The recent defection of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to the progressive camp has imposed new challenges of reconciliation in the Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC). Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU of The Nation examines the task before the harmonisation and reconciliation committees in the state.

The crowd at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat, Ilorin, capital of Kwara State, was huge on that historic day. Something strange was about to happen. Some party stalwarts turned up with brooms, the symbol of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and they were not molested. For many party members, it was a moment of suspense.

But, the cloud of anxiety fizzled out when the leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, arrived at the venue. Accompanied by the governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, members of the State Executive Council, many lawmakers and other party officers, the former governor broke the news. "We have resolved to join the APC," he told the gathering. There was wild jubilation. Party chieftains danced to talking drums. Although there were dissenting voices among the few PDP ‘federal politicians', who objected to the defection, it was evident that the PDP had suddenly become a ghost of itself in Kwara State. The ruling party instantly became a struggling opposition platform facing the prospects of extinction.

But there are some hurdles for the APC to cross, despite the enlargement of its coast. The defection has polarised the chapter. The sudden re-alignment of the progressive and conservative blocs jolted many out of the delusion that Saraki could seek refuge in a party that is fundamentally opposed to his political ideas and the orientation of his illustrious father, the late Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki. While the APC chieftains from Kwara, including the Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, exuded happiness, the camp of the former governorship candidate, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), has demonstrated caution.

Whenever the APC reconciliation train rolls into Kwara, the old APC members and the defectors will have the opportunity to articulate their concerns and ventilate their grievances before the peace committee led by former Edo State Governor John Odiegie-Oyegun. The committee is busy with a similar task in Kano and Sokoto states.

Party leaders, who expressed delight at the realignment, agreed that a sort of political adjustment was required on the part of the foes-turned allies. "Both have to accept the reality of compulsory cohabitation for political growth and survival, and the compelling need for the management of the achievement," said the Southwest APC leader, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

The challenge of adaptation, observers point out, relates to the non-negotiable fact that the leadership of the APC may shift from Belgore to Saraki/Ahmed clan, judging by the numerical strength of the defectors to the party. The old and new chieftains must see themselves as members of a family, forgive and forget the past. A PDP defector, Hon. Bolarinwa Bashir, said that, for old and the new members, the Kwara APC is now a joint enterprise, adding that the task before the harmonisation committee is to approach its work with diligence and patriotism.

For true progressives, it is a new dawn in the Northcentral state. From the days of the foremost leader, the late Chief Sunday Olawoyin, and his compatriots, Alhaji Sule Maito and Chief Bello Ijumu, the progressives have never attained power in the old Kwara axis. They have only operated from the sidelines of power as opposition arrow heads. In a state where politics has been shaped by ethnicity, religion and poverty, the Saraki political dynasty has been a great factor. Although a handful of people in Ilorin, the capital, and majority of the Igbonna and Ebolo ethnic nationalities have always followed the footpaths of Awolowo in politics, their combined efforts have not reduced the growing influence of the strongman, the late Waziri Saraki, since the Second Republic.

To analysts, the crisis of confidence between the two antagonistic camps in Kwara is not beyond expectation. It is similar to the crisis brewing in Sokoto State between the old and new APC members, led by former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and Governor Aliyu Wamakko. It is the same trend in Kano State, where the forces loyal to former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso are at war. But, the point of departure is that, while Wamakko and Kwankwaso are governors, Belgore is a former governorship candidate.

In Kwara, although Saraki and Belgore have aristocrat backgrounds, they have operated from opposite political camps. Saraki and Belgore were political foes in 2011 during the governorship election. The governor, who had emerged as the undisputed leader of the PDP family, even when his father was still alive, worked for the victory of Ahmed during the governorship contest. It was a bitter contest between Ahmed and Belgore. When the electoral commission declared Ahmed as the governor, Belgore said the poll was rigged.

The acrimonious relationship continued between Belgore's men and the PDP in the post-election period. The former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) flag bearer became the opposition leader in Kwara. He challenged every action and step taken by the governor, saying that they were not in the public interest. During the recent local government polls, Belgore and Saraki's men clashed. Although the ACN claimed that it won the Ofa Council chairmanship, the state electoral agency declared the PDP candidate as the winner. Hell was let loose. But, the PDP chairman assumed office.

The dust generated by the controversial council poll had not settled when the news that PDP chieftains were on their way to the APC was broken. The APC interim chairman, Rev. Bunmi Olusona, complained that, during the negotiation with the PDP defectors in Kwara, the chapter was not consulted. Party sources said that this was debatable because many of the negotiations and consultations between the APC and the new PDP were done in a hurry. But, Olusona also rekindled the old rivalry, saying that Saraki, who "oppressed" the opposition as the governor, has now become the leader of the larger APC family. He also alleged that Ahmed has not lived up to expectation, but he did not tender proofs.

"The struggle of the progressives in Kwara all these years has been about the liberation of our people from the clique that sees Kwara as a fief and its people some sorts of serfs to be exploited. The dream of winning this struggle is about to be killed through the handover of the APC structure to Bukola Saraki, who is the face of this oppression," said the interim chairman.

But, a Kwara politician said at the weekend: "There is no permanent enemy in politics, but permanent interest. Even, Pa Olawoyin and Oloye Saraki embraced politically in the Third Republic."

Olusona also took an exception to the alleged remarks of his former counterpart, Ishola Balogun-Fulani of the PDP, who has now defected to the APC, that the APC had no structure before the defection. "This statement has created so much disenchantment," he fumed. Despite Balogun-Fulani's denial of the statement, Olusona is still combative as he holds on to the allegation. He made references to the 2011 governorship results to show that the ACN was a party to reckon with. Olusona recalled that while PDP scored 252,803 votes, the ACN had 154,434, adding that, if today another election is conducted, the APC will defeat the PDP.

According to sources, the pre-defection APC leaders are gripped by the fear of the future. "The number of defectors has overwhelmed the old members. During the party membership registration, the defectors will have an upper hand and they may be in a position to elect party chairmen and other officers at the ward, local government and state levels", said an APC chieftain from Ilorin.

Belgore's followers also fear that, in 2015, Saraki's group may insist on producing the governorship candidate for the election. The fear is accentuated by the fact that the senatorial seat in Kwara Central may also not be vacant as Saraki is interested in keeping it. Saraki and Belgore are from the same senatorial district. Thus, in the senatorial contest, Belgore has a slim chance. Olusona maintained that the old APC will not accept Saraki's leadership. Many APC members have dissociated themselves from this remark.

A party stalwart, who craved for anonymity, cautioned against making inflammatory statements about the defection, instead of applauding the efforts of the interim APC leaders, who have worked tirelessly for the realignment of forces nationwide. He appealed to the aggrieved APC members for understanding. He urged the old and new members to work together in harmony for progress. The chieftain clarified that the majority of the APC members in Kwara are happy about the defection. He described it as part of the strategic processes that will lead to the attainment of federal power by the APC in 2015.

"We need to make sacrifices. Our national leaders are making sacrifices. We need to make sacrifices too at the state level. Three parties fused to become the APC in Kwara ACN, ANPP and CPC. The old ACN does not make up the APC. Therefore, we should not create division. We know try to make sure that we use this opportunity of defection to soar to progress," he added.

Following the defection of the New PDP, the APC Interim Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, promised a level playing field for all, saying that the APC will be a party of equal founders and joiners. Echoing him, Adebayo said: "Nobody will oppress anybody in the APC. The party will be in control of the party machinery. There is the party constitution and the leadership will emerge by the will of the people."

When contacted on the phone, Odigie-Oyegun expressed optimism that all is well in Kwara APC. He said the priority of his committee is the reconciliation of party chieftains in Sokoto and Kano states. He however, said that he is in touch with the Kwara APC leaders. "We have the belief that that challenge can be solved locally in Kwara," he added.