members of similar groups. What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander. No one, no matter how powerful, can decree membership of political groups in a democracy. To do that is to stand democracy on its head.
This leadership is young and educated. That is a very big plus for leadership capacity. I am one person that has always campaigned for and promoted generational change in the leadership of the country. But the young people must apply their youthful energy and exponential knowledge base to lead with a difference. They must avoid the pitfalls of anti-democratic forces by stopping people from freedom of assembly and choice.
They must not express signs of disrespect for leaders who were there before them. Condemning a past Minister while trying to curry favour with a current one is absolutely unnecessary at this point in time. The political party is a refuge for all members, good, bad and even ugly. Within its fold all should be protected. The only people who will display preference should be the electorate. In a multiparty democracy that is the norm. When political party leadership becomes intolerant to the extent of taking sides, democracy is definitely imperiled.
If anyone thinks the Polity has stabilized enough for divisive and toxic rhetoric to continue, such a person is wrong. What we need is to construct a stable society. What happened in the first 10 days of August especially in the North of Nigeria should never happen again in this country. Emirs were insulted, Ulamas and Pastors were wrongfully accused of collecting money and Mosques and Churches were looted.
And the only way to stop that happening today and in all of our future is for leaders of parties, leaders of our governments and all of us with a voice to be heard to work towards the expansion of the frontiers freedom, legality and opportunities. The fulcrum on which all of these should rest must be shared values of equity, peace, justice and inclusion. That should be the goal of leadership at this point in time.
How to reconcile our party and by extension our Polity is by accepting certain facts to be true at all times. These facts include the right to differ but still remain respectful of each other. The right to freely associate without undermining the party or its leadership. The right to contribute to the progress and development of society. These rights must be respected and promoted by our leaders in the party at all levels. Let that drive our reconciliation process.
And how not to reconcile our party is for leaders to take sides. To have favorites among party members. To reject voices of reason because they differ with their preferences. To diminish freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of choice. That is how not to reconcile our party.
As always I come in Peace.
