[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he activities of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) especially its latest protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters, Abuja, Wednesday, August 12, 2015 should give the National Secretariat of the Party genuine cause for concern, except the philosophy of the Party is in tandem with the embarrassing activities of its Rivers State Chapter.
Right from the electioneering period to this day, the Rivers State Chapter of the Party has not failed to stage repulsive and sometimes comical theatricals alleging all manner of misnomer that are evidently lacking in strength, vitality and depth all in a bid to either be seen as being persecuted or just crying wolf. A political strategy that is alien to the books.
How can Rivers people forget in a hurry the famed rubber bullet saga of Rivers State, the punching saga of the House of Representatives, the Akpako-knacker of the House of Assembly, the wailing – ground – crashing and hostage – taking saga of INEC office in Rivers State and now that of Abuja. All these were engineered by members of one State Chapter of the Party when they are not the only State Chapter that lost an election in Nigeria. These should trouble the National Secretariat of the Party if rebranding its image is a priority.
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The daily dose of embarrassments from the Rivers State Chapter of the APC are unnecessary. The depletion of its fold is self evident. Quietly, it has dawned on most of its members that they have reached the end of the road. This was corroborated by their open rebuke by their guber candidate, Dakuku Peterside recently when he warned that monkey will not work for baboon to chop. Can anything be more defeatist? Things have certainly fallen apart and the center no longer holds.
The entire world knows that Rivers State for many reasons will remain a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) State at least for a long time. The APC cannot feign ignorance of that. This is why the party ought to change its strategy in Rivers State because it has become a national laughing stock not just due to the misconduct of its members but also arising from the huge burden of their questionable credibility.
The national secretariat of the APC needs to reorganise its Rivers State Chapter if it ever wishes to make a good impression of itself in the State. To continue to rely on the present characters shepherding its scattered flock is to endorse its doom not just its impending national defeat. Mark these words.
Finally, President Buhari should do his best to maintain his safe distance as these actions appear tailored to call his attention. He has to tell them by his actions that the business of governance is more important than partisanship. The law must be allowed to have its course not armtwisted to serve sectional or partisan interests.
Oraye St. Franklyn, a strategic communicator and good governance advocate, writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He tweets from @RealOraye. He is also on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
