Buhari’s upright position on APC tenure elongation debacle

This week, President Muhammadu Buhari threw his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), into confusion when he blurted that the tenure extension granted to its national chairman, Mr. John Odigie-Oyegun, and members of the national and state executive committees of the party is illegal.
Though the President’s declaration remains his views, facts are that extension of the tenure of the APC officials, or any other party for that matter, beyond the party’s constitution and the nation’s constitutionally approved period is illegal.
It would be recalled that the APC National Executive Council (NEC) had last month approved a tenure extension for the officials of the party at the national and state levels.
The President, who spoke while addressing the National executive Committee of the party in Abuja, called on beneficiaries of the tenure extension to reject it in order to preserve the integrity of the party and its candidates in the next general elections.
Specifically, the President said that in order not to make the party’s primary elections and other activities that may be conducted after the expiration of the legally prescribed tenure of the party’s officials illegal and, thus, susceptible to litigations, the party must elect new officials to run its affairs.
Expectedly, many members of the party commented on the President’s position with their view differing, depending on which side of the party they belong to. Notable among those who commented was the man appointed by the President, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to reconcile aggrieved persons. And those who feel aggrieved by the party’s actions and/or inactions are many.
Tinubu, a leader of the APC, said the President has saved the ruling party from “serious legal turmoil.”
Tinubu said by the President’s action, eligible people seeking various elective positions in the party had been given the opportunity to do so. And, it must be added that the President’s decision would undoubtedly allow democracy to take firmer roots in APC and make it a party truly for all.
That the President declared that any tenure elongation in whatever disguise would contravene both the national and party constitutions, has in a fundamental way exposed him as a true and wholly converted democrat who will stand for nothing other than what is right and in the interest of his party which he toiled to build.
While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of February 27 to stand with the leaders perpetuating themselves albeit illegally in office, the President showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path.
In a nutshell, his action has saved the party from serious legal turmoil that had the tendency to constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive and democratic governance in the country.
Essentially, the President has affirmed for Nigerians and, indeed, the world, that his party is based on the rule of law and firm adherence to internal democracy.
And like Tinubu said, the President must be hailed for choosing to cherish democracy and legality and by doing so his action will strengthen the party by allowing party members, including incumbents, to contribute to the party and vie for executive office of their choice.