Will AD Ever Resolve Its Crisis
Last week, Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, came out after a long period of silence to take a position on the leadership crisis plaguing the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Rather than resolving the crisis in the party, Afenifere's position may have further deepened the crisis in the party, writes Olawale Olaleye
It was Bernard Montgomery, the British Field Marshal who once said; "leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose, and the character which inspires confidence". For Montgomery, the understanding of leadership should transpire beyond the definitive denotation, but denote strongly, the ability to keep one's fold intact, and by extension, sustain the big "Mo" just as John Maxwell stated in one of his books, the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.
By the end of October, whether or not the Alliance for Democracy (AD) would remain one of the registered political parties in the country would have become one issue that will dominate political discourse. The problem with AD has been its inability to produce an acceptable leader with the charisma and strength of character to lead the array of men and women who are presently parading themselves either as bonafide party members or mere loyalists.
For over twelve months, the AD has battled fiercely, to resolve the crisis of leadership plaguing it, a development that has been retarding its growth. Yet, it does not seem that there are signs of light at the end of the tunnel for the party.
Coming from a failed convention which was targeted at re-directing the party, the AD has since been confronted with a major crisis of factionalisation. On one hand is Chief Bisi Akande, the former Osun State Governor's camp while on the other end, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa holds sway. The convention which produced Akande was held in Lagos while that which produced Akinfenwa held in Abuja. Though, the Lagos convention was originally slated for Abuja, but later rescheduled for political reasons. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) however, did not recognize either of two conventions.
AD crisis, however deepened when the leadership that emerged from the two conventions maintained that they were duly elected as substantive chairmen respectively. Stakeholders in the party, however made efforts at reconciling the two camps.
Ironically, the more efforts were put in to resolve the crisis, the messier it got. At a point, there appeared to be a glint of hope as interplay of interests groups, including Afenifere, made series of attempts to mediate in the crisis. There were even speculations that a unity convention was in the offing. Still, nothing significant seemed to have come out of such attempts. The party consequently remained in crisis.
Even at a point, both Akande and Akinfenwa agreed that whatever recommendation the committee set up to look into the crisis came up with would be acceptable to them. Though, there has not been any significant recommendation from any committee so far, there are however no signs that either of them was ready to let go.
Obviously perturbed by the deteriorating state of the AD, Afenifere, last week, gave its support to the Senator Akinfenwa led-faction of the party. Afenifere, a major stake holder having participated in the birth process of the party, said it considered the step appropriate in the face of the worsening state of the party. But Akande's faction decried the purported support of Afenifere for Akinfenwa's faction, describing it as "reprehensible". The National Director of Publicity, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said the statement was not genuine since it came from mere committee members. He said the committee went beyond their briefs by arrogating the power to recognise a faction of the AD to itself. Besides, he said the meeting where the decision was taken was meant to be reconciliatory and not an approving assembly. Adeyeye also noted that the meeting would have done itself a lot of good by reporting back to the main Afenifere assembly. He said the committee's action was a move in disguise to obliterate the AD and allow for the formation of another party. He added that the younger elements in the party would not allow the group have its way because what it has done was a mere show of arrogance bordering on absurdity and as such was null and void and of no effect.
However, corroborating Adeyeye's viewpoints, Afenifere leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya said Afenifere was yet to okay Akinfenwa as the party's chairman, adding that what they know for now is that both Akande and Akinfenwa are laying claim to the chairmanship of the party. Adesanya believed that any such adoption of a single individual without a holistic approach at resolving the crisis would further factionalise AD. It will be recalled that Adesanya has always been an advocate of a fresh convention between Akande and Akinfenwa as the only way out of the woods. The Afenifere leader, sometime ago while receiving a delegation from Ekiti, led by Chief George Akosile said the way out was to hold a fresh convention.
Also, on their part, states' Chairmen of AD in South-west, Abiodun Ogunleye (Lagos), George Akosile (Ekiti), Alhaji Moshood Adeosi (Osun), Sunday Fabiru (Oyo), Ola Bello (Ogun) and Sola Iji (Ondo) said AD, being a progressive party, should not be subjected to any declaration that is partisan and unhelpful to the resolution of the crisis. They recalled that the meeting of the 36 states chairmen of the party which held sometime in July suggested among other things, that a fresh convention be held. They considered the declaration as a tactical and desperate efforts geared towards imposing Akinfenwa on the party. This development, they claimed gives credence to insinuations that some elders in the party may be out to fuel the crisis in order to destroy the AD and pave the way for the formation of a new party.
Commenting on the situation, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, gave differing positions on what led to the decision of Afenifere to endorse Akinfenwa at the Akure meeting. While Adebanjo, a core Afenifere member spoke in support of the decision, Ogunleye, Chairman of the party in Lagos was against the endorsement. Adebanjo explained that one of the the reasons canvassed by Akinfenwa at the meeting where he was endorsed party chairman was that 28 out of the 36 state delegates attended the Abuja convention. Besides, he claimed that the party constitution provides that party convention be held in Abuja and that since Akinfenwa won at the Abuja convention, the meeting endorsed him. He however said since Akande refused to show up at the meeting, he has denied himself the right to fair hearing, a situation that led to the endorsement of Akinfenwa.
But Ogunleye, who held a contrary view said those of them who attended the meeting were shocked at the manner in which Akinfenwa was endorsed. He said the state chairmen were not in the know of what was going to happen and were therefore surprised by the position of the group. He however, was of the view that what may have led to that development was the fact that the elders had seen that they were fast losing grip on the party and therefore wanted to launch a return to the status quo. But despite Afenifere's declaration for Akinfenwa, Ogunleye said that it does not imply that Akande faction has lost out, as it constitutes the majority in the party.
But the crisis plaguing the party at the national level is fast spreading to some of the state chapters. Lagos, which is the strongest base of the party in the country is one of such states. Indisputably, the quintessential leader of AD. being the only surviving leader of the party occupying the highe,t elective office, Governor Bola Tinubu is expected to have assumed full leadership position with a view to mediating in the crisis that has been plaguing the party. Though, analysts say the present situation may not be unconnected with his inability to fully direct the affairs of the party in Lagos where he currently holds sway as governor. Long before now, the governor was said to have been canvassing as one of the ways to move the AD forward, the need to have all the existing groups in the party diffused into the mainstream AD. But some influential personalities in the party ignored the instruction, particularly the Justice Forum that is daily assuming the almighty posture in the party hierarchy.
However, when the governor insisted on his directive, leaders in the group were said to have rushed to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to have the group registered in order to prevent the governor from dissolving it. Analysts have also argued that the seeming authority the leaders in Justice Forum appear to be having is as a result of the fact that the governor may have played into their hands by admitting initially that he got into office through the group and consequently empowered them. However, with time, leaders of the group were said to have assumed a larger than life image such that no longer listen to the governor let alone consult with him.
For instance, the governor, shortly before he traveled abroad last week, THISDAY gathered, revisited the issue of dissolving the groups, especially the Justice Forum but the leaders of the group vehemently opposed him. And immediately the governor traveled, the leaders of the group were said to have met over Tinubu's position and resolved to map out plans against him. One of the plans was to kick against whoever the governor chooses to support for 2007 governorship election since his plans to have the groups dissolved may have been as a result of plans to impose candidates on them.
Ironically, the group, which would not listen to the governor over the issue of group reportedly invited one of its members, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon to dissolve his own group, the Ideal Club, in order to have one Justice Group. The issue, which THISDAY gathered had run for sometime came to a heated point last Thursday when its leader, Alhaji Ganiu Hamzat insisted that Solomon must dissolve his group and the lawmaker gave reasons why he would not. Unfortunately, the meeting which may have started on a lighter note, ended, perhaps, with a bit of hard-feelings as Solomon opted to leave the group, even though its leader was also said to have pronounced him expelled.
Immediately, this happened, some of the members of the group, who felt Solomon may have been unfairly treated, especially because of his growing profile, which the oldmen appeared uncomfortable with him, were said to have began moves to ditch the group since it is more interested in its self than members. This development, is one of such cases that have worsened the plight of the AD in the state where its presumed leader resides.
To ensure that the brewing crisis does not degenrate, analysts believe that Tinubu, should intervene like the party's true leader and that his driving force should be the ability to rally and members for a common purpose, which at present, is to ensure the survival of the AD. Consequently, analysts posited that the governor should learn to know when to cut excesses of those leaders whose contemporaries in other parts of the country have taken the back seat and long ceased to dictate in an age where they do not even comprehend what it takes to run a modern office. Except such measures are taken, the days ahead may be tougher even for the governor, analysts contended.
Politics is said to be about conflicts and resolution, thus, scenarios like what is in AD abounds in other parties, but what has been significant, unlike in the AD, is the management of such crisis in such a way that would not affect the collective interests of the party as an entity.
Though, there are fears that AD may be sliding gradually into extinction if it could be bedevilled for so long by an internal crisis, but there are also views that, the party may get out of the woods if its leaders are ready to put the interest of the party before all others.
Again, analysts have argued that if conducting a fresh convention is what would resolve the crisis in the party, then all its leaders should be willing to embrace the option. Again, another aspect that must be looked into is the issue of various groups within the party. Tackling the problems of AD, it is believed, requires that the issue of group be addressed.
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