Some observers of recent events in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have faulted the reported plan by the party to replace former party National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, with former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The news was rife a few days ago that the name of Ganduje was removed from the list of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial nominees now before the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Media sources had stated that Ganduje’s name was removed at the last minute as he had been pencilled down to succeed Adamu who resigned his position in questionable circumstances, giving credence to the common belief that all has not been well within the nation’s ruling party.

Adamu’s hasty resignation and that of the then APC National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, was also linked to an alleged frosty relationship between him and President Tinubu which was traced to events leading to the party primaries and the appointment of officers of the National Assembly.

Those who revealed the plan to make Ganduje the party’s National Chairman, maintained that the decision was a done deal, awaiting confirmation by the soon to be held APC National Convention.

Speaking on the development, Comrade Baba Aye, a seasoned activist and veteran trade unionist maintained that it is not surprising that the APC would reserve such an exalted party position to Ganduje.

He said: “In Nigeria today, we have a president with a questionable and obscure past marred by forfeiture of money over possible relations with drug traffickers, a senate president who was being tried for misappropriation of huge amounts of money before being cleared of all sins when he joined the ruling party and performed ‘off the mic’ missing money magic.

“And now, we have as the national chairman of the ruling party someone caught on camera receiving wads of dollars in kickback as governor.

“These added together paint the picture of the APC regime under Bola Tinubu in its truly ugly colours. It is the worst cesspool of corruption in Nigeria’s history.

“It is a machine that intends to squeeze life out of us all, just to fill the fat pockets of a handful of people. The Nigerian people must resist this nest of vipers.”

However, Prof John Ebhomien, an APC chieftain and former World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist, said the move to make Ganduje the party’s National Chairman was not surprising.

While advising President Tinubu to be wary of giving party and government top positions to sycophants, however, noted that as a party man, he cannot fault the reported move to make Ganduje, the former Kano Chief Executive the APC National Chairman as he (Ganduje) has been a key figure in the party.

Prof Ebhomien said: “You will remember vividly that Ganduje had a been a very close pal and strong supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his emergence as the presidential flag bearer of the All Progress Congress.

“So, this is a payback period for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to former Governor Ganduje for his loyalty. The presidency is trying to strategies to have strong supporters of Mr President in key positions in the APC and government.”

“In fairness, this is right thing to do. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take giant strides and go back to the drawing table to review his ministerial nominees to ensure that political jobbers and sycophants are not on the ministerial list.

“The President should realise that Nigerians’ expectations on him are high, and so cannot afford to fail. The president should take bold steps to nib in the bud the problems of insecurity, inflation, high interest rate and other social vices which have been begging for solutions.

“The presidency should urgently invite to the negotiation table the labour unions for amicable resolution on the proposed nationwide strike and mass protests.

“All hands must be on the deck to support the government for peace and progress in our dear country. Those at peace work for it.” (Sunday Independent)

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