By James Eze
When Governor Willie Obiano took over the leadership of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as the Chairman BoT and National Leader on December 17 last year, he quoted the Italian Renaissance man, Michelangelo, to his fellow party men and women.
In a powerful emotional voice, Obiano said; “the greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” The tremendous resurgence of APGA since this ambitious statement has since shown that Governor Obiano knew exactly what he was saying.
Looking for a fitting, epigrammatic phrase on which to hang former US President, Bill Clinton’s campaign against George H.W Bush in 1992, James Carville came up with the line “It’s the economy, stupid.” Aimed at playing up the paramount importance of the economy in the heady electioneering campaign of the time when the American economy was in recession, the strategy did not only help in unseating the Bush, it took an instant life of its own, mutating into similar phrases like – “it’s is the deficit stupid,” “It’s the voters, stupid,” and so on.
Looking at where the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is coming from, what immediately pops to mind runs along the line of, “It’s the leadership, stupid.” Hopefully Obiano has stepped in to stem the tide.
Indeed since Chief Willie Obiano became the BoT Chairman and National Leader, what we have seen is akin to what happens when a rainbow rises after a heavy downpour; a lifting up of the spirit that finds exaltation in its own very existence.
All of a sudden, the internal wrangling, the sprouting of cliques and cleavages, the break-up, kiss and make-up have either died a natural death or faded to the background where they should belong. In their place, a new order of reality has arisen. Where we once had personality clashes we now have a strong feeling of brotherhood. Where there were cliques and cleavages, there is a strong expansive spirit that accommodates all shades of strengths and weaknesses. And where there was once bitterness and silent recriminations, there is instant healing and re-integration that makes for a stronger family.
Truth be told, Obiano has spent a great deal of time and resources healing the party’s open sores and sealing the little cracks in the ark; the political heirloom he inherited. There is greater cohesiveness in the party arising from regular interactions and a general sense of direction that pervades the rank and file.
Grievances are instantly sorted out and the aggrieved is given a sense of belonging that restores his faith in the party. There is no room for any back issues to degenerate and fester into an unpleasant sore, fouling the internal ambience of the party. No one is thrown away or made to feel less important than he is or treated with ignominy. Grassroots mobilizers are given a great sense of their true worth and there is a prevailing feel good that permeates the party. In fact, for the very first time since inception, APGA seems to be living out its creed of Be your Brother and Sister’s Keeper. Thanks to Chief Willie Obiano.
Beyond Obiano’s adroit handling of the challenges of internal democracy in the party lies the obvious fact of his sincerity of purpose. There is a widely accepted belief in the party that the National Leader is a sincere and honest man that is frank and direct in his handling of things. The people know where they stand with him at any given point in time. He does not leave anyone in doubt as to where he stands on anything. In an environment where supposed “statesmen” would quite naturally leave their leaders stranded in reading their lips, Obiano’s openness is a rarity. It helps.
It is evidently for these reasons that the party has finally begun to rise in fulfillment of Obiano’s promise when he took over the reins of leadership of the party, triumphantly declaring that APGA “has made a grand entry into a new phase of growth. Now, more than ever before, the strength of this party lies in the quality of our membership and our common resolve to pursue progressive steps for the greatness of Nigeria. Today, our resolve is even stronger.”
Along this line, the party now parades a cast of accomplished Nigerians, flying its gubernatorial flags in Ogun State, Zamfara State, Oyo State, Nasarawa State, Ebonyi State, Abia State and Imo State.
In Ogun State, the party’s gubernatorial flag is flown by Prof. David Olufemi Bamgbose, a foremost educationist. Deacon Samson Olalere flies the party’s gubernatorial flag in Oyo State while Ebonyi State, the party is counting on Senator Sunday Agbo to grab the gubernatorial seat from Governor Martin Elechi. In faraway Zamfara State, the reliable warhorse, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi is the party’s standard bearer for the gubernatorial elections while the mercurial Labaran Maku is gearing up to take over the leadership burden of Nasarawa State as the next governor.
In Abia State, victory is almost certain for Dr. Alex Otti whose brilliant baking career and squeaky clean public image stands out as the best man for the job after years of abysmal misrule by the incumbent administration. In Imo, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho stands head and shoulders above his rivals in the ensuing race, garnering popular support with his sterling track record. In Anambra State, the race for the senatorial seats of the three zones in the state has almost been decided judging by the caliber of candidates that APGA has fielded for the contest. Sir Victor Umeh, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and Chief Dubem Obaze are best among equals.
On the whole, it is indeed heartwarming that APGA is finally stirring to life and fulfilling its ordained mandate. For years, the party lay hobbled by internal challenges that stunted its growth and restricted it to only one state. Its recent breakout to hoist its flag in Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ogun and Oyo States is in itself a symbolic victory to its new leadership. It calls to mind, Chief Obiano’s agonizing comment when he was handed the party flag to run for the governorship of Anambra State. Then he had observed that, “Before our very eyes, we have watched the only political heritage of our great ancestors shrink to only one state of the federation.” Now, Chief Obiano has done what is expected of him – taking the party beyond the narrow strictures on Anambra and giving it a symbolic foothold in four out of the six geopolitical zones in the country. And this is just the beginning…
James Eze writes from Ifite, Awka
