Thursday's unveiling of former minister of youth and sports, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi as the new spokesman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC may have been programmed to fill the vacancy that existed since the ministerial appointment of the former spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. But how the appointment will heal the wounds in the ruling party is another thing.
Mohammed held forte as the nation's leading opposition spokesman for about ten years—Action Congress of Democrats, ACD; Action Congress, AC; Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and APC. He so excelled in his duties that it was considered almost improbable getting a suitable person to replace him as a government critic! Albeit, he is now the government's chief propagandist.
Lai Mohammed's deputy, Mr. Timi Frank became ineligible after the members of the National Working Committee, NWC clubbed together to shut him out after he took sides against the leadership during the crisis that shadowed the election of the presiding officers of the National Assembly. Mr. Frank, a core loyalist of Atiku Abubakar, had in several comments criticised the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for supposedly mishandling the crisis.
The NWC members agreed among themselves that they would not allow Frank speak for them and refused to allow him into the NWC. It could be said in some quarters that Abdullahi ascended to the position of National Publicity Secretary upon the rejection of Frank who ironically was fighting for Abdullahi's political mentor, Saraki.
That is because, Abdullahi even more than Frank, is a dyed in the wool loyalist of Senator Saraki. Early indications were that Abdullahi's appointment heralded a détente in the face-off between Saraki and the Hawks in the presidency who allegedly masterminded the ongoing prosecution of the Senate President for alleged acts of wrongful declaration of assets.
Saraki's problems with the administration were compounded when the administration proceeded to arraign him and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and some National Assembly bureaucrats for forgery. However, when the administration upon what was termed wiser counsel, on October 6, 2016, decided to drop the charge of forgery, it was believed that the Hawks in the presidency had decided to make peace with the Senate President. It was about that time that Mr. Abdullahi's name began to be mentioned as a possible replacement for Lai Mohammed as National Publicity Secretary.
It is suggested in some circles that Mr. Abdullahi's appointment came as a sop to Saraki given what it is claimed as the failure of the presidency Hawks to cut him down. Whether sop or sophistry, the job of spokesman for the ruling party is not expected to be an easy task. For Lai Mohammed it was relatively better critiquing a government in power; but defending a government in a recession is another kettle of tea. Saraki continues to have his way The appointment of Abdullahi was not the only indication of Saraki's continuing political strides in the polity.
In another case, a local antagonist of the Senate President was refused confirmation by the Saraki Senate upon what it claimed as lack of experience by the nominee for appointment into the board of the National Communication Commission, NCC. Pastor Yisa Benjamin, a former speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, however, claimed in a statement that the Senate rejection of his nomination was because of his political allegiance to the anti-Saraki tendency in Kwara.
Benjamin was a strong associate of the deceased former governor of the state, Mohammed Lawal, who Saraki defeated to become governor in 2003. Following his rejection, Benjamin alleged that his rejection was instigated by Saraki who he claimed was unhappy with his political proclivities in Kwara. But why Benjamin refused to make peace with Saraki prior to the confirmation process is a wonder.
Even when Saraki was still very much vulnerable, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who like Benjamin was not in Saraki's camp in Kwara, made peace ensuring his smooth confirmation as a minister. Another nominee into the board of the NCC, Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, who is a Special Assistant to the President in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation was also turned down in controversial circumstances.
Mr. Obono-Obla has insinuated that he was dropped by Saraki after confirmation by the Senate. That claim has been officially disputed by the Senate. Mischief makers insinuate that his offence was that he was part of the hawks in the presidency who instigated Saraki's troubles.
Willy-nilly, Saraki's political ascendancy is on the upswing!
