The following unfolding political events would most likely make or mar President Muhammadu Buhari comes 2017.
The events are as follows:
1. Emergency of Mega Party
Some prominent but aggrieved leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and politicians from the Social Democratic Party, SDP, among others are said to be behind the formation of mega party called Action Democratic Party, ADP.
APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu as well as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar were considered to be among leading political stakeholders oiling the formation of the mega party.
However, Tinubu had denied the move, saying he would not engage in ‘’destructive pettiness’’ adding that he would remain true to the progressive ideals that fuelled the creation of the APC.
While former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who appears dissatisfied with the way Buhari has handled the economy, had in a recent statement said, he would support the mega party, if Atiku Abubakar is not the presidential candidate.
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Currently, the likelihood of ADP becoming a registered party is bright. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on December 20, gave the political association the nod to go ahead with the procedures for full registration after receiving ADP’s application for registration as a political party.
2. Nnamdi Kanu And Supreme Court Justices’ Trial
The prosecution of justices arrested for alleged graft and Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Independent People Of Biafra, IPOB, will also take the front seat in 2017.
Nnamdi Kalu’s trial, is set to commence on January 10, with international observers monitoring the court proceedings.
Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, who is facing 16-count charge bordering on money laundering, age falsification and alleged illegal possession of multiple international passports, on December 7, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he was not ready for trial.
Ngwuta, who was docked before the high court on November 21 and subsequently granted bail to the tune of N100million, pleaded for an adjournment, to enable him prepare adequately for his defence; to allegations the Federal Government levelled against him.
The case, was eventually adjourned till January 18 and 23, 2017, for trial.
3. Winning The Boko Haram’s War
Last week, the Nigerian Military, said it had cleared the dreaded Sambisa forest of Boko Haram insurgents after capturing Camp Zero, the insurgent’s headquarters.
However, Boko Haram’s elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau, appeared in a new video on Thursday, December 29, to dispute the claims, insisting that the jihadist group have not been routed from its strongest enclave.
“We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere. And tactics and strategies cannot reveal our location except if Allah wills by his decree,” Shekau said in the 25-minute video flanked by masked armed fighters.
Following Shekau’s claim, the federal government has a huge task this year (2017), to really show that the sect has been crushed.
4. Niger Delta Militancy
The government has to diffuse the tension in the Niger-Delta this year to gain maximally from oil production.
The year 2016, witnessed an avalanche of bombing of oil facilities by militants, which adversely affected oil production. On December 28, the presidency said it is in search of genuine Niger-Delta leaders to dialogue with.
Responding to insinuations of a disconnect between the President and Niger-Delta, Special Adviser to the President on Media, and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in an interview with AIT, said, Buhari told the Niger-Delta leaders that it was important to get all the militants under one umbrella because ‘’after you might have talked to this group, another group will come up. With this kind of arrangement, you won’t get to know the real people.’’
Reacting to the development, Niger-Delta groups, on Thursday faulted the presidency on its stand on the dialogue, adding that Niger Delta Avengers, MEND and Reformed Egbesu among others gave PANDEF their mandate to negotiate with Buhari. Thus, the stage is being set for more restiveness in Niger-Delta in 2017 where the military is still carrying out ‘’operation Crocodile Smile.’’ It is to be seen how President will respond to the issue.
5. Fighting Recession
In 2017, the government must take definite steps to improve on the economic fortunes of its citizenry and take Nigeria out of recession.
It noteworthy, that Buhari acknowledged the need to tackle recession with all the power he could muster, during his presentation of the proposed N7.298 trillion budgets for 2017 at the National Assembly.
He said, ‘’we propose that the implementation of the Budget will be based on our Economic Recovery and Growth Strategy…’’
Meanwhile, political analysts, have argued that; how far the 2017 budget goes, would determine the political future of Buhari.
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