The decision to become politically active is often immediately succeeded by the choice of a political association to identify with and that choice, casually made by some must be based on a long term outlook of the political future and one’s role in it. The biggest determiner in this decision should always be one’s core set of values, principles and personal ideology.

For me, my One-Nigeria outlook predates my association with the PDP. The worst thing that could happen to my political party happened on March 28, 2015. The best thing that could happen to my political party happened on March 28, 2015.

The major events of history are often shaped by the reaction of those involved immediately afterwards – Japan bombed Pearl Harbour during the second world war and America’s response was swift and deadly: Hiroshima and Nagasaki will never forget the response.

PDP’s response to the loss of March 28 has been a lethargic one and a continual struggle between those set on doing things the same way they’ve always been done and those determined to ensure that things are done differently. I find myself oscillating between both camps while identifying those who are assets to the future of PDP.

As one of its leading voices online, I am often inundated with questions about whether PDP will survive and my response is always an unequivocal “Yes, it will” but how it survives – as a limping bleeding party or as a gallant one – is a matter of choice.

From Osita Chidoka to Ahmed Gulak, from Segun Mimiko to Jimi Agbaje and several others: I have consulted with many party leaders I consider must be at the arrowhead of the rebirth of PDP, Ebenezer Babatope’s thought are the most profound for me – his sense of party discipline, developed in the days of Awolowo remain as acute as ever. There is also Chief Willy Akinlude in Lagos – another fount of wisdom from which I am privileged to drink often.

The subliminal message I glean from all my interactions are that my generation must step forward and step up by taking ownership of the party across all levels.

In this quest, we are weighed down by those who desire for a quick return to power is less than altruistic. We must be patient and rebuild strongly on the solid foundation laid by some 34 men in 1998. PDP out of power must continue to play the leading role in Nigeria’s political development.

A rebirth of ideology must happen and I find none more acceptable than the Conservative Ideology which emphasises Economic Liberalism i.e. free markets. The centre-right of the ideological spectrum is a natural home for PDP with the efforts towards Privatisation over the years.

What PDP is going through has much similarity to the fate that befell the British Conservative Party in 1945 as it faced the Socialism ideology of the Labour Party. In 1947, the Conservatives published the Industrial Charter, a policy statement contained in a pamphlet and widely circulated.

The second thing it did which was a key point of PDP’s Ekweremadu Committee report was to reorganise the party at all levels. Lord Woolton was brought in to be the party chairman by Winston Churchill who was the party leader.

Woolton rebuilt the local organisation of the party, embarked on massive membership drive which also raised funds for the party and found a unifying national message to be carried by all party members. The result? 1951, 1955 and 1959 all found the conservatives victorious in the elections.

The Conservatives found themselves in another crisis in 1974, Edward Heath lost leadership of the party to Margaret Thatcher in 1975 who came up with a manifesto based on a programme of Economic Liberalism. This repositioning in ideology gave them victory in 1979, 1983 and 1987.

In more recent times, flailing from consecutive labour victories under Tony Blair, the Conservatives again came up with David Cameron in 2005. His plan was to change the way the Conservatives looked, felt, thought and behaved which he did by reforming and realigning the party towards the centre-right from the far-right which it had placed itself over a period. His efforts have been rewarded with victories since 2010 till date.

The lessons are clear: the response of a political party to defeat must be to redefine its ideology and restructure itself from the ground upwards. For PDP, there can be no other way.

These thoughts formed the crux of a meeting held in Ikeja area of Lagos on Monday 3rd of March this year between few of us who are members (and a few non-card-carrying supporters) of PDP, based in Lagos and active online and the Director of Outreach of the British Conservative Party facilitated by the International Republican Institute.

In an informal atmosphere, Sega Awosanya, Kate Henshaw, Oke Umurhohwo, Abimbola Oligbinde and I engaged with Emeka Diru, Sentell Barnes (IRI) and Colin Bloom (Conservative Party) on sundry issues confronting PDP. We recognised the need for the party to revisit the Ekweremadu Committee report and implement it as well as ensuring strong local chapters of the party across the nation.

Of importance to us was the formulation of a strong ideology and policy document from which the party would derive its brand henceforth.

Further engagement with the Conservative Party is hoped for. And we also hope that on May 21 in Port-Harcourt, a chairman who understands the urgency of an ideological thrust as well as top to bottom organisation will be elected.

It will be a long journey even after then: Benjamin Disraeli, Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron didn’t have their way easily – politics is usually about give and take. To make the voices of the right people heard will require continuous engagement on several fronts.

For us who have decided to participate in the political process, there can be no giving up – it will be “Aluta Continua”.

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Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Demola Olarewaju is a political analyst and strategist who tweets from @DemolaRewaju