The "Cluelessness" of the Progressives

I wrote on this Blog more than a year ago that the fact that Nigerians are seemingly dissatisfied with PDP, does not automatically translate to acceptance of APC or any of the other political parties as the better alternative for Aso Rock. Each has to make its own case for acceptance.

Is APC making a case for acceptance or for a better alternative since registration? No. They ran after the Femi Fani-Kayodes and the uncontrollable rebels within the PDP. Where is Femi Fani-Kayode today? He might not have completely relocated to PDP, but he is certainly not with APC. What about notable figures like Babangida Aliyu, and Lamido? They are back to PDP unconditionally.

Most vocal progressive commentators in the social media saw it coming, and they wrote copiously about the urgency for APC leadership to embark on speech making tour round the country - propagating a refined progressive narrative that will sync with the desires and aspirations within the heart and soul of every Nigerian. But Tinubu and Buhari didn't see it that way. And disappointingly, not even El'Rufai saw the need to embark on a grass-root campaign - lecture tour. 

For instance, Governor Fashola's speech at the Abuja APC Conference is more appropriate for a neutral audience. It's all about progressive narrative, which presently, is missing. Who was at the Guide of Editors recently? Senator Jubrin Aminu was. That would have been an appropriate forum for an El'Rufai or Fashola to make a good presence - making a case for a new direction in our political system.

Few days ago, I published an article on this Blog following the massacre at Nyanya Bus Stop, in it; I made a call for a Mandela and a Martin Luther King Jr. in the Nigerian polity to advance peace and tolerance. Few days later, some group decided that indeed we have a Mandela managing our political system as per the commercial some group ran on NTA.

Several times, I have seen my statements on this Blog repackaged to suit the philosophy and goal of the President's speech writers. It is a new world. In 2012, I wrote a piece on the Blog, titled “Where are the President Men”, in the piece I argued that Dr. Ruben Abati, standing alone and with his Press Releases cannot withstand the onslaught of the media – both print and social – on President Jonathan and his Presidency. Immediately that piece came out, they went for Dr. Doyin Okupe. Now they have Reno Omokri, Gulak, Maku, and Olisa Metuh engaging on aggressive PR campaign, taking APC and its leadership apart with enthusiastic abandon. Yes, Mr. President and his boys are winning, when it comes to taking advantage of the free materials available in the social medial.

In the beginning, APC could boast of more followers and sympathizers than any other political parties in Nigeria in the social media. The resentment towards PDP was real. Way back in 2012, I initiated the call for a hand shake across the Niger and Benue between southern progressives and northern mavericks and intellectuals. Thank God it happened, and a party was registered. However, what we have today is a political party dominated by individuals who are not known to be progressives in their actions or utterances. The emerging southern progressives and northern mavericks and intellectuals are visibly absent within the new coalition.

Once, a social media commentator/columnist questioned the reasonableness of APC aggressive pursuit of PDP rebels. Few days later, in a long rebuttal, a writer, writing as an insider argued that APC needs these established rebels from PDP because of their established supporters. My position is that PDP rebels are nothing, but rebels. They are not progressives. You do not need them to build the great progressive grass-root political party most of us have in mind. They left PDP, not on the basis of disagreements arsing from how to make things better for Nigerians, but simply on the basis of their defeat in the power game within the party. Its all about Jonathan, and how to kick him out of Aso Rock.

Take Jonathan out of the picture: What makes you different from PDP? What are they doing wrong now that you want to do differently? Take that message directly to the people, campuses and public places. Not PDP rebels.

Today, APC has less new followers and sympathizers than when it was newly registered. A situation where most commentators in the social media only criticize PDP and President Jonathan, without actually supporting APC is very troubling. In the absence of credible candidates and refined messages, the incumbent is sure of victory.

Here is the deal: If APC cannot get their act together soon, and overcome the tag of a Muslim or Islamic party that the indefatigable Professor Emeritus Femi Fani-Kayode clandestinely attached on them in his two-part series, come 2015, Nigerians will rally round a sitting President and overwhelmingly vote him back into office. At that time all of you bloggers, commentators, pundits, glorified advisers and wordsmiths propagating shoelessness and cluelessness would realize that you are the naive and clueless bunch, after all. 

Disclosure: I like Mallam El'Rufai - he is creative and pragmatic. He is tested, and without any doubt, an achiever. I do believe that given the chance, he would make a great President. About two years ago, I devoted about two thousand words to endorse him as a candidate for the Progressives for the 2015 Presidential race. However, I pulled the endorsement a year later, when I realized that Mr. Rufai is seemingly not ready for prime time. That was how my involvement in the Progressive Movement frizzled.

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