Party politics and administration is central to the development of any constitutional democracy. Since the return to democracy in 1999, after a long hiatus owing to military intervention, Nigeria has been experimenting different brand of party politics.
The PDP, for instance, which held sway and was the dominant Party back then, has had to grapple with serious, extraneous and threatening internal strife. At the last count, the party, had within the space of a little over 5 years, from 1999-2007, seven different national Chairmen. It was not smooth ride. It was an unending internal wranglings. The inability to contain these frictions effectively, marked the beginning of its decline, from the feisty status of a ruling party, who bragged about ruling for 60 years, to a desultory opposition party seeking relevance and barely staying afloat.
The APC however seems to be a fast learner of history, especially party politics and administration in Nigeria. Since 2014, the party has been coherent, despite few and mild internal strife, the APC had subtly avoided pitfalls.
Bearing in mind, dangers of open hostility, the APC continue on a trajectory of managing its supposed crisis at different times.
This again came into the fore, with the resignation of the party’s national Chairman, Sen Abdullahi Adamu,and its Secretary, Sen. Eniola Omisore. The party and its national leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acted swiftly by naming the immediate past governor of Kano State Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR,as Adamu’s replacement.
Ganduje choice as APC national Chairman is timely and a dexterous move from PBAT, who has once again demonstrated and showcased his assertiveness as a political gladiator.
Dr Ganduje, is a seasoned administrator with over 4 decade of cognate experience that cut across the academics, politics, human resource management and administration.
As a grassroot politician, Dr Ganduje started off as a Council Secretary in his native Dawaki Tofa local government in Kano state. He was appointment Commissioner in the state and later joined the federal civil service where he rose to the position of a permanent secretary before retiring to continue with active politics, where he served as two-term deputy governor and governor of Kano State.
In area of politics and governance, Dr Ganduje left an indelible footprints in administration as governor of Kano State. During his 8years, he transformed the state into a modern business and commercial hub befitting a 21st century mega city. His infrastructural revolution left many in awe, to the point his predecessor became envious and wanted to erase all his legacies, through the ill-timed and ill-conceived destruction of people’s properties.
In human capital development, Ganduje provided an enabling envelope for business and commerce to thrive across the state. Many empowerment and interventions were provided to kanawa. The famous Yan Tebura Initiative was the brainchild of Dr Ganduje, where small scale business owners who do not have the financial capacity to own shops in major markets across the state got the incentive to trade specified locations.
Dr Ganduje is a true democrat, a believer in one peaceful and indivisible Nigeria. He is a man of peace. It is noteworthy that, he remains the only governor, in recent political history of the state to have completed his 8years constitutional mandate without any form of socio-religious, ethnic and any form of violence. At a time northern Nigeria, especially northwest was in carnage due to activities of bandits, Kano through the singular efforts of Dr Ganduje experience relative calm and peace where every resident of Kano, regardless of his state of origin felt safe and secured.
The Kano APC, during Ganduje’s time as governor experience tranquility, peace and internal cohesion as the state party chairman learned tremendously from Dr Ganduje, how to run a successful political party devoid of rancour and bickering. The APC had a good outing in the state during the last elections despite massive rigging especially at the governorship poll.
As far as administration is concern, Dr Ganduje is an enigma, a veteran. It is instructive to note that he has a PhD in administration which makes him the most suitable for the position of national Chairman of the APC.
PBAT has again scored another high, with the choice of Ganduje. The few opposing this noble decision of PBAT, are just envoi of Ganduje. You cannot applaud Tinubu and despise Ganduje. Because, the president as an astute politician knows the political worth of Ganduje, his many sacrifices and contribution to the party and its eventual victory. Obviously, he has the capacity, ability and the necessary experience to manage the party prudently and steer it to victory.
Abdullahi D Mohammed is the Chairman, Coalition of Northern Nigeria Civil Society.
He writes from Kano