The power blocs, the conspiracies
Real reasons Governors shielded Buni
Those behind Keyamo’s ‘leaked memo’
They’ve been hit by ‘spirit of error’ – PDP chieftains
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR AND MAYOWA SAMUEL
The ruling All Progressives Congress may carelessly reverse all the gains recorded in the last 15 months of the existence of the Governor Mai Mala Buni Caretaker Committee if the leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari, does not take decisive steps to sustain the ongoing strategy that has almost turned Nigeria into a one-party nation, top cross-party stakeholders have said.
According to them, a bloc in the ruling APC has hijacked the split judgement of the Supreme Court, which gave victory to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, in a ratio of four to three, as a strategic tool to kick out the Buni-led Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, for alleged selfish interests.
In separate interviews with our correspondents, many of the top politicans, who currently hold key positions in the APC, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, and others, were unanimous in their submission that the Buni-led Committee had almost turned stone into bread in a period when the tolerance of the public for the socio-economic situation of the country, under the ruling party, was at its lowest.
A sitting PDP senator from the South West, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the phone, claimed that the APC would be digging its own grave by even contemplating to drop Buni as the Caretaker Committee Chairman over what he described as “mischievous interpretations of a minority judgement”.
He said, “Buni’s approach to mobilisation of bigwigs into the party, the aggressiveness of others in the Committee, especially Governor Yahaya Bello, who heads the Women and Youth Sensitisation and Mobilisation Committee, has pulled three state governors away from the PDP, including a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Joy Emordi, and many lawmakers.
“Do you want to tell me that there is nothing to this? For me, it is like turning stone into bread, and Buni, whether you like it or not, should be commended for such feat at a time Nigerians don’t even want to hear about the APC administration, with all the pain and anger in the land currently. But like I said, that is their problem. May be this is a way God wants to deliver Nigeria from their hands, by hitting them with the spirit of error.”
BUHARI CAUGHT BETWEEN SCHEMERS?
The Point, however, learnt from impeccable sources within the Presidency that there had been subtle pressure on the President, since he returned from the United Kingdom, by a bloc within the APC, to drop Buni.
This group, sources said, was flying the kite of a core Fulani presidential candidate in 2023, and working for a top member of the President’s cabinet.
A very reliable source in the Presidency, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, noted, “What if I tell you that where you are looking at is wrong? You are telling me that it is the Tinubu people that are causing the crisis. That is what they want people to see. Leave Tinubu and the rest of us in the South West out of this for now.
“The fact that Malami came out to publicly to counter the memo that was deliberately leaked by Festus Keyamo should not be taken on the surface. I can tell you for free that some people are trying to sell a core Fulani agenda to Mr. President now, and of all people, Abubakar Malami (Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) is being considered. I think they will then pair him with Rotimi Amaechi. Those in this clique are trying to persuade the President to drop Buni so that a new Chairman can do the convention.
“They suddenly think that the Buni-led Committee might not act in their interest at the Convention and might stop their ambition. That is the truth, believe it or not. Why do you think that the same people who pushed Oshiomhole out, with legal advice, and recommended the Buni Committee, with the same legal advice are the ones seeing man-made banana peels?”
The Point, however, gathered that many others in another power bloc, mainly populated by South South, South East and some Northern Governors, were of the opinion that the Buni-led Committee should be allowed to continue in the interest of the party.
This, it was learnt, informed the Progressives Governors’ Forum’s statement, which gave total support to the Buni-led Committee.
“APC would be digging its own grave by even contemplating to drop Buni as the Caretaker Committee Chairman over mischievous interpretations of a minority judgement
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2023 PRESIDENCY
Investigations by The Point have, however, revealed that the agitation for the Yobe State Governor to step aside goes beyond the Supreme Court ruling.
Party stalwarts argued that there were intrigues and conspiracies against Buni because he would be overseeing the party’s presidential convention where the party’s candidate for the 2023 general election would be decided.
Some are said to be angry because the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, led by Buni, seems to have overstayed, having been initially appointed for a six-month tenure to conclude reconciliation in the party’s ranks and files and organise yet another convention where a new substantive party chairman would be elected.
“For now, the committee’s mandate has been extended for the third time, much to the chagrin and suspicion of some stakeholders in the party,” an APC chieftain said.
The staunch member of the party who does not want to be quoted, nevertheless, told The Point that “the APC should come out stronger together as a political family and be ready to continue in government post 2023.”
He said the CECPC had done a fantastic job of steering the affairs of the party, leading up to the congresses, adding that fences should be mended as “it is still work in progress.”
ZONING FORMULA
Another source of dissatisfaction in the APC is its stand on zoning and micro zoning formula.
There has been the clamour for power rotation and Southern presidency.
As the political permutations and momentum gather steam for 2023, the presidential field has been expanding.
Currently, more names have entered the list of top contenders for President Buhari’s job in the APC.
In view of this, all eyes seem to be on the following for now: National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu; Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi; and his counterpart in Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, among others.
As regards his successor, if the President’s words and body language are anything to go by, the macro and micro zoning formula for the national convention will be determined by the National Executive Committee of the party after intense negotiation and horse trading by power blocs.
This, according to findings, is one of the reasons Buni is having a rough ride on the hot seat.
President Buhari is from the North-West, Vice President Osinbajo is from the South-West and Buni is currently completing the tenure of the South-South as Caretaker Chairman.
Since it is the tradition that the Presidency and party chairmanship should oscillate in opposing manner, if the presidency is expected to swing to the South, the chairmanship automatically goes to the North.
The two regions, which have contributed enormously to the successes of the APC, since the party’s political ascendancy, have been the North-East and the North-Central, who have not shied away from trumpeting their interests.
It was gathered that the current leadership under Buni was, however, holding its cards very close to its chest in order to maintain the party’s fragile unity.
“They (Governors) all know the different schemings and have theirs too. But they are being very careful. The safest thing to do, for them, at this period, is to let things continue the way they are
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SOUTHERN STAKEHOLDERS
There are also concerns that, if care is not taken, the South may be edged out of the race in 2023, owing to negligence and “needless powerplay” amongst those who have the brightest chances.
A top stakeholder of the ruling party in the South West, who preferred anonymity, said, “Of all the geo-political zones in the South, the South-West was the one really out there in terms of taking over from the Buhari administration, based on a previous gentleman agreement.
“In the South East, it was more about agitation, no real work. But then, those in the South West are so divided now, even in the APC, that it would be difficult to present a common candidate agreeable to all. And the Northerners would capitalise on this to go for that person from the North that can win for the APC, as they have always said. The PDP, I believe, has zeroed in on the North.”
‘REAL REASONS GOVERNORS BACKED BUNI’
Many of those who spoke with The Point said Governors elected on the platform of the APC shielded Buni with one voice ostensibly because they decided to put the interest of the party before personal interests.
The Governors, being the most powerful bloc within the APC, as the leaders of the party in their states, and the enormous powers conferred on them, have a big say in the affairs of their party.
A former South-West Senator, who served in the 8th Senate, said, “For anyone to have his way in the convention that will produce a presidential candidate, he must have the backing of majority of the governors. Buni is a fantastic human being. This is why everyone, across party lines, believes in him and is ready to sacrifice for him. They would have even approved the statement before considering the implications on their regions.
“By and large, people know that he is well respected and has done very well with respect to the assignment given to him. Even Adams Oshiomhole said this much in a statement he released sometime last week.”
“Governor Yahaya Bello also did a lot of things behind the scenes to ensure the stability that we saw last week. The governors noted with one voice that the Supreme Court judgement actually validated the Buni Committee, which settled the case,” a close aide of a Governor in the South-West told our correspondent in confidence.
“The Governors have been in groups, urging themselves to be focused ahead of 2023. The idea is that they should concentrate on closing the gaps in the states and ensuring that the Buni-led Committee conducts a successful convention that will throw up substantive executives. They all know the different schemings and have theirs too.
But they are being very careful. The safest thing to do, for them, at this period, is to let things continue the way they are,” he noted.
The Governors had, in their statement, said, “The judgment has also settled the legality of the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee. The court has correctly ruled that in line with Section 13.3 of the APC’s constitution, the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee was constituted by the National Executive Council of the APC to act as the National Working Committee.
“This ruling is consistent with the legal advice available to the APC in creating the committee and we commend the party’s legal team for the proper and lawful guidance.
“Governor Mai Mala Buni was appointed in acting capacity, on a temporary basis to temporarily carry out and fill in the seat of the national chairman of the party pending the election of a new national chairman. This has settled conclusively that the APC National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and its composition is not in conflict with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is consistent with provisions of the constitution of the APC.”
LEGAL PUNDITS FAULT KEYAMO
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had earlier countered calls by Keyamo and others for Buni to resign.
Malami and Keyamo are both members of the ruling APC and also both Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
In a recent 20-point statement, Malami laid out his argument against the decision reached by the Supreme Court, describing the interpretation of the 1999 Constitution as “stretched.”
“Therefore, it is shocking that the interpretation of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, in light of the above-quoted decision of the Supreme Court, could be stretched in some quarters to state that chairmanship of an ad-hoc committee duly constituted by the National Executive Committee of a registered political party (by a registered member of the Party) could constitute paid employment or an executive position as envisaged under Section 183 of the Constitution,”Malami wrote.
“To further show the meritless nature of the position under review, assuming without conceding that the argument is right, then, it will equally be contrary to the spirit and intent of Section 183 of the Constitution for any sitting Governor to be Chairman of say the Governors’ Forum, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, or any other similar body. This, in my humble view, can definitely not be the intention of the drafters of the 1999 Constitution,” Malami added.
Former Rivers State Senator, Magnus Ngei Abe, also disagreed with Keyamo on the apex court ruling, saying that the minister got it wrong.
In a statement posted on Facebook, titled, ‘No Keyamo: Self-immolation is not the option for APC’, Abe said most members accepted the reality of the Caretaker Committee as a decision of the National Executive Committee of the APC with President Muhammadu Buhari, as leader of the party, in attendance.
He recalled how leaders, who had reservations about the constitution of the CECPC, were informed that the decision to establish the committee was reached after extensive legal examination of the issues confronting the APC.
“Barrister Festus Keyamo, I am given to understand, was one of those legal luminaries whose stand swayed the President in support of the CECPC option as the only means to save our party from imminent self-destruction.
“That is why I was taken aback by the quick and sudden volte-face of Mr. Keyamo in the face of Jegede vs. Akeredolu. There is a popular saying that sometimes ‘where you stand on an issue is determined by where you sit,’” he said.
A former Aviation Minister and PDP chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode, has also lent his voice in support of Buni.
Fani-Kayode, who said he was speaking as a Nigerian and political observer, expressed shock over moves and calls for the removal of Buni.
He wondered why anyone would be against a party leader who had attracted several political heavyweights – three governors, many distinguished senators and formers ministers, including many honourable members of the House of Representatives to the ruling APC by his excellent style of leadership.
He warned that the APC would be making a big mistake if Governor Buni was removed as the party leader.
“It amazes me that the national chairman of a political party that has attracted three governors from the ranks of the opposition together with Senators, House of Rep members, BOT members, former Ministers and other notables, all in one year, is being undermined by disgruntled elements in his party. The biggest mistake APC can make is to get rid of Governor Mai Mala Buni as its leader,” Fani-Kayode said.
“I say this because he has done more for the credibility and strength of the ruling party than any National Chairman since its inception. Apart from being a formidable intellectual, a man of his word and an absolute gentleman, he is also a moderate, civilised, cerebral, fair-minded and focused individual for whom I have immense respect,” he added.
OSHIOMHOLE TACKLES KEYAMO
A former National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has also accused Keyamo of spearheading his removal as the head of the party.
Reacting in a statement signed by his senior media aide, Victor Oshioke, Oshiomhole described the minister as a betrayer, adding that he was “in the political kitchen when the pot of crisis he is now offering advice on was being cooked.”
He wondered why Keyamo would post on social media what he captioned as a “private and confidential” legal opinion for the President who appointed him.
He stated, “Festus Keyamo was at the forefront and indeed provided legal support through his legal assistants who went to court and argued on behalf of those that filed cases for the removal of Oshiomhole as National Chairman of the APC.
“Keyamo also offered legal advice on the legality of the NEC that was convened for the dissolution of the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of APC and emergence of the Governor Mai-Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee.
“It is, therefore, frivolous for any right-thinking person to assume that Mr. Keyamo, who actively supported the removal of the national chairman elected by over 6, 500 party delegates from across the 36 states and the FCT, would now plot to bring the same Oshiomhole back to the office.
“It is strange that a serving minister would share on social media platforms what he captioned as a ‘private and confidential’ legal opinion for Mr. President who appointed him, especially considering that he was in the political kitchen when the pot of crisis he is now offering advice on was being cooked.
“In the South-East, it was more about agitation, no real work. But then, those in the South-West are so divided now, even in the APC, that it would be difficult to present a common candidate agreeable to all
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“The truth is that Mr. Keyamo seems to have lost out in the power play and failed to secure the benefits he anticipated in Oshiomhole’s removal from office with the consequent dissolution of the NWC and other structures of the party. This is the main reason for his self-serving new legal opinion, which contradicts his earlier stance.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, told The Point on Sunday that he would stand by his position on the matter, which he posted on Facebook.
He alleged that Keyamo and his ilks were just engaged in red herring due to their fears of impending losses at the ongoing congresses of the party.
“I want to advise them to go into their wards and be party men and true politicians. When you lose, you dust yourself and re-strategise, not to destroy the party by misinforming the entire public,” Akpanudoedehe said.
