Politics
Why Common Sense is Critical in Choosing The Next APC Women Leader
Why Common Sense is Critical in Choosing The Next APC Women Leader
APC WOMEN LEADER– In choosing a successor, every leader would want to have the freedom to decide who takes after him/her. However, in political leadership, more often than not, this privilege eludes the one who leads. Not necessarily because the leader might not have done well but because, most times, circumstances make the leader’s choice an unwelcomed venture.
It is in the light of the above that the quest for the successor of the Women Leader of the Ruling All Progressive Congress, APC in Nigeria becomes a venture that commonsensical disposition must be applied in order to get it right.
In politics, equity and fairness are the cardinal principles that not only hold a political party in undivided bond but also ensures its success at the larger competitions
To start with, the nomination of the former Women Leader of the great party, APC Dr Betta Edu as a ministerial candidate by the President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has created a vacuum in the Women’s wing of the party. This, no doubt, needs to be filled. And in filling this vacuum, it is incumbent on Dr Edu and all those responsible for producing the next Women Leader to be retrospective in their choice and ensure that equity is not only enthroned but justifiably so. This will not only ensure stability in the party but will save it from avoidable and unwarranted distractions.
APC is a pacesetter in crisis management going by how it has been able to navigate its hurdles both before, during and after general elections. But the crisis that may arise as a result of the choice of the new Women Leader is, at the moment, avoidable, provided the right actions are taken.
APC has surmounted several crises and has remained stronger ever. For instance, most recently, a few months after the general elections and swearing in of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu and National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore resigned their various positions. Replacements were immediately made without any brouhaha.
Another situation that is rearing its ugly head which the party must quickly resolve before it gets out of hand is the successor for its Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu, who has been confirmed as a minister of the Federal Republic.
There are reports that she is plotting to handpick her successor. Not only that, she wants the person to come from Cross River State,to the extent that the state is currently awash with speculations that a certain lady from Cross River State is already parading herself as the New National Women leader of APC and has already opened a platform as the National Women leader while the party has not made any announcement on the replacement.
There is nothing absolutely amiss in the choice of her successor if the report is to be believed but will such move ensure equity and justice to other states in the South South geopolitical zone? Certainly, the answer is in the negative.
Granted that the party zoned some of its national leadership positions to the region including National Vice-Chairman, National Publicity Secretary, National Women Leader, Deputy National Treasurer, Deputy National Welfare Secretary, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Special Leader and Zonal Women Leader.
In order for equity and fairness to be entrenched, the zonal leadership of the party micro-zoned the positions amongst the six South-South states. The positions of the National Women Leader and Zonal Special Leader were zoned to the Cross River State. Within the state, the positions were further zoned to Central and Southern Senatorial Districts. The Central produced the National Women Leader in the person of Dr Betta Edu while South, the Zonal Special Leader.
However, with recent occurrences, it is pertinent that the position of Women Leader goes to another state in the South South since Cross River already has two ministers from the state. This, in the spirit of equity and justice, will give other states a share of the political positions. To have the Women Leader and a minister in the same state and the same Senatorial District will breed injustice within the party.
This could lead to an avoidable crisis that the party does not need at this point. Every member of the APC women party structure contributed immensely to the emergence of President Tinubu at a time when the men were undecided.
Consequently, it’s fitting that for balance and equity, the position of Women Leader of the party should go to another state in the region to maintain the existing cohesion and unity within the party
Tolulope Oguntimehin is a journalist and works with a TV station in Abuja
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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