From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The intense intrigue, trepidation and uncertainty that enveloped the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders generally and particularly at the party’s national headquarters, Abuja, last week over the anticipated emergence of new national chairman of the ruling party was finally laid to rest when erstwhile Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, was surprisingly appointed.
On the eve of the party’s seventh National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which was moved to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, the apprehension and speculations were at such fever pitch that the National Working Committee (NWC) would be dissolved and a Caretaker Committee constituted to serve out the tenure of the current national leadership.
The heightened nervousness, particularly among the NWC members and the state chairmen, was understandable. When a similar meeting was held at the venue in 2020, it resulted in the dissolution of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC and the composition of the Governor Mai Mala-Buni-led Caretaker Committee.
Though many stakeholders heaved a sigh of relief after the survival of the national officers in the end, Prof. Yilwatda’s emergence as the replacement for Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who resigned earlier on health grounds, came as a rude shock to many stakeholders and political watchers.
His appointment as the seventh national chairman and occupant of the topmost leadership position of the ruling party flouted every calculation, political theatrics, optics and aerodynamic politics.
The build-up to his emergence was laced with intriguing horse-trading and scheming from the members of the APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and among the national officers that desperately plotted and even secretly drummed support for the consideration of certain persons other than him.
At the end of the meeting, there was, expectedly, jubilation and gnashing of teeth by the winners and losers in the game, which left in its trail casualties like the erstwhile Deputy National Secretary, Festus Faunter, who came from the same state as Yilwatda.
Contrary to the usual historical past, where the APC PGF, the hitherto octopus of the ruling party, and many other strategic stakeholders played a very significant and crucial role in the emergence of the party’s boss, Yilwatda’s appointment was entirely against the run of play in many ways.
Beyond the fact that Yilwatda was certainly not among the big names projected to occupy the exalted position, many described the emergence as a departure from the culture of former or incumbent state governors assuming the position.
And apart from violating that tradition, Yilwatda was not only the tiniest in terms of party administration and governance experiences, but also the least in ranking among the many other politically-exposed and flamboyant contenders for the position.
Placed side by side, many were surprised that he emerged ahead of others, against the permutations and all odds, which clearly favoured big names from the North-Central geopolitical zone, like former governors Joshua Dariye, Plateau, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa, their Kogi counterpart, Yahaya Bello, and legislators like Senator Sani Musa, Niger-East, Salihu Mustapha, Kwara, and Senator Solomon Ewuga of Nasarawa State.
Regardless of the considerations or odds against him, there was nothing anybody could do once his anointing and subsequent appointment received the insignia and endorsement of the Presidency and Mr. President.
However, some of the criteria that apparently tilted the odds in his favour include satisfying the clamour for religious balancing, agitations for geopolitical equilibrium, and, more importantly, his electoral strategic importance.
For sure, his emergence has finally put to rest the prolonged agitation by the North-Central zone stakeholders to have one of their own as the replacement for former Nasarawa governor, Abdullahi Adamu, who was sacked and replaced in 2023 by Abdullahi Ganduje.
And, in the consideration of the appointing authorities, what Yilwatda may lack in experience, he certainly gained in the desired undiluted loyalty to the presidency and, more importantly, his knowledge of the inner workings of the electoral processes in the country, having served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) with the electoral umpire.
Daily Sun gathered that the new national chairman has always been around the party, especially after losing out at both the poll and the long litigation to reclaim his mandate in 2023 as the party’s candidate. He has been secretly but deeply involved in the conduct of party primaries in the off-cycle governorship primary elections across the country.
Instructively, to authenticate him as the right person for the position, unending encomiums from many chieftains of the ruling party, like former Senate President Ahmad Lawan, immediate past national chairman, Ganduje, among many others, have continued to pour in, in torrents to commend and justify his appointment.
In his commendation, the former Senate President noted that “In this moment of our nation’s political existence, Yilwatda’s ascent to this esteemed position embodies the spirit of purposeful and focused leadership that defines the APC’s commitment to progress and unity.
“As a distinguished academic, a passionate advocate for good governance and a stalwart of our beloved party, Yilwatda brings a wealth of intellectual rigour and practical insights to steer the APC towards greater heights.
“Under his guidance, I am confident that the APC will continue to champion policies that uplift the marginalised, strengthen our democracy, and propel our nation towards sustainable prosperity,” he said.
On his part, Ganduje had expressed profound confidence in the capacity, intellect, maturity, and administrative competence of the new chairman to move the party forward, noting, “As I bow out with a sense of fulfilment, I wish to assure Yilwatda of my unflinching support, counsel, and brotherly solidarity.
“I urge all our leaders, governors, lawmakers, and faithful party members across the federation to queue behind him and give him all the necessary backing to consolidate on our party’s vision of building a united, progressive, and inclusive political platform for all Nigerians.”
Yilwatda’s political ally and former governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong, in his commendations, noted that: “Nentawe is very suitable for the job, bringing along his vast experience as a technocrat, politician and public servant.
“He is a source of great joy and inspiration because he brings on board fresh leadership experience and capacity to pilot the affairs of the biggest political party in Africa. The continued rise in his political profile clearly shows that he has been groomed for leadership and service.”
And aligning with a myriad of others to drum support for him in his remarks, PGF chairman, Hope Uzodimma, who moved the motion for the emergence of the new chairman, described him with such kind words as the man with a bright future for the party.
“As we turn this page, it is imperative that we quickly move to nominate a capable and unifying replacement, someone who can build on the foundation laid and help reposition the party to its rightful place of pride in Nigeria’s democratic history,” he said.
However, notwithstanding his wide acceptance by the ruling party’s stakeholders, the process of his emergence at the NEC meeting held at the Aso Rock Villa, according to ADC spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, will, “trigger a shift in tone, temperament, and trajectory for a party that has too often equated governance with propaganda, and power with impunity.”
He further said “We hope Prof Yilwatda will channel his higher education and experience towards improving the democratic credentials of his party and its government, which, so far, has been marked by intolerance and what has often appeared like a deliberate plan to eliminate all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on the country.
“This is why we must register our dismay that the very NEC meeting that brought Prof. Yilwatda into office was held within the confines of the State House, a public institution, funded by the Nigerian people, not a party office or private residence.
“The decision of the ruling party to host its party meeting at the seat of government is an aberration that underlines how far this government has strayed from the foundational norms of democratic accountability. We urge the new chairman to guide his party towards respecting the line, now dangerously blurred, between party and state,” the coalition ADC said.
Expressing reservations that his appointment might be strategic to influencing the electoral fortune of the ruling party, the coalition opposition party said “we take note of Prof. Yilwatda’s previous role as a REC. This is no small credential. It comes with a deep understanding of electoral ethics, neutrality, and public trust.
“We sincerely hope he will draw on this experience to promote the sanctity of our electoral processes, rather than using insider knowledge to game the system in favour of his party, as has often been the case under the APC’s watch,” the ADC added.
On his part, Yilwatda was very unequivocal in announcing that perhaps the presidential election is already a done deal.
Speaking during his inaugural meeting with his NWC members on assumption of office at the party’s national headquarters, he said: “I appreciate Nigerians supporting APC, standing by APC, our doors are open to welcome members, new members, our doors are open, we look forward to having more governors, more senators, more National Assembly members, more local government chairmen and more members of other parties, into our party. We expand beyond bounds. I am sure by God’s grace; I am sure the 2027 is a done deal for APC.”
However, aware of the slippery nature of the banana pills that had cost his predecessors that positions, Yilwatda passionately appealed to his NWC members, the PGF, and other major stakeholders not to sabotage him in his efforts to redirect the ship of the ruling party.
He claimed that working with unity of purpose, the APC will be the joy, pride, and bright light of the entire nation, stressing that, “It is our collective effort, and I am sure by the time we put our hands on the deck collectively, this party will be great. This party will be the joy, the pride, and the bright of the entire nation, and that is what I look forward to this party becoming under our collective leadership.
“I count it a rare privilege, and I must appreciate God, appreciate the leadership of our party, and appreciate our governors, National Assembly, NWC members, and all the teaming loyal supporters of APC for resting this burden of trust on me. I consider it both a trust and a burden at the same time, as it is quite heavy and large.
“I know that I have people around me, veterans, supporters, friends as members of NWC. I have worked with them before, virtually I have met all the members of the NWC, I have met them in person, one form of service or the other, to monitor elections or going for primary elections elsewhere or campaigning in several states together with them,” Yilwatda who was the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Plateau, said.
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