Tenure elongation: Tinubu triumphs over Oyegun in the race for 2019

In February, the National Executive Committee(NEC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) gave the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee(NWC) a one year tenure extension. However, at the last meeting, President Muhammadu Buhari literally reversed it, arguing that the extension is unconstitutional. In this report, BODE OLAGOKE highlights the events that led to the president’s intervention and how APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is has triumphed over his godson-turned political rival, Chief Oyegun

Last Thursday, Chief Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, former Lagos state governor, turned 66 years of age but it was a double celebration for the Jagaba of Borgu Kingdom this week. Superficially, two days earlier, Tinubu had gotten one of his heart’s desires in the last two odd years. Last Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari had declared the tenure elongation of All Progressives Congress(APC’s) National Working Committee(NWC) illegal.

Consequently, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led national exco will leave office by June 30. Since 2016, Asiwaju Tinubu has been plotting, scheming and campaigning for Oyegun’s ouster but the president had turned a deaf ear. Significantly, the duo of Tinubu and Oyegun fell apart in September 2016, over Ondo state gubernatorial primaries.

Abraham’s defeat in Ondo state

At the primaries, Tinubu had supported Mr Olusegun Abraham who was defeated at the September 2016 primaries. In the end, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu emerged victorious but Asiwaju alleged that the delegates’ list was tinkered with. In fact, APC raised a panel to investigate his claim and it recommend a repeat poll. However, the recommendation was observed in the breach as Akeredolu’s name was submitted to INEC.

Consequently, Tinubu had called on Oyegun to resign for overseeing a primary election which threw up Akeredolu. According to him, “Oyegun’s comportment regarding the Ondo State primary will become the textbook definition of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order. Oyegun and his fellows seem to be on a different wave length. They are the cohort of Unchange.’’

Not done, Asiwaju had pointed out that ‘’as party chairman, Oyegun was supposed to protect our internal processes and be an impartial arbiter, a person in whom all had confidence. Instead, he donned the garment of a confident man, duping the NWC, the party, and INEC in one fell blow. He has robbed APC members in Ondo State of the chance to pick in a fair manner who they believe is the best candidate. To rescue the party, Oyegun must go. He has shown that he and democratic fair play cannot exist in the same party at the same time”.

Significantly, Oyegun ‘didn’t go’ and as a result, Tinubu allegedly threw his weight behind Chief Olusola Oke, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate. Subsequently, he boycotted the rally on November 19, which was attended by the president and other party chieftains. In addition, Tinubu’s allies like Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos state governor, were conspicuously absent at the rally which held at Democracy Park, Akure.

Oyegun gets one year extension

On February 27, the National Executive Council(NEC) of APC met and yet again, Tinubu’s effort came to naught. Instead of a vote of no confidence, NEC gave Oyegun and his NWC and all state executives a one year tenure elongation. However, the issue had raised a lot of dust as some party members opposed it while others supported the decision. Significantly, each camp hinged its argument on the party’s constitution. According to proponents of the elongation, time was too short for an elective convention, bearing in mind several unresolved crisis rocking nearly all the organs and state chapters of the party. However, those against it argued that the decision was self-serving and against the party’s constitution.

Specifically, Governor Yahaya Bello who addressed news men after the meeting, had articulated the reasons behind the extension. He argued that ‘’considering the time left for the party to conduct all the congresses and convention and considering that our leader Senator Tinubu has been charged with responsibility to reconciling all aggrieved members of our party, we can not afford to approach general elections with more disputes and crises. ‘’ For this reason, the meeting relied on Article 13 of the party’s constitution, which empowers the NEC to carry out the function of the convention, to extend the tenure of the Oyegun-led NWC and other executive committees at various levels for another twelve months, starting from June 30th, Bello said.

However, Governor Abdul Azeez Yari of Zamfara state, had countered his Kogi state counterpart about what transpired at the NEC meeting. According to Yari, what happened at the meeting was mere expression of interest of tenure elongation as ‘’the power of the convention to extend tenure is exercised only by way of a constitution amendment.’’

Categorically, he said that NEC lacked the power to extend the tenure of any party official beyond the four-year term. Yari, who is also the chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, said that “Article 30 of the APC Constitution states: ‘This constitution and the schedules hereto, can be amended only by the National Convention of the party”. The governor further said that ‘’the process of amending the constitution is also expressly provided in Article 30 sub section 2. ‘’

Litigation followed

Given the varying interpretations of the powers of NEC on the matter, some aggrieved party men went to court to seek judicial interpretation on the issue of tenure elongation. Specifically, Chief Okere Uzochukwu, a member of Imo state chapter, rushed to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to void NEC’s decision. Uzochukwu, in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/219/2018, said he was an aspirant to the state chairmanship position of the party in Imo State and that the tenure extension violated provisions of the nation’s constitution, the Electoral Act and the APC constitution.

In addition, Uzochukwu argued that the extension of the tenure of officials of the party at various levels is “the primary function and responsibility of the national convention” by virtue of the provisions of Article 13 and 13 (3) (ii) of the Constitution of the APC 2014 (as amended).

Courting Tinubu

However, in spite of this going back and forth, the duo of Buhari and Tinubu managed to keep a calm façade, insisting that all was well. But beneath the surface, the president’s aides were doing everything, according to a source, ‘’to cut Tinubu to size.’’ Last Novemeber, the president ended all speculations when he included Tinubu, along with Governor Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and Alhaji Mohammed, his Bauchi state counterpart on his entourage to an ECOWAS meeting at Cote d Ivoire .

Specifically, pictures of the entourage, all smile in the presidential jet, were generally splashed in the media. Since then, the former Lagos state governor has been a regular guest to the Presidential Villa.

On February 6, President Muhammadu Buhari had also appointed the strongman of South west politics to reconcile aggrieved members of the party. In particular, the former governor of Lagos state is expected to resolve disagreements among party members, party leadership and political office holders in some states. Specifically, the APC National Leader has been given the latitude to appoint members of his committee.

Buhari’s bombshell

Last Tuesday, before the NEC meeting held, the party caucus had met earlier at the Presidential Villa and Oyegun’s fate was top on the agenda. Specifically, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was absent at the meeting, fueling speculations that his Oyegun-must-go camp will lose out at the NEC meeting.

In particular, National Assembly members and some second term governors belonged to Tinubu’s camp. Similarly, Governor Bello of Kogi state, Malam Nasir El Rufai, his Kaduna state counterpart, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state and Barrister Mohammed Abubakar, the Bauchi state governor, as well as Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi wanted Oyegun to remain beyond his tenure.

Significantly, the NWC didn’t include the disturbing issue of tenure elongation on the agenda. In fact, in his opening speech, Oyegun had emphasized that the meeting will discuss APC constitutional amendment and the reports of True federalism. However, President Buhari had a different agendum which no one knew about.

In a shocking and dramatic move, when it was time for him to speak, the president softly asked his orderly for his written speech. Specifically, Buhari looked at the script that was given to him again and again to make sure it was the right speech. In his address, the president narrowed the agenda to a one-item meeting of tenure elongation. Point blank, Buhari had said that the extension is unconstitutional, illegal and he is opposed to it.

Buhari also said the issue “contravenes both the APC constitution and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.” According to the President, even a caretaker committee cannot remedy the situation and act in place of elected officials. However, he advised that any party executive who is interested in continuity should resign and represent him or herself for election.

The president argued that ‘’while the APC constitution in article 17 (1) and 13 (b) limits the tenure of elected officers to four years renewable by another election, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended, in section 223 also proscribed periodic election for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years.’’ Furthermore, he said that article 31 of APC constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election. ‘’In this circumstance, what is expected of us is to conduct fresh election once the tenure of the current executive approaches its end,’’ Buhari had advised.

The president also point out the implications of tenure elongation. According to him, any nomination and primary election that the executive may conduct can also be faulted. ‘’This is not to talk of divisions that may arise or is already arising within the party when some of our party members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to party positions.’’

Tinubu: Buhari has saved APC

In his reaction to the development, APC National leader , Asiwaju Tinubu, commended the president for his bold and wise decision which has saved the party. In a statement he personally signed, Tinubu stated that “the President has spoken. Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality. His action will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit. ‘’ The former Lagos state governor further said that Buhari’s action will go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway.

According to him, it is a time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organize the needed congresses according to the existing timetables. “After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party for which they are qualified to hold,’’ Tinubu had argued.

Similarly, the new Abia state chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe, said that President Buhari’s decision to reject tenure extension will strengthen the party. Ndukwe, who was attending the NEC meeting for the first time after taken over as state chairman, described president Buhari as a law-abiding president who believes in working in accordance with the party’s constitution.

The triumph of Tinubu

Like the rejected stone, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has now become the cornerstone on which the survival of the All Progressives Congress(APC) may rest. After securing victory at the NEC meeting, President Buhari also went to Lagos to attend Tinubu’s 66 birthday Colloquium.

At the event, President Buhari showered encomiumson th APC National Leader, describing him as ‘’my friend and political partner.’’ According to him, ‘’Asiwaju Tinubu is widely known as a political strategist. But strategy is barren unless wedded to a higher purpose than just itself.’’ The president however absolved Tinubu of barren strategy as he sees ‘’him as a man who cares about people and who is a fountain of ideas for economic development and improving the situation of the common man and woman. He is a true humanitarian and we appreciate his contributions to Nigeria’s and Africa’s progress.”

In addition, Buhari said that just as Tinubu had done so much for the people, his administration has also been using the Social Investment Programmes and home grown school feeding initiatives to invest in the Nigerian people. “We believe in investing in people so that tomorrow will be better and good will triumph over evil. Our goal is to bring every section of the country together. And to accomplish our mission, we must invest in people. We are using the Social Investment and the school feeding programme to empower Nigerians and secure a better future. This we are resolute about and we are ready to make Nigeria great,” Buhari further said.

On his part, Tinubu had praised Buhari for saving the Nigerian ship from wreckage. said there was a difference between PDP’s administration and that of the ruling APC. According to him, “we are re-directing Nigeria. We have a nation to rescue and thank God we have a good leader to emulate.’’ The former Lagos state governor also told PDP to forget its ambition of returning to power. He asked Nigerians not to accept PDP’s apology as the party has done enough damage to the country.

Specifically, he recalled that APC had nothing beyond brooms but mobilized Nigerians to engender the revolution that catapulted it to Nigerian leadership position. In addition, Tinubu thanked Nigerians for remaining steadfast, assuring and of better future with APC. Similarly, Asiwaju also hit out at former President Olusegun Obasanjo without mentioning his name. In particular, he berated ‘somebody’ for writing “bad belle letters.”

APC chieftains hail Buhari’s visit

Significantly, Chieftains of the ruling APC have been full of praises for the rapprochement between Tinubu and Buhari. In particular, Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan noted that Lagos and the South West are strategic to Nigeria’s political and economic developments and Buhari’s visit would increase the bond between the federal government and the region. Besides, he added that Buhari’s presence at Tinubu’s birthday colloquium shows that the two leaders revered each other.

Similarly, the Deputy Director, Coordination/Implementation of the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council in 2015, Malam Mohammed Lawan, praised the president’s visit to Lagos. According to him, the reception that Buhari received shows that the president is popular in the South West and his ties with Tinubu is cordial.

From the look of things, President Buhari has made up his mind to seek re-election and he is sending over backwards to accommodate Tinubu and the South west.

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