8 thunderous political events that will turn Nigeria upside down in 2017
It is a New Year filled with so much expectation after a tumultuous 2016. So many political crisis were left unresolved and will most likely continue in this year.
Several events are bound to shape 2017 as political gladiators get set to outsmart each other.
It seems the year is going to be loaded with enough intense political activities, so get ready as politicians keep us entertained.
Below are powerful events that will most likely shake 2017.
1. The 2017 budget
President Muhammadu Buhari presented a N7.298 trillion 2017 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, December 14. It is believed that the 2017 budget will better the lives of Nigerians. Many have expressed mixed feelings over the budget because the 2016 budget did not yield much positive results. Last year’s budget had so controversial. It went missing, it reappeared, President Muhammadu Buhari refused signing it and there were reports of it being padded. The 2017 budget called ‘budget of recovery and growth’, is expected to bring Nigeria out of the ongoing economic hardship. Hopefully, it will not be as controversial as that of 2016.
2. The trouble in PDP
After ruling the country for 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was defeated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general election and since then the party has not recovered. The party has been embroiled in leadership crisis which has divided the party into two factions. One faction is led by Ali Sheriff and the other is led by Ahmed Makarfi. The party sacked Sheriff in May and appointed Makarfi but Sheriff has refused to step down as chairman. The case is still before two Courts of Appeal, one in Port Harcourt, Rivers state and the other in Abuja. Party chieftains have been trying to resolve the crisis and make peace between the warring parties but to no avail.
3. APC crisis
The ruling party has had its own fair share of troubles. Trouble first started in 2015 with the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate president and Yakubu Dogara as the speaker of the House of Representatives against the wishes of the party. Another crisis reared its head during the Ondo state governorship election. The party’s national leader, Bola Tinubu was not happy with the conduct of the primaries and called on the party’s national chairman John Odigie-Oyegun to resign alleging that he subverted the will of the people.
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Also, Tinubu’s loyalists are not happy with how he is being treated by power brokers in Aso Villa after playing a crucial role in the formation of the APC and Buhari’s coming to power. Rumour has it that he is planning to float a new party.
4. New mega party
For some time now there has been talk of the formation of a new mega party which will oust the APC in 2017. Report has it that the party is being formed by aggrieved members of the PDP and APC. Before the year ended, there were reports that the mega party will be registered with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) soon.
5. Anambra state governorship election
The governorship election in Anambra state is due this year. As the election draws closer, the political parties are already gearing up and strategizing how to win the election. It is going to be a tough one as it always is with Nigerian elections.
6. Cabinet reshuffle
Buhari appointed 36 ministers in November 2015. They have served for over a year but Nigerians are yet to feel a sound impact from most of them. Nigerians have been complaining about Buhari’s cabinet. They have asked him to sack some of the ministers who according to them are incompetent in relation to the ministries they superintend. There has been speculation that the president was planning to replace ‘under-performing’ ministers following public outcry that has trailed their performances in the last one year. Nigerians are watching to see if truly there will be a cabinet reshuffle.
7. EFCC chairman saga
The Nigerian Senate refused to confirm Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, December 15, 2016. Magu’s fate is yet unknown. He might be replaced by the president though the presidency has debunked the rumour.
8. Election petitions
In 2016, there was the Edo governorship election, Ondo governorship election, Rivers state rerun election and others. Trust Nigerian politicians to always challenge every election result. The PDP and APC are always at war before, during and after every election. They would always end up in court for some more drama as if Nigerians have not had enough. In 2017, we are sure to witness more election petition tribunal drama as some the cases are already in court.
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