Congress in Lagos State were banned, the two groups have bounced back with renewed strength.Ahead of next year’s local council elections in Lagos State, the two major political groups within the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state have rekindled the rivalry that informed the party leadership to ban them in 2020, as they strategise to dislodge each other from the control of the party’s structure at the grassroots, GBENGA SALAU writes.
But it did not take long before the major groups bounced back. As preparations for the conduct of the 2008 local council elections peaked, aspirants looking to outwit one another re-mobilised the groups, mainly Justice Forum and Mandate Group. Another version claimed that the Mandate Group was birthed to advance Tinubu’s interest in the governorship race in the build up to the 1999 general election within the defunct Alliance for Democracy .
Abubakar announced a one-year transition programme culminating in elections and a handover to a civilian government. Given the false promises by past military regimes, a debate within the pro-democracy community ensued, particularly within the Justice Forum. The debate was on whether the group should participate in the transition programme or not. In the end, some chose not to take part while the Justice Forum elected to participate.
With the Mandate Group having the heart and ears of Tinubu, it further consolidated its grip on the party structures including getting juicy appointments under the Ambode administration. Along the line, the group was said to be asking for more, including wanting the governor to permanently be subservient to its leaders considering the role they played in his emergence as governor. That created some lacuna with the governor.
However, not minding the ban pronounced in 2020, the two groups rekindled their battle for supremacy a few days ago when they organised separate inter-faith prayer sessions for President Bola Tinubu in commemoration of his 72nd birthday in Lagos. This is against the wish of the celebrant, who said no ceremonies should be held for him, advising that the money for such activities should rather be donated to the less privileged in society considering the harsh economy.
The speaker maintained that the group was loyal to the president, insisting that the group respects the party.“We respect our party leadership. We are APC members. We belong to Tinubu and we are guided by his political philosophy. If our party chairman summons us today, we will go because we respect the state chairman. So, don’t be scared to openly say you are members of the Mandate Group,” Obasa insisted.