Kelvin Kuffi



The all progressives Congress has been the main opposition in Taraba state since 2015, though had successively abused the opportunity to occupy the number one seat, majority in the senate,House of representatives and Assembly respectively.


This is because the party has not shown readiness, preparedness and sincerity of purpose in their dealings.

Many can attest that our state is a complicated state unlike; Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe etc.


As such, they have to be very calculative and diplomatic in playing the game with recourse to: ethnic, religious and party colouration. In 2015, late Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan was the party gubernatorial candidate, she was full of capacity, competency and resources but because of her gender and some petty considerations, she could not make it.


In 2019, Sen. Sani Abubukar was the candidate and could not also make it to the Government house despite his resources,influence and support base.

Former president, Dr. Good luck Jonathan was not ousted from the Aso Rock because he was weak, but because they gave him a "unity fight" and before he realised, it was late.


The main reason many are not comfortable with the party is because, they have painted a picture that it is a Muslim party which has been demonstrated from the party chairmen, Gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates, House of representatives and Assembly respectively.


I doubt that they are ready to change, going by what is happening in the party.

From inception the party has not produced a Christian as the state chairman, as the Gubernatorial candidate. Besides, in the house of assembly, representatives and senate they give more credence to the Muslims without considering the fact that Christian have a good number in the state.

For example: in the 2019 elections among the 24 candidates for house of assembly 17 were Muslims while 7 were Christians in places like; Ussa, Takum1, zing, Yorro, Karim lamido and Wukari.


In the house of representatives 4 among the 6 candidates were also Muslims with exception of; Ussa,Takum, Donga, Yanghtu and Wukari, Ibi federal constituency respectively.

Among the senatorial candidates two were Muslims while one Christian; central and northern zone Muslim while the southern zone Christian.


The Christian community was not carried along, besides no one is against the party but those who are at the helm of affairs who had succeeded in infusing wrong impressions to the public about the party.



To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing wrong for a Muslim to be the Governor of the state, but a balance need to be strike: is the party ready or they wants to continue in their old ways and expect a different result?

If you ask my grandmother in the village she would tell you that, APC is a Muslim party going by their successive candidates and party executives.


The party has never struck a deal with other faiths and that gives many the intention to think that it has an agenda in the state which may not be true or correct.

The most perturbing and worrisome aspect of the whole thing is that, when you criticise President Muhammad Buhari as an individual they swiftly arrogate it to the party and Islam. To me, the president is not representing Islam.


The idea of making the party look religious should be desist from, if they are truly sincere and ready for business.

Nobody will not have a contrary view and Impression when an opposition gives 80% of his candidates to Muslim in a state like Taraba.


This is not written out of political mischief, political partisanship, falsity or to incite the public, it is borne out of good conscience and to encourage a viable opposition in the state.


Albeit, if the party wishes to continue in its old ways, they may remain in the opposition for the next 58 years, if only they have the capacity to sustain the temple.

I hope this will be taken seriously and the effect will be seen in the forthcoming congresses and primary elections.

May God bless Taraba state.



NOTE:


The above article is entirely the author's opinion and doesn't in any way represent Rhapsodi Affos Blog RAB.