Like a wildfire in the harmattan, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) founded by General Muhammad Buhari (Rtd) is fast spreading across the breadth and length of the north, LEADERSHIP investigations have shown.
Findings by our correspondents in the three geo-political zones that form the north, show that the party, against expectations is gaining acceptance especially among the voting masses in most of the states. In states like Kano, Katsina and Bauchi where the party structure is fully grounded, watchers say aspirants who eventually get the party's ticket are seen as either governors-in-waiting or legislators-elect.
In states Like Borno and Yobe, both controlled by the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP), the fear of the CPC among the ruling elite is palpable. In Borno for example, an exodus of ANPP faithful to the CPC has place it at par with the party in power. Our correspondent reports that the Ali Modu Sheriff government lives in greater fear of the CPC than the People Democratic Party (PDP).
In Yobe, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is threading a difficult path in his second term bid as the massive popularity of the CPC is threatening his chances at the polls. LEADERSHIP findings show that with the right candidates to fly the new party's flag in the impending elections, the ANPP is likely to be dislodged.
In Kano, a traditional National chairman of CPC, Senator Rufai Hanga, while outlining the ideology of the party recently had claimed that the party which was formed with the aim of bringing back ideology based politics in the country, already has structures in all the 36 states and majority of the local governments and wards across the federation.
But political observers are of the opinion that Buhari's chances of winning the presidential election under the party's platform is still frail because in Kano where the former head of state has the greatest mass of his followers, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau had been destabilizing the CPC by infiltrating its ranks.
Besides, they also believe that his good public service record, integrity, grassroots support, mass followership and his ownership of the party notwithstanding, Buhari's poor financial base, poor human rights record and the weak structure of the CPC might all work against his victory in the 2011 presidential poll.
stronghold of Buhari, it is payback time for the voting masses on account of the shabby treatment meted to the former two time presidential candidate of the ANPP by the state government led by Ibrahim Shekarau.
The CPC is fully established with offices in all the 44 local government areas mostly funded by the people themselves who levy themselves N100 each to support the party.
Aspirants have flooded Kano with their posters with their pictures placed side by side with that of General Buhari.
In Bauchi, the government of Isa Yuguda is jittery about the monstrous popularity of the CPC. Yuguda himself was a beneficiary of CPC'S leader before his defection to PDP. LEADERSHIP investigations show that there have been sustained efforts to stifle CPC's presence in the media.
Findings by LEADERSHIP show that in Adamawa, the CPC has presence in all the 21 local government areas of the state. Its highest membership is from Mayo-Belwa, Governor Murtala Nyako's base.
In Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states, the grassroots are waiting for direction, LEADERSHIP investigations have shown.
Lack of leadership in these states may have robbed the party of greater followership in Zamfara state as the party is clearly not seen. It has only the state secretariat as the party office in the entire state.
In Nassarawa, CPC enjoys appreciable followership which was boosted by Buhari's recent tour of the state.
In Benue, the state has presence in all the 23 LGAs.Its membership is expected to swell the more after the PDP primaries which is likely to end up in crisis.
However, findings by LEADERSHIP show that unless it manages its internal conflict well and close its ranks, its chances at the polls are threatened. Similarly, many politicians trooping into the party are seen as ambitious who are there to use CPC as a ladder to electoral victory.
The CPC was formed by Buhari and his associates after he was said to have received ill treatment from the party's leadership, precisely after the 2007 general polls.
Specifically, Buhari had running battle with the party's national chairman, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke over the latter's acceptance to join the government of national unity proposed by late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
The crisis reached its moment of highest tension when the party leadership proceeded to withdraw the petition it filed as a twin petition with that of its presidential candidate before the presidential election tribunal seeking to nullify Yar'Adua's election.
Before forming the CPC to take care of his interest and political ideology, Buhari struck an alliance with Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC) then. This was after he tried his luck in the mega party summit alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders in a bid to wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.
National chairman of CPC, Senator Rufai Hanga, while outlining the ideology of the party recently had claimed that the party which was formed with the aim of bringing back ideology based politics in the country, already has structures in all the 36 states and majority of the local governments and wards across the federation.
But political observers are of the opinion that Buhari's chances of winning the presidential election under the party's platform is still frail because in Kano where the former head of state has the greatest mass of his followers, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau had been destabilizing the CPC by infiltrating its ranks.
Besides, they also believe that his good public service record, integrity, grassroots support, mass followership and his ownership of the party notwithstanding, Buhari's poor financial base, poor human rights record and the weak structure of the CPC might all work against his victory in the 2011 presidential poll.
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