There is a vacancy form for opposition that the remnant PDP is finding extremely difficult to fill.

Just like the elections, the forms are not cheap. It goes for a huge price – regaining the over 16 years’ breach of trust with majority of the populace.

Nigeria needs a strong opposition politics.

But the PDP house is in tatters and it is sad; members of Staff fighting their principals – to the extent of writing petitions to the EFCC, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is said to be under investigation for receiving N1.7 billion from former President Jonathan largely thanks to a petition sent to the EFCC by disgruntled PDP campaign staff.

16 years of unbridled corruption and putrid mismanagement is fighting back and has nearly paralyzed activities in the great complex.

The party that used to have all the most important faces in Nigerian politics suddenly has none to show except for Olisah Metuh, Ayo Fayose and Chief Femi-Kayode whose major strengths are in how much Blah blah blah blah they can muster.

So many dirty waters have passed through the rickety PDP bridge that the foundation is floundering. No amount of save-face criticism of the policies of the new administration and creative hashtags like #TyrantBuhari will erase the memory of many Nigerians that witnessed and suffered the wanton looting of the country’s treasury by PDP appointed caretakers.

It is not in the many times you remind Nigerians that you are being “witch-hunted”. The reality is many consider it deserved and are eager to tell the President #GoHarderBuhari.

The new administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari appears to be on a roller-coaster at the moment because the past administrations overseen by the PDP left a reprehensible legacy by all standards.

The only positive lesson from the many years of PDP misrule is the awakened political consciousness of many Nigerians. Today most Nigerians are aware of the power they control with a single vote and what influence they can bring to bear with their voices expressed on many platforms, particularly social media.

With the click of buttons hashtags like #FireOnBuhari and #GoHarderBuhari will quickly subdue your opposition hashtags.

Opposition politics have changed from what it used to be. Before the political parties that are not in power will dictate what the majority of the people should think about their government through propaganda and manipulating the traditional media.

Today the people hold the power of the button in their hands. The years of following blindly may finally be coming to an end. Praise and condemnation must be earned.

Similarly the fragmentation which used to characterize opposition politics and made it nearly impossible for the incumbents to be defeated was to put to bed by the emergence of the APC and the subsequent victory at the April 2015 general elections.

In view of that, any political party wishing to be taken serious by the people must go beyond making press statements, paying hatchet-writers to spew dirty unfounded secrets or crying foul each time they are called upon to account for past stewardship.

Nigeria needs an opposition party with a clear direction, a blue-print on how to get there and united in purpose.

A new PDP has to emerge from the present rubble. This new PDP should have no employment letter for divisive elements like Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and his ilk.

It should be an opposition that is attuned to the times, adapts quickly to new ways of doing things and projects itself as a shining example for great leadership. The exit of top politicians from PDP should be a blessing for any party that is serious at reforming itself from within.

For the PDP, the exiting old politicians clearly have out-grown their usefulness given their stay didn’t help much in setting up the proper foundation for the party. This is the time to nurture new leaders with a new mindset for selfless service and excellence in the party.

The New PDP must devolve from petty market-women and “aluta continua” approach to politics. It must get back to the old ways of setting lofty precedents through good governance.

There is always a place to start. I think the states under their control will be a good place. Ayo Fayose can focus more on good governance than jibby-jabber and throwing tantrums.

The PDP held states can show how much the new party has evolved by their enviable leadership styles. Now is the time for the new PDP to evolve a political culture which it lacked from the beginning. A forward thinking and action-prone new PDP will be a veritable nest for young people in Nigeria.

Now is a great opportunity to build a new bridge, clear the debris, strengthen the banks and expand the channel for the water. It is time for new ideas in the new PDP.

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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

Frank Onuoha is a writer and a policy expert. He tweets from @Iamfrankelean