Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Few weeks to the Presidential election in Nigeria ,the ruling All progressives Congress is gradually facing what can be termed as cold war within its domain.
It all started with the APC presidential flag bearer’s statements in Ogun and Akwa Ibom States where he challenged Present administration under his party on its inability to curtail Fuel scarcity, hardship as a result of Currency redesigned and Foreign exchange issues.
These multidimensional problems are what Citizens of Nigeria are currently facing as fuel scarcity lingered and its price went beyond the reach of the common man.
But it is uncommon in Nigerian Politics for the ruling party to be challenging it self particularly at the time of election Campaigns.
Things are falling apart in APC
The remote causes of APC possible crises can be traced back to it’s Primary election conducted in June 2022 in which Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged the Presidential Candidate.
Some Political observers are of the opinion thatTinubu was not the preferred Candidate of President Buhari and his Cabals.
A recent comment made by the Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, can be a pointer to what the observers have said.
The Governor said there are some “elements” in the Presidential Villa that are seeking the defeat of the ruling All Progressives Congress in this month’s poll.
“I believe that there are elements in the Villa that want us to lose the elections because they didn’t get their way,” El-Rufai said during an interview on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily “on Wednesday 1st of February 2023.
He added that they had their candidate; their candidate didn’t win the primaries and the Kaduna Governor said he thinks they are still trying to get the party to lose the elections and they are hiding behind the President’s desire to do what he thinks is right.
A former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, emerged the winner of the June 8, 2022 APC presidential primary, with the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo coming a distant second and third, respectively.
Buttressing his argument, the Kaduna state governor cited the seemingly belated removal of fuel subsidy as well as the current naira redesign and cash swap policy implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“This petroleum subsidy which is costing the country trillions of naira was something that we all agreed should be removed. In fact, I had a discussion with the President and showed him why it had to go.
“How can you have a capital budget of 200 billion naira for federal roads and then spend two trillion on subsidies? This was a conversation I had with the President in 2021 when the subsidy started rising. He was convinced. We left; it changed. Everyone in the government agreed.
The second example I would give is this currency redesign.” El – Rufa’i reiterated Femi Fani Kayode is the former Minister of Aviation and a spokesperson for the Tinubu Shetima Campaign Council.
He said that no matter what the so- called Aso Rock elements do, Tinubu will prevail and will be elected Nigeria’s President.
Fani-Kayode also accused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele of nursing a hidden agenda with the introduction of the naira redesign policy.
The former minister expressed this on Channels Television’s special election programme, “The 2023 Verdict”According to Fani Kayode Emefiele’s policies are questionable, adding that it is an attempt to create chaos in this country for everybody and to pave the way for something that is completely different.
Fani-Kayode claimed that there are certain powers backing the apex bank governor and these powers have been responsible for his recent actions.
“Yes, we need a cashless policy ultimately but why is it being introduced at this critical time? It will lead to nothing but suffering, resentment and hatred of not just the ruling party (the All Progressives Congress) but of every single member of the ruling class. And I am sitting on your programme today potentially accusing the governor of the central bank of having a hidden agenda” He added.
The spokesman for APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu also shares the view of Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that there are some elements in the Presidential Villa seeking the defeat of their party’s flag bearer in this month’s poll.
“Let’s clear this for once, Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinbubu are one and we are in this together till the end as an individual and as a government.The party and the government are one with Asiwaju and we are moving forward together,” he added.
Buhari’s Government Reaction
In reaction to what Governor of Kaduna State El-Rufa’i and former Minister of Aviation Fani Kayode said Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said Government is not aware of any persons in the Presidential Villa working against the ambition of the ruling All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Tinubu in the February presidential election.
The minister stated this while addressing State House correspondents at a briefing after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.
Mohammed restated the President’s position that his administration will only focus on ensuring a free fair and credible elections and not favor or cause anyone to be at a disadvantage.
Emannual Bello is a Public affairs analyst with Arise News. He said what is happening in the APC as a ruling Party is an indication that there is disconnection between members of the Party.
The analyst said as the Minister of Information and culture to speak on the matter it means a lot to the Government and it means punchy.
The minister replied El-Rufa’i by saying Government is trying to ensure free fair and credible election.
The commentator added that the Government initially kept mute on Tinubi’s Statements in Ogun and Akwa Ibom States.But reacting this time as top party members like Kaduna Governor are re echoing the issues.
Bello emphasized that for President Wife to re-share El-Rufai statement on her platforms means a lot too.“I don’t know weather sharing it means supporting what El-Rufai is saying” Bello said.
Emmanuel stated that some are taking what Mrs Buhari did as an endorsement to what the El-Rufa’i alleged as the leader of Tinubu’s Campaign women wing.
The Analyst says some Nigerians are happy about the situation while others are not happy but described it as quite unusual as the APC still has a sitting Government.
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