By Temitope Awosika
It does not take rocket science to understand that Nigeria’s political space is dotted with villainous actors whose antecedents are steeped in intrigues, blackmail, subterfuge and anti-party malfeance all for self-aggrandizement. Given the pervasive culture of impunity, such odd characters find it too bitter a pill to swallow when right-minded individuals or even the court of justice puts them where they rightly belong.
That is the position of one Muiz Banire has found himself. Pronto he has overnight metamorphosed from being a local dictator in the days of Action Congress, AC and even Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in Mushin Local Government Area to become the irredentist apostle of internal party democracy for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC ! Wonders shall never end.
Indeed so, as he has found an ally in the so called Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party Bolaji Abdullahi. Bukola Saraki’s man Friday and now Banire’s political pawn it was who recently went to town, to tell whoever cared to listen that the suspension of Banire at War 2 in Mushin and the subsequent upholding of it by the party’s constitution does not hold water! Really, you may ask yourself.
But as recent events in the party have unveiled, it is that spurious statement by Abdullahi that cannot stand the test of time- of equity and justice. For instance, we may have to remind him and recall that Banire’s suspension is in tandem with that of Timi Frank, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, which was upheld by the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.
Looking at the issue from all perspectives, Abdullahi is in character with his misfiring from the wrong cylinder. This triggers the burning questions: Where was he a few years back? In the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP of course. At a point he was the Minster of Sports, having served as a Commissioner of Education in Kwara state when Saraki lorded it over the populace.
Similarly, where was Abdullahi when the APC was being built from the scratch? In the same opposition PDP! So, what does he know, or even understand about the nuances, the nexuses and the sacrifices made by the founding fathers? Next to nothing! And what meaningful contributions has this political turn-coat made since jumping boat into the APC? Nothing, again!
Lest we forget, Abdullahi was first appointed Minister of Youth Development in 2011 and later asked to supervise the Sports Ministry. He was appointed substantive minister of sports in May 2012. All these took place under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. But how did he pay the then president back? With his characteristic betrayal, of course.
These revelations came to the fore during the rally held to welcome Jonathan. His people complained bitterly over his attitude towards them and said the problems they were having in the party at the state level were caused by his disloyalty. “Even at the Emir of Ilorin’s palace, it was also learnt that Abdullahi) had all along been fronting for Senator Saraki!
Now, it should be patently obvious that on the moral ground Abdullahi ought not to have been accepted into the APC fold in the first instance. Stringent measures should therefore be adopted before the party opens its arms to welcome new members.
Abdullahi was planted in the APC to do the bidding of Saraki. There is nowhere in the constitution of the party that supports his ratification as a spokesman. The fake man now parading himself as the party’s spokesman is a political jobber for Saraki. He is indeed, one of the jackals and hyenas (apologies to Mrs. Buhari ) trying to reap from the fruits of the party whose seeds he did not sow.
He should therefore, be ready to be consigned to the dustbin of the party’s dustbin. Period!
