KUNLE ODEREMI writes on the sovereign power of the voters in the light of the statement by Governor Seyi Makinde that the fate of Nigerian is in their hands in the 2027 elections.
From what we have seen so far between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the federal Government in the last couple of weeks, it would seem that Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, would once again, prove its reputation as a city of warriors.
The governor had, on more than one occassion, called on the federal Government to put human face to its policies that have resulted in a lot of hardship for the people.
The latest face-off was last Saturday’s call by Makinde asking Nigerians to own their destiny even as he stressed that the 2027 elections would be between the ruling All Progressives Congresss (APC) and Nigerians.
Since last Saturday, when Makinde made that call, the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been embroiled in a controversy on issues pertaining to the power of voters in an election.
The controversy followed the assertion by Governor Makinde that the 2027 elections will be between the ruling APC and Nigerians. He made the remarks at the commissioning of the zonal secretariat of the PDP in Ibadan, the state capital.
Makinde had used the opportunity to make certain clarifications concerning speculations that he planned to run for the 2027 presidency. He said the onus is on eligible Nigerians to determine the next leadership of the country, but for now he wanted PDP leaders to unite so that the party could restore its winning streak.
The governor promised a harmonious working relationship with his Osun State counterpart, Senator Ademola Adeleke to place the PDP on a strong pedestal in the South-West.
“People have been complaining; they have been talking; they have been making a lot of speculations. Let me say this again, and I will say it myself: nobody will set an agenda for me apart from myself. They have also been talking, the ruling party and other parties. Let me say this: if you are accusing the ruling party of interfering with other parties to prevent them from uniting and forming a strong opposition for 2027, my position is that there are certain things within our control. Whether Governor Ademola Adeleke and I will cooperate for the growth and benefit of our party in the South-West is beyond the ruling party. It is between me and Governor Adeleke. So please, let us work together and unite our base; that is all we need to do. The next election will be APC versus Nigerians. It is not even about APC versus PDP. So, let us do our bit to unite our party and our base, and let the people of Nigeria speak. Nobody apart from myself can set an agenda for my political career,” Makinde said.
APC’s response
His comments elicited a spontaneous reaction from the APC at the national level. Makinde’s submission that Nigerians will determine the fate of the ruling APC drew flaks from the party. The national leadership picked up the gauntlet.
The ruling party, in a statement by the national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, said the governor had at a recent event in Ibadan, blamed APC for the turmoil in his party, the PDP and other opposition parties. Morka said, “Makinde cannot even speak for the people of Oyo state regarding their future electoral choices or decisions let alone speak for Nigerians. Makinde and his partisan cohorts are only worried that the looming transformation and prosperity from President Tinubu’s economic policies will consign their 2027 ambitions and calculations into the trash bin of political irrelevance. We urge Nigerians to continue to stand firm in support of President Tinubu as the administration’s reform policies begin to yield the desired benefits for all Nigerians.”
PDP’s counter-response
However, the Oyo PDP said the APC lacked the moral right to attack Makinde; it accused the APC of leaving the substance to chase a shadow. In a statement by the acting publicity secretary of the PDP in the state, Honourable Michael Ogunsina, and with the title: Wicked APC is now afraid of the Nigerian people, the PDP said the APC was fidgety due to the acute suffering its administration has unleashed on Nigerians.
The PDP said the APC would not be afraid if it had wormed itself into the hearts of Nigerians and not made their lives miserable. Part of the statement read: “We read with amusement a statement issued on Sunday by the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) attacking Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for saying what is an obvious truth that the 2027 general election would be a contest between the APC and the people of Nigeria. Democracy is about politicians meeting the people at the polls. Why is the APC afraid of meeting the people at the polls in 2027? A party that has been doing the will of the people would thank Governor Makinde for pairing it with the people. But the sinner will run when nobody is pursuing them. The APC is that sinner. It shall not go unpunished.
“We believe that the APC statement was very unnecessary, wrongly directed and wrongly themed. If the APC and its Federal Government are doing well and the people are happy with them, why would they see Makinde’s statement as an attack on their government? It is our belief that to whom much is given, so much is expected. Nigerians invested their mandate and hope in the APC in the 2023 elections. From what the people have seen so far, it is clear that the only thing dear to the heart of the APC is to inflict pain and more pain on the people while its leaders revel in unconscionable enjoyment.
“On what it called Governor Makinde’s 2027 ambition, again, the APC got its focus and its guessing wrong. Governor Makinde is too seasoned to be drawn into a matter that is clearly in the hands of God. He has said repeatedly that no one would set a 2027 agenda for him. He is maintaining that stance, even now. Our governor is busy fulfilling his promises to the people of Oyo State. The people are very happy with him and with all he has been doing with their mandate. He is one leader who is not afraid to walk the streets of any city, town and village in his state. We wish the APC could come out, beat its chest and say the same of its leaders and government. Instead of boasting of positive achievements, we note that the only offering the APC has for the people in that abusive press statement is the promise of what it called looming prosperity. That is a shame.”
The PDP tasked the APC to face the stark realities the policies of the administration of the party had caused the citizens across the country. It added: “We urge Nigerians to demand from the APC what it meant by ‘looming prosperity’ after almost two years in power wrecking businesses, unleashing poverty and inflicting unprecedented suffering on the people of Nigeria through its wrong policies.”
According to the PDP, “Instead of abusing Governor Makinde, we implore the APC to reappraise itself and think deeply on why it decided to impoverish the people and wreck our country contrary to its 2023 promise of prosperity for all. It should in fact, thank our governor for waking it up to the reality that all future elections will be a referendum on the APC for its wickedness and maladministration. We further advise the APC and its leaders to learn to be humble, be remorseful, repent from their misbehavour, and beg Nigerians for clemency. If the guilty learn to be truthful and drop their arrogance, they may gain God’s forgiveness and the people’s pardon. Finally, we reiterate Governor Makinde’s statement that the 2027 elections will be a straight contest between the APC and the hungry people of Nigeria. If the APC sees that statement of fact as a curse, then that’s too bad. Our prayer is that God will reward the APC and its leaders appropriately for all they have done with Nigeria and its people. We hope the party, its leaders and their government will have the heart to say amen to that prayer.”
The PDP national leadership also condemned the APC, describing it as a party of “political vampires” that thrives on the suffering of Nigerians. In the statement, PDP national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, called on the APC to “end its charade, accept its failures, and prepare for political retirement.” It said Governor Makinde has been an outspoken advocate for Nigerians, voicing the frustrations of citizens impacted by the APC’s governance. The main opposition party described the attack on Makinde, characterising it as a desperate attempt to silence criticism of its policies. The party said Makinde’s achievements in Oyo State represented PDP’s commitment to development and good governance. The PDP noted that, under his leadership, Oyo State has witnessed numerous infrastructure projects aimed at improving the lives of its residents. Besides, the PDP stated that Makinde works closely with other PDP governors to foster democratic development and resist what it sees as the APC’s efforts to create a “one-party state.” The PDP pointed out that the APC remains out of touch with the reality of Nigerian citizens amid escalating unemployment, insecurity, decayed infrastructure and economic paralysis.
The PDP described its own governors as “oases of development” in the current political landscape, contrasting them with what it claims is the APC’s inability to deliver on its promises.
Are politicians afraid of the people?
From the arguments and counter-arguments of all the gladiators and parties so far, the issue about Nigerians determining the political leadership of the country in 2027, is at stake.
With the altercations between the two sides, it would seem that the APC was jolted by Makinde’s statement which pushed the ruling party to the jaws of a hungry citizenry.
Nonetheless, it is not unlikely that the words of an English author, Alan Moore, are already playing out. He said: “People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.”
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