A professional colleague of mine is very fond of saying, “He who holds a public office offers himself for sale”. He is so enmeshed or in love with this saying of his, especially in political matters, that we tag him “Mr. Public office holder and sale”. However, in one of such occasions in his usual utterance, he was asked by another colleague to explain what his never-let-go statement is all about. His response was that of a surprise as he thought we were all in full knowledge of the implication of what he has been saying.
He, however, made himself clear in a graphic form. He asked those present on this occasion, how many of us had gone to big commercial stores. Nobody answered. He similarly wanted to know, how many of us were regular market goers? Again, nobody responded. Ignoring our silence, he stated that if we go to commercial stores, there are always goods on display, especially on the showcase, for sale. According to him, these goods or products are of various grades and prices. While some people will appreciate the prices in relation to quality, others would not see any justification in the so-called prices, which to them, is not worth it. The same applies to goods in the market where buyers priced differently, depending on individuals’ bargaining power. So, according to my colleague, his argument stems from the fact that any good or product on public display would attract comments-good or bad-or priced differently, depending on individual’s taste, disposition or assessment.
Though the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, pointed out after Buhari’s declaration, that the door was still open for other contestants who also desired the presidential ticket. But this sounded like an argument that with enough confidence, a dog can overcome a lion
According to him, an individual, especially a politician who holds a public office, is a product in the glass, a showcase for public scrutiny, assessment or even consumption. He would be treated, priced or dealt with according to individuals’ perception, thinking or belief. The commodity on display has become a public property and should expect public treatment. The public itself is made up of the good, the bad, the reasonable, the unreasonable, the “siddon look”, and others.
Finally, President Buhari has broken the ice, by coming out to say, ‘I am not yet done with my first term of four years; I will need another four years permitted by the law, if finally endorsed by the people, the owner of sovereignty.’ With the declaration to run as presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Buhari has put to an end, all speculations, entreaties, threats (real or imaginary, to compel him to contest) and all that, to rest.
At least, the ruling party will now heave a sigh of relief, for the coast is now clear for it for the next direction or step, to make Buhari’s intention a reality at the 2019 poll. Though the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, pointed out after Buhari’s declaration, that the door was still open for other contestants who also desired the presidential ticket. But this sounded like an argument that with enough confidence, a dog can overcome a lion. Even, the doubting Thomas knows that Buhari’s declaration is fait accompli as far as APC’s thinking is concerned. To think otherwise or believe otherwise is an exercise in futility.
Before his declaration, Buhari was in-between the Devil and the deep blue sea within his APC. He was facing two formidable forces: one led by APC leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Ahmed Tinubu; and the other was headed by Chief John Oyegun, the National Chairman of the party, who was at a time, the Edo State governor. The silent war between the two groups erupted publicly over the elongation tenure issue of the present party executives at the centre, state and local government levels, for another one year, which did not go down well with the Tinubu group.
However, in the recent stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Abuja, President Buhari steered on the course of a compromise between the warring groups, thereby eliminating possible public conflagration-legal or otherwise-between the groups. In doing this, Buhari dissociated himself from the tenure elongation of party executives at all levels and by this, allied with the Tinubu group’s stand; while at the same time pleading at the stakeholders’ meeting that the present members of the party executives be allowed to remain in office and contest election in party offices if they so desired, by waiving that aspect of the party constitution that stipulates that they must leave office before the expiration of their tenure in June, for fresh election to take
place.
The waiver plea by the President was accepted, thereby placating possible wrath that might have come from Oyegun’s group. Notwithstanding, the outcome of the party elections into various offices taking place soon, will determine much for the party’s stability, as the candidates of the two groups would battle it out and the swing of the pendulum will speak for the future of the
party.
*Izekor, a journalist and public affairs analyst, is of the Board of Advisers of The Point.
