The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Seems some folks within the Free National Movement (FNM) never tire of losing elections. I read with great interest on a political blog several posts stating that there is currently a covert move within the FNM to remove Dr Hubert A Minnis as leader of that party within another year or so.

According to this author, die-hard Ingrahamites are not happy with Minnis and have now commenced a campaign to railroad him by making him look clueless and incompetent as FNM leader in the eyes of the Bahamian public. According to this author, former prime minister and leader of the FNM Hubert A Ingraham is seriously considering returning to front-line politics in the wake of the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) referendum defeat in late January. Ingraham, according to the author, believes that the referendum defeat is an indication that the political pendulum has swung in the direction of the FNM and that him admonishing the Bahamian public to vote no is perhaps a sign that they would vote in the FNM as government in 2017 with him at the helm.

The author of the post also said that two columnists from two of the major national dailies have been dispatched to attack Minnis in their columns in order to weaken his hold on the leadership of the FNM. While Minnis has been ruthlessly and unmercifully attacked by the writers, nothing negative is ever written about Ingraham.Absolutely nothing at all.

To both writers, Ingraham is an infinite politician who can go head to head with Yahweh. Indeed, even in the run-up to the 2012 general elections, some fanatical Ingrahamites played VaShawn Mitchell’s Gospel song ‘‘No One Greater Than You,’’ which, of course, is a song about the greatness of the God of the Bible. But this fact didn’t stop the blasphemy of the die-hard, radical supporters. To them, the ‘‘one’’ who no one is greater than is none other than Ingraham himself. Thankfully, Ingraham made it clear afterwards that he isn’t God. But the fact that some FNMs are willing to bestow an honour to a mere mortal that only the Creator of the universe should receive is a telltale sign of how far they are willing to go in reverencing Ingraham.

Clearly, Minnis has his work cut out for him as we all know that ingraham has become to many FNMs, a demigod. Indeed, a cult of personality appears to have developed around the former leader in some circles of the FNM party. Establishing a firm hold on the leadership post of the FNM won’t be an easy task for Minnis. No one doubts that he has huge shoes to fill. Ingraham’s personality has taken on messianic proportions within the opposition, to say the least. I have noticed that some within the FNM, including one of the columnists mentioned earlier, have made a cottage industry out of attacking Minnis. The new FNM leader can never do anything right, according to these people.

The present leadership soap opera in the FNM is becoming eerily similar to what occurred within that party in 2005, when Ingraham bested then leader Tommy Turnquest and became the leader for a second time. Back then, I was ambivalent towards the entire affair. For one thing, I felt bad for Turnquest, who had manned the fort for the FNM while Ingraham was just a parliamentary back-bencher between 2002 and 2005. I believe Turnquest was dealt a bad hand by some operatives within the party.

They pretty much used him. And when they were finished with him, they got rid of him. On the other hand, I am also cognisant of the fact that Turnquest had failed to win his Mount Moriah seat in 2002, and had failed to do so again in 2012. As a leader of a major political party in 2002, he should have easily defeated political newcomer Keod Smith, who ran for the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).

From hindsight, it made practical sense to return to Ingraham, seeing that he had led the party to two election victories, and was, most importantly, a sitting member of Parliament. Turnquest, on the other hand, was just a senator. If Ingrahamites are conspiring to oust Minnis in order to pave the way for Ingraham, their task will not be easy as it was in 2005.

For one thing, Ingraham is no longer a member of Parliament, and Minnis won his Killarney seat by nearly 800 votes over his PLP opponent Senator Jerome Gomez. Minnis brings a breath of fresh air to the leadership helm of the FNM. True, he is not as charismatic as Ingraham; nor is he a Demosthenes when it comes to public speaking. Nevertheless, he is a great leader who will no doubt lead the way in extending the olive branch to those former FNMs who have defected to other political parties. Let me state here that I have the highest regard for Ingraham. He has served this country very well and has distinguished himself as the greatest prime minister this country has ever had. But I believe he was too divisive within the FNM. He made way too many unnecessary political foes within the FNM. The FNM has lost Pierre Dupuch, Tennyson Wells, Algernon Allen, Verna Grant, Branville McCartney and many other prominent FNMs because of Ingraham’s style of leadership.

Perhaps the fall-out between McCartney and Ingraham is what sealed the FNM’s defeat in 2012. McCartney pulled away many disgruntled FNMs and went on to form the Democratic National Alliance party. You cannot possibly expect to win an election if you continue to erode your base. Yet this is exactly what Ingraham did.

If Ingraham returns as leader, would I support the FNM in 2017? No, I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t support the FNM because I don’t believe that Ingraham can lead the party to another election victory.

The humiliating by-election loss in North Abaco convinced me of this sobering fact. Him returning to lead the FNM would be welcome news to the PLP. The PLP knows that it can beat Ingraham. That is why I believe some PLPs are hoping for his return, as it would cause a major rift within the party.

Moreover, I would take grave exception to anyone who would try to railroad Minnis, who already faces the daunting task of leading an opposition that only has eight members of Parliament to the PLP’s 30. Minnis wasn’t politicking for his present post prior to May 7.

It was pretty much thrust upon him after Ingraham’s abrupt departure from front-line politics after leading the FNM to a devastating general election defeat. Minnis could have easily turned down the job. But he chose to lead the party under difficult circumstances. For this reason, FNMs need to circle the wagons around their current leader, as I have done, and stop comparing him to Ingraham. Many FNMs are not satisfied with Minnis. They want him to be like Ingraham. But Minnis is who he is. I want him to be himself.

As the old adage goes, be yourself or you will be nobody. Those FNMs who are guilty of committing Ingrahamalotry are interested in seeing Minnis’ flaws. They can only see the glass half empty, instead of seeing it half full.

I believe that Minnis will eventually grow and mature into his role as leader. I also believe that he will one day become prime minister of the commonwealth of The Bahamas.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama,

February 27, 2013.