Senator Musa’s bid for APC national chairman

By Emmanuel Oladesu

Sani Musa, technocrat-turned politician and senator from Niger State, is among the chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) eyeing the position of the national chairman.

To his associates in the Senate, he is a goal-oriented person; dynamic, resourceful and hardworking, adding that he is qualified to serve the party in a higher capacity.

Musa is not the only stalwart in the race. Six other contestants are warning up. They are from the Northcentral geo-political zone. More may still declare their ambition when the whistle is blown? Can he triumph over his rivals?

The next chairman will inherit a massive dosage of challenges. He will inherit unresolved crises, rekindle the faith and confidence of chieftains in the platform, conduct the next presidential convention for the choice of flag bearer for 2023 poll and lead the party to victory.

Apart from President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC Governors’ Forum, potential presidential aspirants are maintaining keen interest in the chairmanship race.

Between 2014 and now, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has produced four national chairmen; one interim, two elected by delegates at the national convention, and a caretaker.

It’s interim chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, vacated office after the successful merger that gave birth to the platform. The former Osun State governor presided over a peaceful party. He was succeeded by Chief John Odigie-Oyegunn who had to leave as the party was enveloped in protracted crisis.

Oyegun’s successor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was also consumed by crisis. His removal unleashed an unresolved succession, crisis, which led to the imposition of a national caretaker Committee headed by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni.

What is worrisome is that Buni’s committee is gradually becoming a non-elected sit-tight structure, following the non-release of the national convention time table.

Nevertheless, this has not affected the activities of potential national chairmanship aspirants who have intensified consultations and mobilisation across the geo-political zones.

Apart from Musa, other contenders are former governors of Gombe and Nasarawa states, Senators Danjuma Goje, Abdullahi Adamu, Tanko Almakura; former governor of Borno State, Senator Modu Sherif, and Mohammed Mustapha.

At 56, Musa, who hails from Paikoro in Niger, is bubbling with energy. He has embarked on extensive consultation with stakeholders. A loyal party man, Musa’s associates describe him as a man of integrity. He is a one-time governorship contender in Niger State, a delegate to the National Convention, and a member of the APC Presidential Election Campaign Committee for 2019.

As a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Team 2019,  he was said to have donated the biggest presidential campaign office in Northern Nigeria.

The senator had canvassed the revolution of the electoral system through the use of the card reader and Permanent Voter’s Card. Many have described him as a bridge builder who possess high inter-personal skills.

In the Senate, he had served on some committees, including Appropriation, Petroleum Resources, Foreign and Local Debts and Water Resources. In the APC, he had served as member of NEC, Contact and Strategic Committee, and Constitution Review Panel.

In 2015, he was arrested, but refused to divulge any confidential information on the card reader. The Business Administration graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he was the President of Zodiac, served as Special Adviser on Investment and Infrastructure in Niger State; director of Niger State Development Company Limited, Chairman, Task Force on Environmental Management and Managing Director, First Pacific Nigeria Limited.

He also obtained a Certificate in Conflict Analysis from the United States Institute of Peace. Musa is held in esteem in the Senate as an organised, dedicated, passionate and hardworking politician. He is said to be patriotic and focussed.

Musa’s curriculum vitae reveals the story of his rise to stardom to reporters. “My political career is just as accomplished and rich with experience as my academic and business pursuits,” he said. He also alluded to his involvement in many events that have shaped the ruling party at the state and national levels, saying:”I am a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and was in 2014 an aspirant for the Niger East senatorial ticket; a member, of  Niger State Gubernatorial Campaign Committee in 2007, a delegate to the National Convention in 2007 as well as a gubernatorial aspirant for Niger State in 2007.”

Musa added:”I was also an Ex-Officio of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Ex- Officio of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in 1997 and President of the Zodiac Club, ABU Zaria 1988-1989.

“I am a highly organized, dedicated, passionate and hardworking person with a proven integrity in all the places I served in both public and private sector from 1986 to date.”

As a keen and passionate ICT oriented person, Musa developed and promoted the Electronic Voting for the first time in Nigeria. This manifested in the introduction of Card Reader and Permanent Voters Card (PVC), a revolutionary steps that is instrumental to the growth of consciousness about electoral transformation through the deployment of technology.

Does Musa have the capacity required to manage diverse people and interests, irrespective of tribe, religion and region? His answer:”I am a mobiliser, a bridge builder and a strategist that is passionate about wholesome development of the nation. I possess a strong interpersonal skill and demonstrate the utmost discretion and integrity in all of my dealings.”

Musa said his integrity was brought to test in 2015 when he was arrested and detained and later induced with financial and material gift to compromised the 2015 general elections by revealing the confidential information on the Card Reader.

Recalling that challenging moment, he said: “Owing to my belief and stand for the nation, I refused to compromise and the success of the 2015 general election was celebrated across the globe. My zeal and determination is always for a better Nigeria for all.”

Musa has a long way to go. How acceptable is he to the critical stakeholders accross the six zones?

He must also sustain his mobilisation drive and come up with campaign promises that are achievable. He should set realistic goals.

The APC would require a chairman with a national outlook, a problem-solver, crisis manager, bridge builder, and a democract who will unite the party ahead of 2023.