Agu, Chiemela N.
I read in the PM news APC’s advice to PDP to rebrand. Rebranding seems to be a new word that is going to create waves in Nigerian politics. Let it not be a surprise if it is fast included in the political lexicon. My understanding of the word: “rebranding is the restructuring and renewing of a business enterprise for better performance, acceptance and profit-making.
Rebranding from business angle can yield good returns and result. For example some of the banks that merged and rebranded have increment in profit and better performance.
You and I can bear witness, but the same cannot be said of politics.
So far, what APC i.e. constituent of CPC, AC and ANPP has achieved from rebranding is the winning of more political posts, states and constituencies. This is at party level. This cannot be said in terms of performance.
APC is the first political party that was congratulated in Nigeria before the final result of a general election so, they were not in doubt as to whether electoral tribunal or court may cancel the election.
A major opposition and others congratulated APC. APC immersed itself in celebration for over five months and find it difficult to appoint ministers. APC has been doing police work by looking for who has stolen the nation’s wealth. APC has spent over five months and could not get new hands to appoint as ministers but resorted to recycle (rebrand and refurbish) the old hands under the guise of “experience hands” that must rule and hold public office in Nigeria forever. Life has not been easy. The masses are suffering. Are these the achievements that are worthy of emulation that PDP should rebrand and imitate.
No wonder some people have the impression that politics is business. This corroborates APC’s advice that PDP should rebrand. Meaning that as they APC has done so well in performance and profit, PDP should emulate them.
The advice for rebranding is not necessary at party level, where we need rebranding is at performance level to justify the votes of Nigerians.
It is believed in APC that once you leave PDP and join APC you have baptized, sanctified and rebranded
Enough of rebranding has been done at party level, take for instance the Senate President automatically rebranded as he left PDP and joined APC. Having joined APC he has become a political-again.
Some other politicians who belong to this category are: the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Silva, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr. Chris Ngige, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Aminu Tambuwal, Bello Masari both were former Speakers of House of Representatives etc. As APC members, presently they have rebranded and become political born-agains.
APC members also know how to speak very well even think better than politicians from PDP and others. For example APC is a party of dynamism and change that is why they have been unable to appoint minister for over five months only to recycle old members who have at least served as governors and senators as ministers. The secretary to the Federal Government said his appointment was made possible by Chiefs Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande, meaning that these are the chief decision makers and owners of the party. Other members do not count .They have for the first time, promised to end terrorism (Boko Haram) within three months. Nigerian can see the wisdom in this. Fine, if this is achieved but Nigerians doubt the wisdom and possibility of this comment. It is only God that knows the feasibility of this promise, but experience has shown so far that even some powerful countries like the United States, Britain have not boasted of eradicating terrorism within three months.
If APC members are satisfied with these so-called great achievements of their party, Nigerians are not.
If this is the nature of the change and rebranding APC has preaching, it means Nigeria is in trouble. May God deliver us. Amen.
Chiemela N. Agu
Chimrose Educational Consultancy and
General Services
Nigeria Airforce Shopping Plaza
Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island
Lagos, Nigeria.
Chibagalia@gmail.com , GSM:
08035733017
