APC: A ruling party and its headaches By EMMA ALOZIE / June 4, 2015
Nine weeks after being declared winners of the 2015 general elections, the APC and President Buhari seem to be still finding their footing. In this piece, EMMA ALOZIE writes that the APC seems to be plagued by the ruling party syndrome Soon after the All Progressives Congress, APC was declared winner of the 2015 general elections, a political commentator said “now APC will be faced with the problems of a ruling party,” and true to the assertion, the party has been facing many problems ever since and how it handles the problems will eventually shape the party, either negatively or positively. From the inability of the party to amicably arrive at zoning arrangement for the National Assembly leadership to the party’s apparent lack of visible activity five days after assuming office, it is obvious that the reality of being the head that is wearing the ‘thorny’ crown is gradually dawning on APC and President Muhammadu Buhari. APC’s campaign promises leading to the elections were mouth watering and the party carried on as if the only thing plaguing the country was the issue of corruption that could be overcome with a snap of the fingers. However, nine weeks after being declared winner of the elections and five days after officially taking over power, the APC and President Buhari are still grappling with the rudiments of power. For instance, five days after and with five Boko Haramm attacks in the North East, President Buhari’s only reaction to the attacks was his directive during his inaugural speech that the military high command should relocate to Maiduguri. Impatient Nigerians have expectedly started asking questions and making demands. When the Code of Conduct Bureau announced that President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had filed their assets declaration form at the Bureau, Nigerians were taken aback describing it as a departure from the campaign promises of President Buhari that he would declare his assets publicly and even compel his ministers to do so. Instead, Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s spokesman told Nigerians to avail themselves the services of the Freedom of Information Act to know the details of the contents of assets declaration.