On Thursday 19th May 2016 the Kaduna State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress( APC) threatened to expel from the party the Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District Comrade Shehu Sani from the party because of his disagreement with the decision of the Federal Government and Nigeria National Petroleum Company ( NNPC) to “deregulate” and “regulate” the pump price of petrol. Through its State Chapter Secretary, APC accused the human rights activist of hypocrisy and sundry political transgressions clustered in a popular broad name called “anti party” activities. Mr. Salisu Wusono stretched his allegations beyond what commonsense can agree by insinuating that, the populists Senator is already a member of opposition party the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP).
In 2015 the human rights activist turned politicians faced a similar threat by APC. The allegation leveled against him then was his opposition to anti peoples policies of Kaduna State Governor Mr. Nasiru Ahmed El-rufa’i. His counsel and actions against such counterproductive policies made opponents of an open society and haters of freedom of speech and conscience to hatched an illegal suspension scheme. And hypnotized some executive members of his Tudunwada Ward of Kaduna South Local Government to signing his suspension letter. Unfortunate for the mindless hawks and man Fridays of powers that be, the entire process boomeranged through a disclosure that most of the signatures appended on the suspension letter were fake. The national headquarters of the party nullified the decision after studying the nitty gritty of Sen. Sani traducer’s claims and counter claims from the Senator.
Yours truly and guess millions of other Nigerians are struggling to understand the moral and legal grounds of APC’s threat to the senator. Distinguished Senator Sani merely took a principled stance against a policy most of the APC kingpins fought against in 2012. Sen. Sani said, in 2012, they rejected subsidy removal contemplated by the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan because of the difficult and negative consequences it will have on Nigerians. He reminded APC’s juggernauts that, it’s is morally wrong for them after getting power to implement what they fought against, just four years ago. Because he was part of the struggle in 2012,and still have full control of his conscience- he distanced himself from the decision of removing oil subsidy.
Mr. Wusono branded Sen. Sani’s position and open solidarity with organized labour and other groups protesting APC’s government as indiscipline. Mr. Wusoso is a demented and ignorant soul otherwise he should have known that, the 2015 APC’s manifesto of which they campaigned and got their mandate,didn’t promised to remove subsidy if elected. That apart…assuming APC promised, can’t the Senator change his position if the prevailing situation doesn’t favour its implications? PMB and APC promised placing Nigeria graduates and the aged on a monthly stipend of N5000. After bamboozling mandate givers with such promise, on reaching there, he “realized” the economy can’t shoulder that scheme. PMB said he can’t do that and even played a blame game of saying it was his party that promised Nigerians, not him. Was PMB’s statement and decision a pro-party or anti-party activity? Where went Mr. Wusono’s party discipline and loyalty mentality when PMB reneged from a major campaign pledged? Is Mr. Wusono telling us that PMB is above the party laws and many other laws in the land?
Mr. Wusono and his sponsors must know that Sen. Sani has a pedigree and a long standing history that can’t be dented because of hero worshipping of PMB and blind party loyalty. Comrade Sani fought for democracy and liberties when most of them were romancing with various military regimes that truncated political and economic development in Nigeria. Comrade Sani suffered incarceration and jailed by the brutal regimes of Gen. Sani Abacha. Mr. Wusono and his APC must know that there are lines Comrade Sani can’t cross no matter how politically correct they are. And there is no price too high for him to pay to safeguard his credible history of standing with the suffering masses and his populists ideology. On democracy, compassion for the less privileged, morality, and clear conscience; Sen. Sani and them are not in the same league. Let all the ranting, blackmail, and mudslinging by the cream of political opportunists that accidentally got power glow, Sen. Sani will never shift grounds or work against his conscience because of APC or their PMB.
Lack of internal party democracy was one of the reasons that sent the former ruling party the PDP to political wilderness in 2015. APC is towing the same line that led to the destruction of PDP. The feelings of invincibility that is leading party to think their members or people representing their constituencies under their banner is a terrible undemocratic disposition that must be denied a ventilating space in Nigeria political atmosphere. It’s pure attempt of making people prisoners of conscience. If freedom and liberty of a lawmaker can’t be guaranteed, then those of ordinary citizens are already gone.
Within one year in power,it’s clear that most of APC’s heavyweights that led the fight that ousted PDP from power are not living and proven democrats. There is no specks of doubts left that Nigeria is under a democratic dictatorship perpetrated through disrespect to the constitution and due process. Nigeria is being ruled by intuitions not the constitution and processes laid down by other status books. APC leaders are extremist and intolerable elements who have given themselves the status of sainthood and platonic philosopher kings. In all matters of governance, it’s either their way or highway. And any idea that is not allying with their selfish and elitists tantrums is a basket case.
