A theatre of intrigues

The Nigerian political scene is one you can never rightly predict… a real theatre of intrigues. It is as complex as the Country is diverse and always serves a healthy dose of suspense.

The events leading to the dramatic National Assembly elections that threw up Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively, smacked of the highest level of  chicanery. However, the ruling party; APC had it coming, with the arrogant posturing of their leaders in their foiled attempt to manipulate the process and impose hand picked candidates on the Legislature.

A little humility would have alerted the party leaders of the looming danger of the opposition; PDP, like a wounded Lion, scoring a devastating point so early in the new administration. The PDP did just that, with the masterful plot of aligning with the apparently miffed Saraki and negotiating their way into retaining the Deputy Senate Presidency, while most of the APC Senators gathered for a hurriedly convened meeting to rescue the situation.

The events at the upper chamber naturally reverberated through the House of Representatives and swung the pendulum in the direction of Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the candidate adopted by the PDP.

The Senate President; Senator Bukola Saraki, labelled power drunk by many, deservedly got the rewards of his strong convictions and desire. He pursued his right to aspire to the hallowed office and would not be deterred. His party, in their naivety, unwittingly pushing him into the welcoming embrace of the PDP, to their detriment.

How the APC would address the outcome of the colossal loss and heal the bitterness within their ranks would go a long way to determine their future as they would have to stave off many more booby traps in the next 4 years. It is clear however, that they would do well to pay heed to the biblical maxim that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Their success hangs on their ability to rise above the setback, band together and use their majority to their advantage.

We take our seats and watch with glee as more events unfold in our often fascinating theatre of intrigues.