Mr. President is on course, says Odubote

http://m.guardian.ng/features/mr-president-is-on-course-says-odubote/

Mr. President is on course, says Odubote

By SEYE OLUMIDE   |   30 May 2016   |   2:01 am 

Odubote

A year after the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by President Muhammadu Buhari took control of government, Mr. Lanre Odubote, a former member of the House of Representatives, who represents Epe Federal Constituency, Lagos State scores the government high as he also dispelled insinuations of possible implosion in the party. SEYE OLUMIDE reports.

One year of APC in government

As we celebrate one year success of the APC’s administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, it is also important to discuss those factors that made it possible for the merger of four different political parties and subsequent defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general election.

We are not only celebrating the achievements of Buhari and the APC, we should also be happy for the fact that despite all fears of likely disintegration of the country before the 2015 elections, insinuations that the merger would fail and the series of war the former ruling party waged against the AC, we are celebrating a success story today.

The credit of the APC’s merger must first and foremost go to every Nigerians who supported the course and backed it up in their prayers. It is also important to give kudos to all the leaders of the party for the selfless roles and the risk they took to make APC a reality. One year of APC’s in government is something that has never happened before in the history of Nigeria that an opposition party ousted a government in power.

But I must say that what we are celebrating today started in the seventh House of Representatives, led by Alhaji Taminu Tambuwal when majority of the members of the lower chamber across political party divide supported him to become the Speaker against Mulikat Akande, who was the preferred choice of the PDP controlled government.

All the lawmakers of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as well as some from the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and others formed an alliance to support Tambuwal. It was the development that sent a very strong signal to all the leaders of the opposition parties, to the extent that the leaderships of the parties got convinced that if it could happen in the House then they can also fused to end the 16 years rule of the PDP.

APC and popularity challenges

Many people have faulted the policies of the APC-led government while others believed the damages done to the country as at the time it took over power were enormous. The truth is the government is doing everything possible to revamp all sectors of the country that have been destroyed under the past administration and that would take time.

Insinuation of internal crisis in the party that may affect government performance

In party politics there are bound to be grievances and disagreement among but what is important is how the leadership of the party manage the issues.

Few days after the Buhari’s inauguration, we have a leadership crisis in the National Assembly led by Dr. Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara in the Senate and House respectively. I must say the development generated a lot of dust and doubts about the likelihood of the APC imploding but the leadership of the party, in their wisdom, has been able to manage and douse the situation.

The question we should consider is whether the APC controlled National Assembly is living up to the expectation and its responsibilities, if it is, then business continue. To the best of my knowledge, as a member of the party the internal activities of the party, a year after has been very coherent.

President Buhari is carrying the party and its leadership along. I do not see it imploding as people are already insinuating.

Alleged marginalization of the South and some key leaders of APC by President Buhari

What all the actors that formed the party craved for was good governance and the interest of the masses, which Buhari has sworn to do and he is already doing that going by what has done in one year.

Do you think the Fulani cabals have hijacked Buhari as currently being insinuated?

Has any of the party leaders came out to complain that something sinister is happening? Lies, rumour and propagandas are part of politics, as a matter of fact it is allowed. As a reporter go and do your homework I make bold to say that all the leaders of the party today are helping Buhari to build this country.

What we are facing in this country is not about individuals’ interest. It is not about Asiwaju, Abubakar Atiku or anybody but the lives of estimated 170 million people.