APC: BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH AS AIYEDATIWA DECLARES
The Roman society was enmeshed in serious superstitious beliefs that Julius Caesar had to employ the service of a soothsayer to guide him in all his ways. Leaders rarely wished to commit fatal errors and since superstition was exalted, the service of a seer was inevitable. Caesar had no option than to employ Spurinna.
Spurinna, the seer, had cautioned that Caesar beware the Ides of March. Historically, the Ides of March is the 74th day in the Roman calendar. Since the Romans didn’t count each day of a month from the first to the last day, the Ides was 13th for most months and 15th in March, May, July and October.
If you had by any chance met Williams Shakespeare and his popular play ‘Julius Caesar’, you will appreciate the inevitable but avoidable death of a man who defiantly scorned the gods on his way to the Theatre of Pompay where he met death kissing him repeatedly in stabs.
Fatalism happened and Caesar asked scornfully if the Ides of March had gone and the soothsayer retorted that it was far from gone. In fact, he asked that question on the very day he was killed.
As the APC rolls out its time-table for the party’s primaries in April, the Ides of March comes in April and precisely on the 25th. Like Spurinna told Caesar, I have become the self appointed Seer who needs to help salvage things for the party (Caesar) with the rich guidance of history while the party avoids the repeat of the defeat of the Peloponnesian war (Edo state) where the Athenian (APC) were roundly battered.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the 7th Civilian Governor of Ondo State whose District is tipped to produce the next Governor of Ondo State has declared to run under the APC where he is the leader. His intent was made known yesterday to party leaders and members in the state. He is seeking the ticket of the party even as an incumbent.
Democracy has taught us a whole lot. It is a game of number. But the intrinsic importance of every number comes first in the nomination by a political party. It is a given that parties are solidly governed by rules and guidelines. As much as there is liberty to freely associate, membership of political parties is spelt in the dogged alignment with the ideological stance of such party. It means I couldn’t have been a member of the APC if I do not agree with its ideology.
APC, whether in the State or National critically faces another moment of decision that will mar or make the party. Can the party afford to give its ticket to the undeserving? Can the party risk fielding someone who openly said the APC didn’t pay his school fees? Can the party look the way of a man who is a serial defector? Can the APC put forth a character that can tear apart the soul of the party? Will the APC honour consistency and fidelity? Will the party be conscious of the antecedents of all aspirants?
I can tell boldly of a leader who has been around the Progressive fold since he has joined active politics. Governor Aiyedatiwa has shown resilience, candour and the highest spirit of ọmọlúwàbí. The virtues of patience, sacrifice and altruism endeared him to his late boss and Governor of Ondo State who spiritedly told his tales of absolute loyalty till he breathed his last breath. Aiyedatiwa has never been in a hurry to benefit from the party he toiled to build. At no time had he been disappointed because of a failed political aspiration. It’s on record that he rejected to run against his party even when he was given a blank cheque to do so. He defiantly stood and waited for his time to come.
I salute the wisdom of Aristotle who believed that it is impossible to enter the same river twice. APC must have learnt from the painful experience of Edo state and how the party still struggles to reclaim that state till date.
Like the tale of the lame who heard the warning of war early enough and crawled till those who had their feet intact started yielding, the APC will exercise fear in the ceding of the destiny of the party to those who haven’t at any time shown fidelity to the APC. It is precarious to trust the untrustworthy. Not even in this political era where sole sponsors of candidates get the middle fingers after rigorous electoral victory.
The stability the party needs is what Governor Aiyedatiwa represents. The political atmosphere of Ondo State is charged with his names. All three names he bears made political hymns. There is more to him than just being the Governor of Ondo State. The people have settled for him beyond 2025. If the party must win, there is no other person that represents the choice of the people other than the incumbent Governor. Beyond winning, the party needs someone who can be trusted to carry on with the ideology of the APC. It is time to unite. It is time to win massively for the APC. It is time to consolidate.
Dear APC leaders, stakeholders and members, beware the Ides of March as we journey to the Theatre of Pompay. We can’t afford to be stabbed by those who wish to prey on us like they did to the arrogant Caesar.
*Sunday Olugbenga Abire is Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Ondo State*
