As agitations by politicians and stakeholders on which political party will control the Food Basket Government House come 2015 continue to heat up, a new political party, the Accord Party has been launched in the state. In this piece, our man from Makurdi, KULA TERSOO takes a critical look at the chances of the contending parties
Recently, notable political heavy weights and activists in Benue gathered in Makurdi the Benue state capital and formally announced their declaration for the Accord Party (AP).
Those who were arrow heads in the declaration included the erstwhile Deputy Governorship candidate of the now merged into All Progressive Congress (APC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue state, Alh. Usman Abubakar (Young Alhaji), former prominent member of the ACN council of elders, Amb. Michael Gbasha, Engr. Akever Aga, one of the financiers and strategists of the APC, Joe Waya and Comrade Tar Ukoh amongst others.
The A P newcomers announced that their new party is the new birth to librate the opposition in Benue and challenge for the plum job in the next elections.
This was barely a month after yet another group led by the former Secretary of the ACN Mr. Jonathan Gyuse declared for Labour Party (LP).
Though, both LP and AP might have existed and made strong showings elsewhere, they remain unknown in the state. But while AP may have it big with the entrance of former chieftains of the APC, LP can hardly boast of a big name and political asset amongst newcomers in her ranks.
Mr. joe Waya’ pointed out during the declaration for AP that, “We have gathered here to let the people of Benue know how far we have gone with the struggle to librate our people from the mess they have been in since fifteen years ago.
“We are also here to liberate the opposition and reposition it to win elections but not to negotiate and sell the mandate of our people as we perceived have been the practice recently. We are playing the real opposition that has as its main agenda to take over power from the misrules, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)”, he stated.
Usman Abubakar who is the new leader of AP affirmed that, ”We left the APC because of imposition of candidates and other undemocratic practices of some elements especially the Senate Minority Leader, Dr. George Akume. So, in A P, there would be no imposition of candidates and everybody would be treated on merit.”
He continue that, “in 2011, it was only three months to the elections when we sprang surprises in the state and won our elections under ACN now APC but denied been sworn in by the connivance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some fraudulent politician both at home and in Abuja. We are going to do it again but this time, no one can try touching the tiger’s tail.”
He said, “In 2003, I brought another party and won elections, I was denied. In 2007, I moved to ANPP, won the senate seat but was still denied. In 2011, we won overwhelmingly, yet, denied victory. Who will accuse a man of impotent when it is well known that he always impregnate a woman only for the woman to continue having miscarriage? We are on course and we will change strategy this time”.
Analyst are of the opinion that AP is strategically birthed if alignments and realignments that normally take place months to elections and further shape such polls are anything to go by.
Those who are of this line of thinking believe strongly that based on the body language of the incumbent Governor, Gabriel Suswam, he may not do a thing different from his predecessor by anointing a favoured candidate. This, they believe may create crises within the ruling parting necessitating the usual cross over my irate party men and women.
However, should this come to play, already, there are three opposition parties in the waiting. In 2011, though with the active presence of the then All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) led by Sen. Daniel Saror, ACN led by Sen. David Iornem was chosen as safe haven where the likes of Sen. George Akume, Hon. Orker Jev amongst others crossed over and returned their seats.
At the moment, APC in the state, according pundits, though more weighty, have presented itself as a sectional party in the hands of a sectional leader whose believe is to protect and sponsor the party within his district for his egocentric negotiations. The leader, Sen. George Akume has depicted clearly that especially those from the Benue North-East are not needed in the party since he calls them “animals” from zone A. This may probably scare many prospective haven seekers from that axis and even beyond should PDP break.
Be that as it may, the AP, as presently constituted can hardly win a seat in the state, but if lives up to the promise made by its leaders; and considering the fact that they, especially their new entrants have some level of war-best, they may eventually win the confidence of prospective aggrieved members of the other parties.
A political analyst, Ipeven Barnabas said that it would be difficult for the opposition in the state to repeat the 2011 feat. He said that the split up within the opposition ranks has since weakened it adding also that he doubt whether there is one person in the opposition at present that can sponsor elections in the entire state.
He insisted that except a very wrong decision on choice of candidates or imposition of same, is committed by PDP leading to massive cross carpeting of notable chieftains, the opposition can achieve no feat.
As it stands now, until PDP finishes her primaries and there are serious cracks, the general elections may after all be a one-way traffic.