For the Accord Party, gaining much acceptance may not necessarily be the hallmark of its focus in Nigerian politics, but the little popularity which it enjoyed from its predominant state in one of the six geo-political zones in the country, and which it was once proud of is waning. And this has been a concern to some watchers of political event.
A party in the Southwest geo political zone, founded by former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, Accord Party, which is predominantly recognized only in Oyo, is not having a best of time at the moment in the country’s political spheres.
Though the party could be sharing similarities with the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, a party widely accepted in Anambra state (Southeast Nigeria) since it was created by Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, the state political godfather and warlord, it however, according to pundits, falls short of being rated with APGA.
According to political pundits, Accord does not have a corresponding record in terms of achievements which the Ojukwu-led party has pulled since its creation in 1999.
Ojukwu founded APGA over 16 years ago and the party has maintained power in the state despite defection by his son, Emeka Junior Ojukwu, in the build up to the November governorship poll that yet again saw the reelection of Willie Obiano.
But Accord’s founder, Ladoja could not maintain the status quo of remaining a ‘true father’ of the party he created following his defection to his former party, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Ladoja, who reregistered as a member of the PDP alongside thousands of his loyalists across Oyo state, appeared at the unity luncheon of the PDP held in Osogbo which was held to further mend the factions in the party ahead of the coming election next year.
The Accord Party founder at the luncheon specifically said the Osun must retrace its step from its mistakes to regain dominance of the southwest.
His words: “Once upon a time, this great party reigned in five states of the southwest but because of our mistakes we lost four remaining only Ekiti.
“We have decided to come together now and regain all those lost states starting with Osun in 2018 up to the general election in 2019,” he said.
While many of his loyalists and supporters commended the move, some however expressed disappointment in him, saying that the defection would not likely yield any better result for the Ibandan-born politician, who is described to have “sold his patent right.”
Although the popularity the party once enjoyed was premised on the powers of Ladoja which he attracted when he was the governor of Oyo state, but the fame of the party further began to nose dive sharply as his successor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who rode to the position on the platform of the party, defected to the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The consequent effect was the deeper plunge, which was informed by Alao-Akala’s massive movement with his loyalists, who has now decamped to APC.
Analysts argued that the pitiable situation of the party perhaps could have been salvaged if founder himself had maintained his stand and retained the party structure like Bola Ahmed Tinubu did in Lagos State, when he had to maintain his party, the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) alone despite intimidation and frustration by the then ruling PDP dominated powers led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but Ladoja compromised his status and threw in the towel.
Tinubu had the defunct AD only in Lagos while other states in the southwest were PDP, but today the reverse is the case, with Ekiti State being the only PDP state in the region.
“Ladoja on every standard has failed himself and the party he created,” said a political analyst, Adebayo Kujore.
“He did not learn from politicians like Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who upheld AD, which changed to AC, ACN and now to APC. He didn’t say because Obasanjo while he was president frustrated him so that he could join PDP. Yet he remained resolute. That is what is expected of Ladoja. I believe if he had maintained the party his relevance in the state and the prospect of the party would have far been better,” Kujore opined.
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Another pundit argued that Accord party’s problem became even more compounded, not because Ladoja failed to retain its structure nor because Alao-Akala had a very poor performance, having defected to PDP while in power, but on the basis that the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN which did not until now have a rooted footing in the state, took a swipe on Accord and PDP in 2011 general election that saw the emergence of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, and has since held sway power without recourse to Ladoja or any godfather.
There are also indications that the party may further suffer more blows following the defection of Alao-Akala to APC on December 16 as he was strongly backed and welcomed to the party by the national leader Tinubu.
Alao-Akala, led notable members of his former political party, PDP and his loyalists from Accord Party to the APC in a grand reception by the party chiefs.
Among the several thousands of PDP and Accord members that decamped to the APC with Alao-Akala were former Deputy Governor and former Ambassador to Jordan, Taofeek Arapaja; former Secretary to the State Government Ayodele Adigun; former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; Segun Odebunmi, representing Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; former member of the House of Representatives, Folake Olunloyo; former PDP Chairman in the state, Yinka Taiwo, and former local government chairman, Demola Ojo.
Others are four members of Labour Party, LP in Oyo State House of Assembly including: Oladimeji Olawumi and Akande Solomon representing Ogbomosho North and South respectively, and Olagunju Ojo representing Oriire.
The APC chieftains who spoke at that the mega decampment of the two major opposition parties in the state laid credence to the fact that the party does not have any opposition in the state.
Tinubu said, “Can you now see that there is no opposition for APC in Oyo State? The opposition parties are finished. What is important today is that we now have a clear picture of what will happen in the 2019 election in the state. Today has shown that the electorates will return APC government at the 2019 poll. In the forthcoming election, APC must win. Ogbomosho, Oyo, Ibadan people, you must vote for APC.”
In their submissions, Ondo and Osun State governors, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said that the only credible party in Nigeria is APC.
Akeredolu said, “We are very sure that there is no opposition party in Oyo State. There is no more PDP and Accord. The two parties are dead”.
Aregbesola said, “I am impressed today. I am impressed with the large turnout of people. The only party that wants the best for the people is APC. The other parties are parties of the thieves, robbers, rogues and exploiters”.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who expressed his joy over the quality of politicians that decamped to APC, tongue lashed his predecessor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, whom he described as a political pensioner.
“There are two types of pensioners in Oyo State. One is the retired civil servants and the other is the retired politicians. For a serious politician, who wants to continue to work as a politician, you cannot afford to go to the political parties of retired politicians.”
The development cast a doubt on Accord Party’s prospect in the state, and perhaps its mobilisation for presidency if there is any hope for that.
But while the party looks deserted by all, there however remains one man, who some say could bring back the party’s reputation.
Though a defector in the build up to the 2015 polls, following disagreement with his former party, APC, Hon Abayomi Kako-Are, representing Mushin I Federal Constituency, Lagos, has been the only Accord Party political office holder in the whole of the federation.
Kako-Are won his constituency in a landslide victory over other candidates in the contest, reason attributed to his personal qualities and impacts made on the constituents hence would be voted over and over again, many of the residents in the area have noted.
Well, such commendations would go a long way. But could the party leverage on his reputation to rejuvenate ahead of the 2019 polls?
Pundits opined that for a party like Accord which is not known, if there is one way to go by to win more political offices, it must engage Kako-Are to through “seminars and workshops” instill a kind of his personality and philosophy in potential party faithful
