Following the appointment of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile aggrieved APC members ahead of the 2019 elections, indications emerged on Thursday of possible hurdles that may pose serious challenges to Tinubu’s efforts and may dent the party’s chances in the forthcoming general election.

Analysts said after a sweeping victory that brought the APC to power in 2015, the party could not consolidate its gains as evident in the increased bickering amongst party bigwigs at all levels especially among leaders of factions that came together to form the party in February 2013.

The party that emerged from the merger of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is currently fragmented owing to crisis among leaders both at the federal and across some states of the federation.

APC chieftains have hailed President Buhari’s decision in giving priority to reconciling aggrieved party members and the appointment of Tinubu to lead the consultation, reconciliation and confidence building efforts toward improving cohesion within APC.

However, party chieftains who spoke with INDEPENDENT on Thursday said since Tinubu is not a neutral person and is deeply involved in some of the events causing crisis in the party, it remains to be seen how he as head of the reconciliation panel will initiate the peace moves between himself and some key leaders of the party which include President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of the party, who he wanted sacked.

According to APC sources, the biggest conflict in the ruling party is between Tinubu himself and Saraki. Both men have been at loggerheads since June 2015 when Saraki against all odds defied the directives of the party and connived with senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to emerge Senate president.

His action was seen by many as a direct affront to Tinubu, who wanted to install Senator Ahmad Lawan as the number three man.

Since his emergence, Saraki has been going in and out of the courts on allegations of corruption which many of his supporters link to Tinubu. Inside sources said both men hardly see eye-to-eye and stakeholders are waiting to see how the reconciliation between the two plays out.

Speaking with INDEPENDENT, a member of the party’s National Working Committee said the major hurdle before Tinubu is reconciling with Saraki, adding that this will go a long way in fast-tracking the healing process the party seriously craves for.

“To me, the major hurdle before Asiwaju Tinubu is how he will reconcile with Saraki. It is a tough task because given Tinubu’s influence, we are all wondering if he will be humble enough to go to Saraki and seek a truce. It is a herculean task but we believe nothing is impossible”, he said.

Stakeholders are also wondering how Tinubu will mend fences with Odigie-Oyegun. Though he was instrumental to his emergence as national chairman, Odigie-Oyegun in several of his decision-making process has gone against Tinubu as witnessed in his handling of the Kogi and Ondo governorship primaries leading to Tinubu’s demand for his resignation.

Above all, they said, Tinubu’s reconciliation with President Buhari himself is another issue stakeholders are anxious to see happen. The Tinubu faction in the APC believes that the president tacitly endorsed Saraki’s emergence as Senate president, especially with the cabals believing that Tinubu will hold the presidency to ransom and be in total control of government if he is able to install his men as leaders of both chambers of the National Assembly.

Aside that, INDEPENDENT also gathered that Tinubu’s supporters are asking him to be wary of the president, who may only be interested in using and dumping him after the peace process has been achieved and the party secures victory in 2019 election.

“I have personally written to Asiwaju wishing him the best in his new assignment but also telling him to be wary of the presidency, who after plunging the party into crisis is now running to Asiwaju to assist them in bringing members together across board. He was sidelined throughout the first term, what assurance do we have that this will not repeat itself again if the party wins in 2019”, said a party chieftain.

Across The States

In Kano, Tinubu and his team will face a major hurdle in brokering peace between Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso. The state is seen as very crucial if the APC will retain the presidency in 2019.

Ganduje recently said Kwankwaso would be replaced as senator by another fellow in 2019 and has ruled out any reconciliation with the senator.

“They want us to reconcile. Why should we reconcile? On what basis?” Ganduje said.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was recently in the state to broker peace between the duo, but from all indications, it seems his efforts recorded little success.

In Lagos, Tinubu is also expected to broker peace between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, now Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

In Kogi, it also remains to be seen how Tinubu will reconcile the state governor, Yahaya Bello, who is facing crisis on all fronts. First from aggrieved executives of the state chapter of the APC, who have been at loggerheads with the governor for allegedly side-lining them since he assumed office.

Aside Senator Dino Melaye, Tinubu also has the daunting task of bringing James Abiodun Faleke/the late Prince Abubakar Audu’s political family on the same page with Bello.

The national leadership of the APC had at one time set up fact finding/reconciliation committees chaired by Tony Momoh and Gen. Idris Garba on the Kogi crisis but not much was heard of it.

In Ogun State, Tinubu is also expected to broker peace between the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun and Olusegun Osoba, a former governor of the state who is hell-bent on installing Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi) currently representing Lagos West as Amosun’s successor. The governor on his part has vowed that no ‘outsider’ will succeed him in office.

In Bauchi, quarrel is between Governor Mohammed Abubakar and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as well as three senators from the state: Ali Wakili, Isa Hamma Misau and Nazifi Gamawa. They all accused the governor of reneging on the promises he made to the people during campaigns. The Senator Chris Ngige led committee could not resolve the problem.

In Oyo State, the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, wants to succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi but clearly the governor has someone in mind and this has led to some spats between the duo.

In Katsina, Governor Aminu Masari is trying to contend with threats from APC splinter group called the APC-Akida comprising people like MT Liman, Sadiq Yar’Adua, Sada Ilu and Usman Bugaje.

In Kaduna, there is serious revolt against Governor Nasir El-Rufai from the camp of Senator Shehu Sani and the likes of a former APC chairman in the state, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed. The governor’s camp has threatened that Sani who has been very vocal in his criticism of El-Rufai will not return to the Senate in 2019.

In Zamfara, Senator Kabiru Marafa is at daggers drawn with Governor Abdul’aziz Yari over his recent comment that the governor had failed to stop killings in the state. People close to the governor had since declared Marafa’s seat vacant as 2019 draws near.

Speaking on these challenges, Prince Tony Momoh, former Minister of Information and one of the party’s national leaders, said he believes Tinubu as an experienced politician is equal to the task of bringing all members of the party on board.

He also argued that it is erroneous for people to accuse him of being responsible for Saraki’s travails as there are no evidence to back up the claim.

“When you are given a particular responsibility, you are briefed on that responsibility and you define and then you put yourself in the position of an agitator or a peacemaker. A lot of people accused Tinubu for lot of things happening to the Senate president but that may be true or not be true. It is a question of fact that he did anything in that direction or he did not do anything in that direction”.

“That people think he is the cause of Saraki’s problem does not necessarily mean he is the cause. Be that as it may, he has a role to perform and reach out to some people in his party that have issues either they are governors, individuals or groups. So, I believe no matter the crisis, Tinubu as a very matured and digital politician knows how to address them. But I have no doubt in my mind that the problem of man is absence of communication.

“The only way to achieve success in a man’s relationship with his fellow man is too communicate and I believe Tinubu will have that in mind as he begins the reconciliation process”, Momoh said.

That is how confusion will keep rising in APC till they get out of leadership by 2019. For Uncle Tinubu, its like telling a fowl to settle a dispute between a lizard and a cockroach. You know the outcome.