Opinion: Why the PDP is now in opposition

by Ayegba Israel Ebije

It is therefore in this direction of reasoning that the Niger and Jigawa governor may have decided to stay just to avoid political suicide and in the case of Niger, decamping to a fragmented state opposition amidst existing PDP zoning structure will only affect his resolve to ensure that every zone gets equal share in ruling the state.

The long awaited defection of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) members to the All Progressive Congress (APC) has suddenly happened earlier than expected. While the timing is adjudged as too early, the major fatality is on the side of the PDP.

Considering the fact that those defecting are mostly chieftains of the ruling party and states conceded on account of five governors on the move, with members of the National Assembly possibly on the queue.

It is therefore a simple calculation to reach a fatal conclusion that the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP is indeed in the opposition. The only way out according to some pundits therefore is to go back to the opposition to induce them back to the ruling PDP, a task that will be money consuming and very unreliable in the area of having complete loyalty at the stage.

The PDP however did not arrive at this point without notice. The political trepidation has been so very glaring even the brain numbed politician is expected to have long ago perceived the gravitation of the tremor caused by the feudings in the PDP attributed to ceaseless impunity and disrespect for rights and privileges of PDP members.

It is indeed history though in the most ignoble manner that the ruling PDP must plunge abysmally into the present political miasma it finds itself. Nigerians saw the storm building, Nigerians could see the direction the whole situation was taking but those in authority managed to bungle windows of opportunities available to solve the situation.

Several accusing fingers fan out in different directions pointing at personalities or groups for the abysmal political embarrassment the ruling PDP is presently suffering. The most vilified in the entire political brouhaha are key players like the President/ presidency, the Tukur/PDP leadership and the ‘aggrieved’ governors (G-7).

For the presidency, people blame the ‘cabals’ for excessive use of state apparatus to intimidate, subjugate and marginalize imaginary and real opposition. They are said to have given the president the image of an autocratic leader who uses repressive means to pocket forces opposed to him instead of using democratic outlets.

The criminal activities of some ministers (part of the cabals) further aggravate the already precarious situation of the president. Most of them have been found wanting for amassing of wealth and abuse of office while the president says or does little or nothing to call them to order.

The situation reached its climax in the bullet proof car purchase. It was so bad former Sauth African President Thambo Mbeki stated that; “It is perhaps only in Nigeria that a minister would authorise the purchase of two extra cars, apart from her other official vehicles, for N255 million. To think that this is happening at a time when a minister was given the boot in Ghana for merely expressing her desire to acquire up to $1 million through politics only reinforces the extent to which Nigerians are docile and satisfied with the kind of government that they have.” The Nigerian minister in question is still in office.

Now to the Tukur-led PDP, so many people are of the opinion that bad leadership exemplified by the leadership of the ruling party caused the present backseat position of the once impregnable political party in this part of the world. But loyalists of the embattled Tukur will argue to the contrary. Some people insist he continued to ceaselessly stoke the flame that has finally burnt out a portion of the party leaving gaps and causing unnecessary panic and frenetic moves to cover the exposed flank.

For the G-7, their patriotism, advocacy for change was completely jettisoned by the ‘forces’ that be, leading to serial consultations, fragmentation of the PDP and now defection – the next certainly would be a strategic tackling of the remnant of the PDP in the next general election, a possible end to the incumbents second term agenda?

While the action of the G-7 was lauded at some level of thinking, some are confused, not knowing if they are working for themselves or for the general good of Nigerians. But the trepidations that reached its crescendo in the entire saber-rattling is enough for all to make mental notes towards arriving at a conclusion on who was at fault or what interest(s) is or are being represented.

For the rest of the G-7 left out of defection crusade, comments have already started to fly, tongues wagging and in some places temper flaring. Opinions divided, some believe its too early for such a decision to be take, some believe the Chief Servant, governor Mu’azu Babagida Aliyu and governor Sule Lamido should have joined the bandwagon, but in politics, its not about bandwagon syndrome but empirical situation of things.

Those chastising the two governors fail to realize that fighting for a cause is an emotional thing that must be strategically executed to avoid leaving a known but tumultuous political turf to an uncharted turf laced with venomous snakes that will lead to political doom.

If there can be an alliance between the Amaechi’s Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the governors in the opposition, then alliance to put Nigeria on the road to proper political sagacity can still be forged among people of like minds irrespective of party sentimentality.

A defecting governor who knows his mettle must first consult with party stakeholders, bearing in mind the ambience of the opposition, then arrive at a conclusion based on empirical facts before taking a plunge that most certainly is irreversible.

It is therefore in this direction of reasoning that the Niger and Jigawa governor may have decided to stay just to avoid political suicide and in the case of Niger, decamping to a fragmented state opposition amidst existing PDP zoning structure will only affect his resolve to ensure that every zone gets equal share in ruling the state.

– Ebije is the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Aliyu on Media Analysis

 

—————————————

 

Read this article in the Leadership Newspapers

 

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

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail