In a disheartening turn of events, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the nation are expressing their grievances over the party's increasing tendency towards a use and dump mentality. Many are left wondering about the motives behind this alarming trend that is slowly becoming the bane of APC.
Since Nigeria's return to democratic dispensation in 1999, the APC has benefited greatly from the goodwill of ordinary people. However, it is the very same ordinary, hardworking, dedicated, and committed APC members who find themselves ignored, misused, and even abused within the party. This treatment is unprecedented in recent political history.
What is most troubling is that within the APC, members of opposition parties who actively sought to derail the success of the party are given precedence over loyal members who sacrificed everything to ensure the party's triumph, often at great personal risk.
The unveiling of President Tinubu's ministerial list fell short of the expectations of many loyal party members. Those who had worked hard and personally knew others who made tremendous contributions were bypassed, while known enemies of the party were inexplicably rewarded with ministerial positions.
To make matters worse, nobody could have predicted that the ministerial list would include prominent figures associated with the "Endsars" and "Obidient" movements. This revelation has raised eyebrows and stirred up controversy within the party.
The recent appointment of board members for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has also left a bitter taste in the mouths of sincere and honest party members. Many within the system observed signs of this issue during the campaign period when the then National Chairman appointed leaders of the amalgamated APC support groups. Instead of selecting individuals who truly understood and had actively participated in the struggles of the party, those with little knowledge of its inner workings were imposed on the support groups.
One cannot help but question why certain individuals were imposed as leaders of the amalgamated APC support groups, bypassing key organizations such as the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Tinubu Support Organization (TSO), Arewa Organizations Movement For Asiwaju (Aroma), and the Southwest Agenda (Swaga). These umbrella bodies had registered and demonstrated genuine support for the party, making the disregard for their involvement all the more perplexing.
It is no surprise that when funds were released to mobilize these support groups, the money mysteriously found its way into the pockets of a privileged few among the powers that be. The consequences of this mismanagement are now evident, and it will surely go down in history.
Given the circumstances surrounding APC's narrow win in the 2023 polls, which was undeniably achieved through the efforts of genuine support groups, one would expect the party to quickly rectify its internal issues, reward loyalty, and prioritize the welfare of loyal members. Sadly, the use and dump syndrome has reared its ugly head once again, with many arguing that this situation is even worse than what was witnessed during the Buhari administration.
The responsibility to address this pressing issue falls squarely on the shoulders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is imperative that he rise to the expectations of party faithfuls and live up to his reputation for rewarding loyalty. Failure to do so promptly may have devastating consequences for the APC in the near future.