CPC: The significance of making corrections
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- Category: Comments
- Written by Umar Yusuf Wudil
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The former leadership of Senator Sani Hanga and Alhaji Haruna Danzago had dragged the CPC into serious crisis that had almost jeopardized the political future of the CPC. They treated internal Democracy and freedom of choice with utter contempt. Worst of all, they had allowed personal interest to override the larger interest of the party.
Consequently, the ward congresses they had organized in Kano State were characterized by manipulations and fraud, leading to the declaration of fake results for elections that never took place. Embarrassed by the stout rejection of the results and vociferous protests by CPC supporters in Kano State, the board of trustees of the party was finally compelled to sack the former leadership of the CPC under Senator Sani Hanga and set up an interim administration to conduct free and credible elections.
Indeed, the boards of trustees of the party deserve commendation for respecting public opinion. Now evidence has emerged that the removal of the former CPC leadership is a blessing in disguise. The peaceful conduct of fresh and credible elections into the CPC leadership structure at all levels in Kano State last week came as a big relief to millions of CPC supporters throughout the state. The election of Alhaji Dan Azumi Gwarzo as the new chairman of the Kano State CPC chapter was remarkably peaceful, free and fair. In fact, the election was so transparent that even those who lost didn’t complain and instead, pledged to work together with the leadership to move the party forward. Nothing like acrimony or bitterness had featured throughout the election. The new chairman, who was a former finance commissioner under the Kwankwaso administration, was openly embraced by those who contested against him.
According to many political observers, the transparent process that led to the election of Alhaji Dan Azumi Gwarzo represents the truest test of internal democracy. This was unlike the former Senator Hanga’s leadership, which was bent on frustrating internal democracy to advance his own gubernatorial ambition while he was still serving as national chairman of the CPC. Greed for power, lack of democratic passion and conflict of interest was mainly responsible for Senator Hanga’s forced resignation, because of overwhelming resentment against his leadership.
With the fresh elections held last week and the peaceful emergence of Gwarzo as the new chairman of the Kano State chapter of the CPC, the party now appears poised for consolidation through internal democracy. In fact, even the ANPP and PDP in Kano State were disappointed that the CPC supporters could elect their new leaders without acrimony. The two fraud-minded parties perceive CPC as the biggest challenge to their political dominance and perhaps as their potential giant killer!
It is obvious that the CPC board of trustees had learnt their lessons from the protests that accompanied the fraudulent ward elections organized by the former leadership under Senator Sani Hanga. Every CPC supporter is now happy in Kano State because there was no interference or manipulation in the conduct of the fresh elections, which could have pushed the party further into crises. Those who lost the election demonstrated the spirit of sportsmanship by openly embracing their rivals and pledging to work together for the unity and progress of the CPC. In fact, all the three governorship aspirants seeking the party’s ticket such as Colonel Lawal Ja’afaru Isa, Alhaji Mohammed Abacha and Dr. Awwalu Anwar, have agreed to work with the newly elected leadership of the party chapter in Kano State. The new spirit of fraternity and unity among CPC members and supporters will surely frustrate the expectation of PDP and ANPP, which enjoy spreading the seeds of discord in the new party.
Perceived as the party of hope with the capacity to provide credible platform to throw the PDP out of office, because of its failure to meet our expectations, the CPC faces the toughest challenge of exhibiting the virtues of internal democracy and freedom of choice. Those who say there is no morality in politics seem to forget the teachings of their own religions, which demand those seeking leadership to be fair and just. Indeed, if these basic teachings don’t influence our conduct, then we have no reason to seek power. How can you entrust power in the hands of those who believe morality is insignificant?
According to Arthur Burns, power does not corrupt; instead, he said, it is men without morality that corrupt power! It follows then that power in the hands of men without morality is a sure path to more misery for the people. As a CPC sympathizer, it is my hope that the party may set the highest credible standards for decent political behaviuor. General Buhari doesn’t need a lecture on credibility but then, his fellow leaders in the party must demonstrate equal passion for internal democracy and commitment to selfless and honest service to Nigerians.
Umar wrote from 76, Katsina Road, Kaduna. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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CPC: The significance of making corrections
Category: Comments Written by Umar Yusuf Wudil Hits: 750
Thanks to the timely intervention of the party’s board of trustees, the Kano State chapter of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) would have been hopelessly destroyed by opportunists that held the leadership of the party and the party’s expectations of victory in 2011 ruined.The former leadership of Senator Sani Hanga and Alhaji Haruna Danzago had dragged the CPC into serious crisis that had almost jeopardized the political future of the CPC. They treated internal Democracy and freedom of choice with utter contempt. Worst of all, they had allowed personal interest to override the larger interest of the party.
Consequently, the ward congresses they had organized in Kano State were characterized by manipulations and fraud, leading to the declaration of fake results for elections that never took place. Embarrassed by the stout rejection of the results and vociferous protests by CPC supporters in Kano State, the board of trustees of the party was finally compelled to sack the former leadership of the CPC under Senator Sani Hanga and set up an interim administration to conduct free and credible elections.
Indeed, the boards of trustees of the party deserve commendation for respecting public opinion. Now evidence has emerged that the removal of the former CPC leadership is a blessing in disguise. The peaceful conduct of fresh and credible elections into the CPC leadership structure at all levels in Kano State last week came as a big relief to millions of CPC supporters throughout the state. The election of Alhaji Dan Azumi Gwarzo as the new chairman of the Kano State CPC chapter was remarkably peaceful, free and fair. In fact, the election was so transparent that even those who lost didn’t complain and instead, pledged to work together with the leadership to move the party forward. Nothing like acrimony or bitterness had featured throughout the election. The new chairman, who was a former finance commissioner under the Kwankwaso administration, was openly embraced by those who contested against him.
According to many political observers, the transparent process that led to the election of Alhaji Dan Azumi Gwarzo represents the truest test of internal democracy. This was unlike the former Senator Hanga’s leadership, which was bent on frustrating internal democracy to advance his own gubernatorial ambition while he was still serving as national chairman of the CPC. Greed for power, lack of democratic passion and conflict of interest was mainly responsible for Senator Hanga’s forced resignation, because of overwhelming resentment against his leadership.
With the fresh elections held last week and the peaceful emergence of Gwarzo as the new chairman of the Kano State chapter of the CPC, the party now appears poised for consolidation through internal democracy. In fact, even the ANPP and PDP in Kano State were disappointed that the CPC supporters could elect their new leaders without acrimony. The two fraud-minded parties perceive CPC as the biggest challenge to their political dominance and perhaps as their potential giant killer!
It is obvious that the CPC board of trustees had learnt their lessons from the protests that accompanied the fraudulent ward elections organized by the former leadership under Senator Sani Hanga. Every CPC supporter is now happy in Kano State because there was no interference or manipulation in the conduct of the fresh elections, which could have pushed the party further into crises. Those who lost the election demonstrated the spirit of sportsmanship by openly embracing their rivals and pledging to work together for the unity and progress of the CPC. In fact, all the three governorship aspirants seeking the party’s ticket such as Colonel Lawal Ja’afaru Isa, Alhaji Mohammed Abacha and Dr. Awwalu Anwar, have agreed to work with the newly elected leadership of the party chapter in Kano State. The new spirit of fraternity and unity among CPC members and supporters will surely frustrate the expectation of PDP and ANPP, which enjoy spreading the seeds of discord in the new party.
Perceived as the party of hope with the capacity to provide credible platform to throw the PDP out of office, because of its failure to meet our expectations, the CPC faces the toughest challenge of exhibiting the virtues of internal democracy and freedom of choice. Those who say there is no morality in politics seem to forget the teachings of their own religions, which demand those seeking leadership to be fair and just. Indeed, if these basic teachings don’t influence our conduct, then we have no reason to seek power. How can you entrust power in the hands of those who believe morality is insignificant?
According to Arthur Burns, power does not corrupt; instead, he said, it is men without morality that corrupt power! It follows then that power in the hands of men without morality is a sure path to more misery for the people. As a CPC sympathizer, it is my hope that the party may set the highest credible standards for decent political behaviuor. General Buhari doesn’t need a lecture on credibility but then, his fellow leaders in the party must demonstrate equal passion for internal democracy and commitment to selfless and honest service to Nigerians.
Umar wrote from 76, Katsina Road, Kaduna. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.