Politics

Nigeria’s ruling party splits but will that cost Buhari the Presidency?

Nigeria’s political landscape was shaken Wednesday when a splinter group emerged from the cold to claim that the country’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), no longer served its interest, alleging a reign of impunity by the party leadership

Published

6 years ago

July 5, 2018

Africa News Watch

The splinter group is peopled mostly by the aggrieved members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) bloc of the party and have since branded themselves as Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC).

Buba Galadima, a former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, announced the formation of the new group at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Leader of the nPDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje was present at the press conference where the announcement was made.

Accusing the party leadership of impunity, Galadima said that the local and state congresses as well as the national convention of the APC were a sham and largely undemocratic.

“The nPDP, a group that has made a major contribution to the emergence of the APC administration, has made strenuous efforts to invite attention to inequities, injustice and poor management in our party without any success.

“The nPDP had shown good faith and commitment to the party, but it has been rewarded with indifference and even contempt. It is obvious that the leadership of the APC has decided to shut out members of the APC, as well as other members who have raised genuine grievances and a desire to improve the responsiveness of the APC to the desire of members for a party founded on democratic principles.

“Under the circumstances, patriotic elements and most of the original founders of the APC have found themselves in the opposing side of this charade.

“Most of the delegates who bought and paid for forms for the congresses and convention and were elected as delegates have come together to take control and give legitimacy to APC to be now known as and called Reformed – APC (R – APC),” Galadima said.

Influential members of the ruling APC who have, directly or indirectly, been associated with R-APC include Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former governors of Kano and Adamawa states, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Murtala Nyako.

In his initial reaction, the newly elected National Chairman of the ruling party, Adams Oshiomhole, pleaded for patience in dealing with the insurrection in the party.

Opposition has continued to mount against the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari who has been severally accused of nepotism, and mal-administration. Prominent voices against his reign include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ibrahim Babangida.

How much damage the fresh upheaval will wreak on Buhari’s 2019 aspirations remains a subject of permutations. In spite of seeming waning influence, largely a result of insecurity issues, Buhari continues to maintain a stronghold in the northern half of the country, a political asset that could be deployed to full advantage in 2019.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.