Somebody once argued that political parties are formed to advance personal interests, which they present in the form of the amorphous national interest, the pretend result of the (unsigned) social contract between voters and elected officials.
Indeed, the military that ruled Nigeria for nearly half of the years that Nigeria has been independent has somewhat made their personal interests that of the state, almost the way French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte claimed to be the state!
To a large extent, what you know as governance is more about looking after the interests of politicians by politicians and not quite those that political scientists regard as citizens, whom the American Supreme Court Associate Judge, Louis Brandeis, suggested occupying the highest office in a country.
The feints and thrusts are ways by which politicians prove their relevance in the scheme of things. No former Nigerian Governor, who has enjoyed being a party leader in his state, likes to peep into the political arena from the sidelines.
If you think the interest of the electorate will be placed on the back burner as a result, you are correct. The existential concerns of the political leaders and their boys often crowd out the interest of the people.
The idea is to share the job for the boys in a “fair and equitable manner.” It takes some dexterity to steer a bull through a china shop. It requires some caution to shoo off a fly that settles on the privates of a man.
Some beneficiaries are positioning themselves for higher positions, or simply in need of a sinecure. If they are not placated before the election they could defect to another political party, taking their goodwill along.
They could also work against the party at the polls. That is why the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are fretting over Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
The unending drama around Wike, who obviously thinks he should have been nominated as running mate to Atiku and demands a re-zoning of party offices because the party’s presidential candidate has emerged, may scuttle PDP’s fortunes in the 2023 general elections if care is not taken.
Witnessing the furore that has erupted after the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, announced his Muslim running mate, Ibrahim Shettima, the omission or commission in that choice is dogging the presidential bid adversely.
Unconfirmed reports say 125 members of the APC, who lost out in the party’s 2022 primaries, are asking for a refund of their Expression of Interest and Nomination fees. This should remind you of the man who said he could not lose his mother and also lose his money.
An unauthenticated list is making the rounds, prescribing how political positions will be shared among political leaders; a euphemism for returning, outgoing, past and wannabe governors by the APC at state levels.
In Kano State, outgoing Governor Abdullahi Ganduje will be given the privilege to nominate governorship candidate and state and National Assembly candidates from the Kano North senatorial district.
Former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, who is reportedly contemplating leaving Rabiu Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria People’s Party, is expected to nominate the Deputy Governor, National and State Assembly members from Kano Central and the five-man delegates in all wards in his senatorial district.
But while Governor Ganduje will nominate all State House of Assembly and Senators in Kano South, he will share House of Representatives members with former Governor Shekarau in Kano-South.
In Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodinma will run for second term, nominate two members of the House of Representatives each from Orlu and Owerri zones, 15 members of Imo State House of Assembly – six from Orlu, five from Owerri and four from Okigwe zones. He shall also lead the party in the state.
Former Governor Rochas Okorocha shall return as Senator for Orlu zone and nominate two members of House of Representatives each from Orlu and Owerri zones and 10 members of Imo State House of Assembly.
In Okigwe zone, Senator Ararume and Nwajiuba will each provide one senator, one member of the House of Representatives and two members of Imo State House of Assembly.
As for the spoils in Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun will be allowed to run again, and nominate the Senator from Ogun East, while former Governor Ibikunle Amosun shall provide Senators from Ogun West and Central.
Whereas Amosun should provide four members of the House of Representatives – two from Ogun Central and one each from Ogun-West and Ogun-East zones – Abiodun shall nominate the balance.
In addition, Governor Abiodun should be allowed to nominate majority, or 15 members of Ogun State House of Assembly, and former Governor Amosun would have the privilege to nominate 11 members.
Interestingly, Amosun once disclosed that after securing the governorship ticket in 2011, he ceded the remaining 39 elective positions to the then Action Congress of Nigeria, though he preferred a female running mate which he didn’t get.
Though he got his wish in his second term as Governor, he didn’t say how many seats at the House of Representatives and Ogun State House of Assembly he took or conceded to other interests in the party.
While one may not be recommending Amosun’s solution wholesale, the political gladiators must find ways to accommodate each other in their power (or position) sharing exercise.
This give-and-take may encourage both Abiodun and Amosun to close ranks behind Tinubu.
In any case an incumbent Governor will most likely have near total control in appointing board members of state-owned corporations and enterprises. The job for the boys is usually the prerogative of the governor.
In Abia State, where APC is the leading opposition party, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu picks the Governor, one senator and one member of the House of Representatives each from Abia-North and Abia-South. He will also nominate the five-man delegates from Abia-North and one delegate from Abia Central.
Former Governorship candidate Ikechi Emenike will produce the Deputy Governor, senator representing Abia Central, one member of the House of Representatives and the five-man delegates in Abia Central.
Nkiru Onyejeocha will be compensated with Umunneochi/Isuikwato Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives that she has consistently represented since 2007, and also nominate one member of the Federal Constituency in Abia-South.
This brinkmanship is the stuff of which realpolitik is made. Stuff like this do happen in the more advanced democracies like America and Britain. You saw the vicious “chewing up” of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson by his colleague Conservative Party members who schemed to succeed him by throwing him under the bus.
The political vultures of America’s Democratic Party, led by coy Vice President Kamala Harris, are circling around gerontocrat President Joe Biden who they are desperately hoping will not run for a second term as President in 2024.
Care must be taken that the appointments must reflect the diversities within the states. It should promote inclusivity and avoid leaving out significant interests in the state. The Yoruba have said, “Dogba dogba l’a n’pin eru ole,” meaning you share robbery proceeds equally.
Biden appears to be the greatest act for Nigerian politicians to follow in the art of accommodating disparate party diversities.
