ACN And Vibrant Opposition

The utter sweeping of polls in the Southwest by Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the just concluded general elections may have to come to some as a surprise. This may not be unconnected with PDP’s hold on the region especially after the 2007 election when the party won virtually the entire states except Lagos.

But close observers were not taken in for any surprise after Ondo, Edo, Ekiti, and Osun states were rescued from PDP at the Election Appeal Courts.

In the wake of this was the 2011 general elections. ACN, savouring the courts’ victory against the PDP intensified its political campaign to totally unseat PDP in the Southwest, at least. And it was a fait accompli as ACN clinched all the House of Representatives seats in the entire six states of Southwest, leaving only three for PDP and eight for Labour Party.

At the Senate, ACN made huge success winning all the Senatorial seats and conceding only three to Labour Party in the region.

Another important area ACN made success in the Southwest was at the governorship election. Of the available three states – Lagos, Ogun and Oyo, ACN chased out PDP in Ogun and Oyo State, and retained Lagos State.

With gains at the polls, winning overall 47 seats at the Lower House and 13 at the Upper House, ACN is now the main opposition party at the National Assembly. PDP knows this, especially for it to maintain relevance in sharing of office spoil by the ruling party. No wonder efforts were being made to persuade elected National Assembly members on the platform of ACN in Southwest to move over to PDP to shore up its number.

As expected of a disciplined and organised party that wants to remain relevant and make more impact in future elections, the leadership of the ACN issued stern warning to its members that the party will not tolerate any act of indiscipline or conduct contrary to laid down principles guiding the party. The party was not in doubt that it will sanction any member who defects to another party.

If this is maintained, as it should, ACN will bring a semblance of a quality and vibrant legislation both at the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The conduct of lawmakers at the National Assembly has not given Nigerians any cause for joy. A situation where serious matters that affect the lives of many were treated as “family affair” should be a thing of the past in the new dispensation about to begin on 29 May when the newly elected politicians will be inaugurated. The near incompetence of National Assembly members became manifest when former President Olusegun Obasanjo dictated and decided what happened in another important arm of government.

The leadership of both Houses were surreptitiously chosen in such a manner that the President could work easily. This made National Assembly a rubber stamp that usually compromised at such times it should have shown that its independent from the executive arm of government and sustain the doctrine of checks and balances that is the hallmark of a robust democratic culture.

The invitation by the ruling party to other parties to form Government of National Unity (GNU) was reminiscent of what happened after the 2007 elections. To assuage charged nerves as a result of the massive rigging of the elections by Prof Maurice Iwu in favour of the ruling PDP, the then President, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua promised that apart from setting up a panel for electoral reform, he would form a Government of National Unity.

All Nigerian People’s Party, ANPP, and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) fell for it. They nominated candidates that were made ministers and special advisers. They participated in policy formulation at the centre. They were part and parcel of that government. Did it benefit them? Apart from not having their opinions on matters that were contrary to the ideals of the party on the floor of the House, it also diminished their fortunes at the election tribunals, especially, at the presidential Election Tribunal.

The ANPP presidential candidate in the 2007 election, Gen Muhammadu Buhari could not get the needed party support in pursing his case up to the Supreme Court. Midway into the legal struggle, some members of his party abandoned him. Notable among them were the party chairman, Chief Edwin Umezurike, governors of some states controlled by ANPP and some ANPP members at the National Assembly.

Until Buhari finally dumped the party, there was no cohesion and sense of direction for the party. That equally led some governors to decamp to the ruling party, the PDP. That internal disintegration reared its ugly head in the just concluded general elections. A party that controlled six states in 2007 was left to win only two states after the 2011 gubernatorial election. A newly formed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) became the toast of voters as alternative to PDP, especially in the northern part of the country.

ACN must have read this obvious hand writing on the wall when it said it will never fall for the tricks of PDP in forming a government of national unity. Again, when you remember that the bane of our success since 1999 has to do with lack of quality leadership at the National Assembly, the calibre of elected officials to the National Assembly which impacted on the kind of deliberations on the floor of the House, it becomes imperative that ACN should make the House a vibrant one through informed and competitive contributions. Coming from the background of progressives therefore, there is no doubt that ACN members will pursue and legislate on people oriented issues.

ACN members at the National Assembly are 47. Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has 30 seats; All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) has 25 seats, Labour Party has eight seats and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has six seats and three seats for other political parties. The ACN members are largely from the Southwest. The Southwest region has achieved the success they enjoy ahead of other sections of the country being in the opposition. There are no regrets now that the region seems to be in minority party at the National Assembly.

We have seen in the past where oversight functions of the National Assembly over ministries, agencies and parastatals are done without due diligence. Budget passage and monitoring have been tainted with greed by members of the National Assembly. Bills that will drive developmental projects when passed into law have been left unattended to for many years running. The Freedom of Information Bill (FOiB) and and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) rank high among bills that have been negated.

An era where government nominees for sensitive posts are given easy passage on the floor of the Senate without ascertaining the credibility and suitability of such candidates should be a thing of the past.

Nigerians earnestly yearn for a voice that will rescue them from the claws of PDP. These expectations must not be wished away. Already Babafemi Ojudu, ACN member from Ekiti Central, said he will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the floor of the Senate. He’s been with a section of the media that refuse to be cowed by the establishment.

Expectations are high from these rare breed. The events in Ogun, Oyo, Osun and many states in the country in the last four years should make these progressives to provide succour to those who lined up under the sun to cast their votes for an alternative party. Before now, Mrs Remi Tinubu has been accused of hiding under her husband’s shadow to win her party’s ticket and ultimately winning the seat as a Senator to represent Lagos Central. Her supporters have equally argued that her track record speaks volume. This is one opportunity to show that she can stand on her own and be counted. Policies that will affect her gender and children alike will sure be her focus.

The entire nation is eagerly waiting and will surely watch the sterner stuff these progressives will bring to the National Assembly. Are they truly progresives or opportunists? In the next few weeks all these will start unfolding. One thing that must not be taken for granted is the discipline and direction that will come from the party leadership. As tested and experienced as people marshaling out directive to party members, Nigerians would want to know how ready they are to take over at the centre in 2015 as the leading opposition party plans to do.

•Chimere Igbani writes from Lagos