TIMI FRANK AND HIS UNNECESSARY OUTBURST AGAINST APC LEADERSHIP

After reading the comments against the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank, I was perturbed that a man of Timi's status could jump the hierarchical order of the party to making himself agent provocateur in the public domain by going against the official position of the party.

In as much as everybody is entitled to his or her opinion, it is appropriate that we separate individual opinion from official or organizational opinion otherwise, it becomes subversive or the view of an enemy within.

Comrade Timi Frank should however be reminded that instead of dragging the party to public ridicule, the honorable thing for him to do is to resign in protest of what he feels is abnormal within his party. Being in a system and publicly criticizing the system he swore an oath to defend its policies and stand by its positions at a critical moment the well meaning members of the party are calling for reconciliation speaks more about hidden intents of his action!

It was the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who said, 'to whom you can whisper to, there is no need to shout.' Hence, Timi Frank ought to have exhausted all internal mechanisms within the party before going public with his disrespectful and scathing remark about the National Chairman who led the party to victory in this year's general elections.

Deciding to talk in a manner that hurts instead of healing at a time the prophets of doom who predicted the disintegration of the party are waiting to see the manifestation of their prophesy is highly outrageous or leaves bitter taste in the mouth.

It will be recalled that upon the formation of the party in 2013, many Nigerians dismissed it by describing it as an association of strange bed fellows who share nothing in common. Some hardliners went as far as saying the party will fall immediately after its Presidential Primary. But, against all odds, the party stayed united and surged like an eagle to the admiration of many before it finally won the very historical March 28 Presidential and National Assembly Elections. Having scaled through various vituperative remarks, hurdles and jabs thrown at it before and after the polls, is it now that rooms would be created for enemies to enter?

Hence, like the proverbial eagle whose success can never be good in the sight of the hawk, the prophets of doom again shifted their prediction to the sharing of political appointments by alleging that it will be the last straw that will break the back of the camel.

But instead of acting in accordance with an African adage that says, a predicted war can never over take a cripple, Comrade Timi Frank decided to make himself the Trojan horse in the hands of the enemies for the destruction of the party that he and others spent fortunes to build.

Such an incendiary comment and attitudes should be highly condemned by all party members as it negates the concepts and principles of discipline and the supremacy of the party's position in all matters.

What is more? Comrade Timi Frank should think of the effect of his criticisms and how it will be received by both the target audience and the general public before embarking on such vainglorious pursuits.

By virtue of being the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, many may misinterpret his personal opinion to be the official position of the party or the true reflection of what is happening inside the party. And as a result, it might affect the goodwill of the party or lower its estimation in the minds of the right thinking members of the public.

Therefore, to be advised they say is to be forearmed, such unacceptable conduct from a top member of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) should not be repeated next time. Whatever grievance anybody may nurse or harbor against the official position of the party, there are internal mechanisms to be explored and not to bring the party and its leaders to public ridicule as done by Comrade Timi Frank.

***Comrade Edwin Uhara is a Journalist and Public Affairs Commentator based in Abuja.

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