Factionalism And Politics In Nigeria By Lanre Etti Jr.
If we think corruption is the only ‘unifying’ factor in Nigeria, we
should have a rethink, because Nigerians have appetite for another thing
in common which is factionalism. According to the Oxford dictionary,
Faction is a group or clique within a larger group, party, government or
organization.
Nigerians have now developed habit for factions in almost every sphere, and it mostly happens in the political circle. In fact, I have noticed this anomaly for a while, but for the split that happened recently to the ‘mighty’ People’s Democratic Party during their mini convention, where 7 Governors and some political heavy weights of the party, left the venue to set up ‘The New PDP’ at the Sheu Musa Yar’Adua Centre.
Going by the popular dictum, ‘united we stand, divided we fall’. Undoubtedly, no group of people can achieve anything significant without unity, particularly in politics, as political party implies the coming together of a group of people that share the same passion, ideologies, aspirations and inclinations to hijack the instrumentalities of power. But if politicians who are supposed to be united for the purpose of hijacking power allow rancor, selfish interests, acrimony or differences to enter their midst and cause distraction or derailment, the purpose of their political aspiration will automatically become futile and fruitless.
But who would have thought that the self-acclaimed largest political party in Africa would get a dose of its own medicine? The ruling party should not be surprised by this development; after all, they have been fanning the flame of divisions and promoting a schism among their ranks. So it’s high time they got the taste of it.
After all, it is still fresh in our memory how President Goodluck Jonathan, to the surprise of all, openly aligned with Governor Jonah Jang’s faction after the disputed Nigeria Governor’s Forum election, in which Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State was the authentic winner. Besides that, there are many PDP state chapters that have been factionalized, owing to unresolved internal political crises, consequently leading to the disputes over election primaries, party standard bearer and other flimsy excuses.
These factions mostly come to life, when the people that are meant to resolve the disputes often take sides in an internal party affair, thereby promoting injustice and sowing the seeds of enmity and discord amongst members. And this usually leads to the pandemonium, chaos and breakdown of law and order in the society, like we saw recently in Rivers State House of Assembly.
Just of recent, President Jonathan sacked the Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir, and for what reason? According to The Punch newspaper, Abdulkadir was axed for mishandling the National Youth Council of Nigeria’s elections in Makurdi and Minna which resulted in the factionalisation of the council. What a forgetful President! Has he forgotten the NGF election so quickly? He ignorantly and dangerously laid a bad precedent by welcoming the Jang faction to Aso Rock.
Although the PDP seems not the only party grappling with this endemic, but they appear to be the only party that breeds divisions by not putting their house in order. When we thought the last has been heard of the APGA controversy, then suddenly, two candidates emerged from two parallel primaries in Anambra state. The Maxi Okwu led version has selected Dr. Chike Obidigbo while the Chief Victor Umeh faction has chosen Chief Wiilie Obiano as their standard bearers. And this is a big headache for INEC in the 2014 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
We must not be surprised if we later find out that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has a hand in the formation of The New PDP. Obasanjo is not new to politics of factionalisation, because for years, he had a running battle with Buruji Kashamu-led faction over the control of Ogun State chapter of the PDP.
Like the adage, charity begins at home; the embattled PDP Chairman Bamanga Tukur, is dragging the control of Adamawa State chapter of the PDP with Governor Murtala Nyako. And also in Rivers State, a section of the State PDP is loyal to the Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, and they are doing everything possible to frustrate the Governor Ameachi’s faction out of the party. Unfortunately, the Rivers State saga has degenerated into a free for all- what a shame!
But my advice now is for those who call themselves elders in various political parties and organizations to make sure they lead by example, because this is becoming a bad trend in our society and it’s a threat to our social values as a people. It is as if people cannot come together while ignoring selfish interests, to forge an alliance in order to achieve set out goals.
Truly, having dissent voices in political parties is not new in our polity; it has been observed that politicians out of their insatiable maniac for power, self centeredness, and inordinate passion for public position, inexplicable arrogance, and sordid ambition cause their house to crack thereby allowing lizard to enter.
Taking a look at historical antecedents, it reveals how Nigerian politicians since the first republic have been allowing disunity and factionalisation to obstruct the progress of their party, and at the detriment of democracy, good governance, stability and tranquility of the country. One must not forget the ugly occurrence that happened in the Western region from 1963-1966, how disunity led to pandemonium and eventual collapse of Action Group (AG) led Western region government. Sir Ladoke Akintola, who succeeded Chief Obafemi Awolowo in an attempt to sideline the leader of the party (Chief Awolowo) and the party manifesto, fanned the ember of discord among the honourable members of the Western Region House of Assembly. Some Honourables were of the belief that Akintola was wrong to pilot the affairs of the western region government, without displaying any loyalty to chief Awolowo who was the party national leader.
In an attempt for domination by both factions, the Governor of Western Region who was then the Ooni of Ife, was axed by Chief SL Akintola, the matter snowballed to legal battles, which transcended the borders of Nigeria and landed at the Privy Council and further culminated into the unforgettable and dreaded ‘operation wet i e’.
Likewise the second republic, UPN narrowly lost Ondo State because there was a faction in the party, one led by the Governor Chief Michael Ajasin and Chief Akin Omoboriowo.
In the events leading to the 2003 elections, The Alliance for Democracy (AD) crashed due to factionalisation between Senator Mojisola Akinfenwa and Chief Bisi Akande. As a result, AD was completely uprooted from power; the party woefully lost 5 out of 6 States leaving Lagos as the only AD controlled state in the South West. Indeed there is nothing to compare to unity.
So also, there was a time, when the pan-Yoruba socio cultural group Afenifere was split into two factions; there was the Afenifere proper and Afenifere Renewal Group.
Another political crisis is brewing in Taraba state where the sick Governor, Danbaba Suntai is deemed unfit to rule by a section of the State including 16 members of the State House of Assembly, have ‘advised’ him to go back to the United States for further treatment.
Hanging by the side is Alhaji Garba Umar confused as to the title which describes him most, being it Deputy or Acting Governor. And going by antecedents, one would not be surprised if it goes the normal Nigerian way of turning it to a constitutional crisis. By then I hope ‘The Doctrine of Necessity’ will be invoked to save the State of troubles.
As an advice of sorts, political parties and other organizations should learn to utilize internal mechanisms to solve their disputes and avoid getting it to public domain. One cannot head to a battle field with a divided house, unless that entity does not crave success. Having factions in an already divided country like ours will spell doom in the near future if care is not taken.
If care is not taken to stem this tide, perhaps we could see the factionalisation of the Super Eagles, whereby there will be the normal team coached by Stephen Keshi and a parallel team headed by Daniel Amokachi. I pray it does not get to that.
Political parties should endeavor to remember the proverbial broomstick, that is useless when alone, but can sweep when in a bunch. Unity is what we need in Nigeria, Together, we can achieve more!
Lanre Etti Jr
lanreettijr@gmail.com
Nigerians have now developed habit for factions in almost every sphere, and it mostly happens in the political circle. In fact, I have noticed this anomaly for a while, but for the split that happened recently to the ‘mighty’ People’s Democratic Party during their mini convention, where 7 Governors and some political heavy weights of the party, left the venue to set up ‘The New PDP’ at the Sheu Musa Yar’Adua Centre.
Going by the popular dictum, ‘united we stand, divided we fall’. Undoubtedly, no group of people can achieve anything significant without unity, particularly in politics, as political party implies the coming together of a group of people that share the same passion, ideologies, aspirations and inclinations to hijack the instrumentalities of power. But if politicians who are supposed to be united for the purpose of hijacking power allow rancor, selfish interests, acrimony or differences to enter their midst and cause distraction or derailment, the purpose of their political aspiration will automatically become futile and fruitless.
But who would have thought that the self-acclaimed largest political party in Africa would get a dose of its own medicine? The ruling party should not be surprised by this development; after all, they have been fanning the flame of divisions and promoting a schism among their ranks. So it’s high time they got the taste of it.
After all, it is still fresh in our memory how President Goodluck Jonathan, to the surprise of all, openly aligned with Governor Jonah Jang’s faction after the disputed Nigeria Governor’s Forum election, in which Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State was the authentic winner. Besides that, there are many PDP state chapters that have been factionalized, owing to unresolved internal political crises, consequently leading to the disputes over election primaries, party standard bearer and other flimsy excuses.
These factions mostly come to life, when the people that are meant to resolve the disputes often take sides in an internal party affair, thereby promoting injustice and sowing the seeds of enmity and discord amongst members. And this usually leads to the pandemonium, chaos and breakdown of law and order in the society, like we saw recently in Rivers State House of Assembly.
Just of recent, President Jonathan sacked the Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir, and for what reason? According to The Punch newspaper, Abdulkadir was axed for mishandling the National Youth Council of Nigeria’s elections in Makurdi and Minna which resulted in the factionalisation of the council. What a forgetful President! Has he forgotten the NGF election so quickly? He ignorantly and dangerously laid a bad precedent by welcoming the Jang faction to Aso Rock.
Although the PDP seems not the only party grappling with this endemic, but they appear to be the only party that breeds divisions by not putting their house in order. When we thought the last has been heard of the APGA controversy, then suddenly, two candidates emerged from two parallel primaries in Anambra state. The Maxi Okwu led version has selected Dr. Chike Obidigbo while the Chief Victor Umeh faction has chosen Chief Wiilie Obiano as their standard bearers. And this is a big headache for INEC in the 2014 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
We must not be surprised if we later find out that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has a hand in the formation of The New PDP. Obasanjo is not new to politics of factionalisation, because for years, he had a running battle with Buruji Kashamu-led faction over the control of Ogun State chapter of the PDP.
Like the adage, charity begins at home; the embattled PDP Chairman Bamanga Tukur, is dragging the control of Adamawa State chapter of the PDP with Governor Murtala Nyako. And also in Rivers State, a section of the State PDP is loyal to the Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, and they are doing everything possible to frustrate the Governor Ameachi’s faction out of the party. Unfortunately, the Rivers State saga has degenerated into a free for all- what a shame!
But my advice now is for those who call themselves elders in various political parties and organizations to make sure they lead by example, because this is becoming a bad trend in our society and it’s a threat to our social values as a people. It is as if people cannot come together while ignoring selfish interests, to forge an alliance in order to achieve set out goals.
Truly, having dissent voices in political parties is not new in our polity; it has been observed that politicians out of their insatiable maniac for power, self centeredness, and inordinate passion for public position, inexplicable arrogance, and sordid ambition cause their house to crack thereby allowing lizard to enter.
Taking a look at historical antecedents, it reveals how Nigerian politicians since the first republic have been allowing disunity and factionalisation to obstruct the progress of their party, and at the detriment of democracy, good governance, stability and tranquility of the country. One must not forget the ugly occurrence that happened in the Western region from 1963-1966, how disunity led to pandemonium and eventual collapse of Action Group (AG) led Western region government. Sir Ladoke Akintola, who succeeded Chief Obafemi Awolowo in an attempt to sideline the leader of the party (Chief Awolowo) and the party manifesto, fanned the ember of discord among the honourable members of the Western Region House of Assembly. Some Honourables were of the belief that Akintola was wrong to pilot the affairs of the western region government, without displaying any loyalty to chief Awolowo who was the party national leader.
In an attempt for domination by both factions, the Governor of Western Region who was then the Ooni of Ife, was axed by Chief SL Akintola, the matter snowballed to legal battles, which transcended the borders of Nigeria and landed at the Privy Council and further culminated into the unforgettable and dreaded ‘operation wet i e’.
Likewise the second republic, UPN narrowly lost Ondo State because there was a faction in the party, one led by the Governor Chief Michael Ajasin and Chief Akin Omoboriowo.
In the events leading to the 2003 elections, The Alliance for Democracy (AD) crashed due to factionalisation between Senator Mojisola Akinfenwa and Chief Bisi Akande. As a result, AD was completely uprooted from power; the party woefully lost 5 out of 6 States leaving Lagos as the only AD controlled state in the South West. Indeed there is nothing to compare to unity.
So also, there was a time, when the pan-Yoruba socio cultural group Afenifere was split into two factions; there was the Afenifere proper and Afenifere Renewal Group.
Another political crisis is brewing in Taraba state where the sick Governor, Danbaba Suntai is deemed unfit to rule by a section of the State including 16 members of the State House of Assembly, have ‘advised’ him to go back to the United States for further treatment.
Hanging by the side is Alhaji Garba Umar confused as to the title which describes him most, being it Deputy or Acting Governor. And going by antecedents, one would not be surprised if it goes the normal Nigerian way of turning it to a constitutional crisis. By then I hope ‘The Doctrine of Necessity’ will be invoked to save the State of troubles.
As an advice of sorts, political parties and other organizations should learn to utilize internal mechanisms to solve their disputes and avoid getting it to public domain. One cannot head to a battle field with a divided house, unless that entity does not crave success. Having factions in an already divided country like ours will spell doom in the near future if care is not taken.
If care is not taken to stem this tide, perhaps we could see the factionalisation of the Super Eagles, whereby there will be the normal team coached by Stephen Keshi and a parallel team headed by Daniel Amokachi. I pray it does not get to that.
Political parties should endeavor to remember the proverbial broomstick, that is useless when alone, but can sweep when in a bunch. Unity is what we need in Nigeria, Together, we can achieve more!
Lanre Etti Jr
lanreettijr@gmail.com
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