How far can APC's big axe define Kwara Politics?

The recent suspension of 25, members including some party bigwigs by the Kwara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expectedly generated comments from some stakeholders with apprehension in some places that the exercise has not visited. Mumini AbdulKareem examines the issues and likely implication.

Last month, precisely on 27th May, 2015, the Kwara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) began a suspension exercise s

eries of its party members for alleged anti-party activities.

The exercise, which had since consumed high and low profile members of the APC in the state, will later define the high point of the party's activities and had attracted differing comments from some stakeholders in the state.

After the suspension of a two-term Senator, Ahmed Muhammed, who represented Kwara North at the National Assembly (2003-11), former Chairman, House Committee on Information in Kwara State House of Assembly during the 7th legislature, Hon Adamu Sabi and the chairman of Baruten Local Government, Muhammed Omar Bio among others for terms ranging from between one year and six months respectively, the state chapter of the party had since stepped up that decision.

The Baruten episode had since being replicated by the party in Ilorin East, which has also claimed hitherto party heavyweights of the political structure of the state, bringing the number so far to 25.

In its next line of suspension, the leadership of APC in Kwara State also wielded its axe on a former Secretary to State Government, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Saka Cook Olododo‎, a former council chairman, Alhaji Tunde Sa'ad, was also placed on one year suspension.

Those who bagged six months suspension from the local government include Mr Mashood Dauda, Mr Oba Sulaiman Asude‎, Mr Lukman Adeloyin, Alhaji Wahab Tobe, Mr Sa'ad Yero, Mr Iyanda Olori, Alhaji Amuda Bembe, Alhaji Amuda Musbau and Mr Zafi Saka Adanla.

Others are Alhaji AbdulRaheem Adanla, Alhaji Abdrahaman Sa'ad, Alhaji Saliman Rasak (Rasaki Pupa), Hon. Raimi Akanji, Alhaji Baba Alata, Alhaji Raufu Asude‎ and Mr Fatai Olodo‎.

Explaining the rationale behind the party's action, its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, said the suspension followed the recommendations of an Investigative and Disciplinary Committee (IDC) chaired by Alhaji Dare Garba, which probed the anti-party activities of the affected persons during the 2015 general election.

Buhari, who had earlier also endorsed that of Baruten Local Government, which was chaired by the APC Chairman of Kwara South, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun, said their suspension followed a report submitted by a panel of enquiry set up by the State APC, adding that all the suspensions are with immediate effect.

Responding to the issue in an exclusive chat earlier, the Chairman of the party, Hon Ishola Balogun-Fulani told this medium that the suspension should not be viewed as an issue of witch hunting.

“We can't just wake up and start suspending people. The people from the area must have written to us complaining in a petition that we should look at it. What we did was to set up a committee that went there, invited them and investigated the veracity of the petition.

On whether the party might reconsider the suspended members, Balogun-Fulani said “It depends on the gravity of the anti-party activity. We have met some people and some of them can be reprimanded, expelled, fined, queried and even suspended. It depends on the situation at the end of the day. It is not a rigid thing that they must be taken back and not a rigid thing that they must be suspended. That is it”, added the party chairman.

Although some of the suspended members have been reacting to the issue with what some political observers have described as sealed lips at best, many have been asking questions on the possible implication for the party and the affected members, especially when that of other local governments are concluded.

Beneath this is also the question of whether the opposition can make any gain out of the 'crisis'.

It was also gathered that while the suspension had lasted, some of the affected members have started making overtures to the party to get it to reconsider its stand if possible.

According to some party members, who spoke with this medium on the matter on condition of anonymity, what is next for suspended members is irrelevant if what they were accused of is true.

“It depends on how the party handle the situation. Though the suspension is in order, the important thing is that the party should avoid victimisation, harassment and carryover of any grudges while the exercise lasted.

“Once the real offenders are punished above any political permutation or calculation to settle scores with anybody, then the party is on track” a serving member of the Kwara State House of Assembly submitted.

In the words of another party member from Kwara South, who was part of the 7th legislature, the suspension will make the party stronger “because once the people are aware that punitive measures awaits them if they engage in anti-party activities, they will sit tight and work in accordance with the party's constitution, which is supreme”.

“My thinking is that those affected went and fraternise with the opposition and if they had won would there have been any issue about their suspension. With the current situation, there is nothing to worry about because even when they worked with the opposition while it was supposedly in power, they still lost talk less of now.

While the dust gathered by the suspension is yet to settle, the coming days will expectedly raise apprehensions in yet to be visited local government and provide a clearer picture of how the issue will define the political environment of the state.

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