My experience as a social activist shows that conflicts and disagreements are necessary adjuncts to human relations. And in political settings, conflicts and crisis are more pronounced because of disparate interests. But what makes the difference is the ability to manage these unavoidable conflicts. It is the light of this that I wish to peep at the apparent lingering crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the end of the party’s presidential primaries in June.
It was as if the political forces working against the emergence of Atiku Abubakar have suddenly woke and began to stoke the fire of disunity in the party’s hierarchy. Undoubtedly, the success of the PDP presidential primaries and the emergence of the Wazirin Adamawa Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON) as the party’s flag bearer contrary to the expectations of some arm-chair critics and cynics did not go down well with some forces within and outside the party. And ever since, it seems that hell has been let loose and the media agog with the news albeit in exaggerated proportion about crisis within the party.
We are aware of the alleged clandestine moves by some forces that want to sustain the status quo to truncate the PDP primaries and abort the chances of the emergence of Atiku who is seen as the personality that has the wherewithal to effectively challenge and wrestle power from the current obnoxious regime. But the Iyorchia Ayu-led team is able to surmount the hurdle and organized the successful primaries. By that, the party exhibited maturity by successfully conducting its primaries. It is the party that took the lead and that portends something good. The PDP family clearly exhibited maturity and sense of responsibility by the successful exercise. And by the choice they made, they shunned personal interest and elevated party and national interest above self. They showed that they know what is at stake at this material time. In actuality, they have shown uncommon determination and desire to rescue the party from extinction and the nation from the brink.
In fact, I have never doubted the ability of the party to resolve any conflict that will arise within its fold. This is the view of the Commodore Olabode George (retd). Speaking against the foreground of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Bode George as he is popularly called who decried the seemingly intractable crisis rocking the party believed in the the party’s inherent capacity to resolve crisis. He spoke about the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism and appealed to the parties to the conflict to sheath their sword and submit to the voice of reason. In a democracy, dialogue, arbitration, reconciliation etcetera are defined legal and ethical methods and procedures for handling conflicts and dissentions. I hope these conflict resolution tools would effectively deployed in settling the conflict. It was in the era of Chief Olusegun as president that arm-twisting, force, coercion, blackmail and intimidation were used as tools to settle issues. It was OBJ that hijacked the party’s leadership structure and terrorised the founding members, expelled many and destroyed the party’s internal democracy in his time.
However, when viewed objectively, it appears that there is no real problem in the party except that one of the parties to the said conflict Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and his group appears implacable thereby fueling the speculation that they are being goaded by forces from outside the party fold to destabilize the party and scuttle Atiku’s chances of winning the 2023 presidential election. It is really intriguing that Wike who came second in the primaries and who had averred after the primaries that he was not going to be anybody’s running mate would suddenly become bitter and implacable when someone else is picked as VP candidate. The party’s panel set up to screen potential running mate to the presidential flag bearer recommended three equally qualified party chieftains for the position.
So expectedly, it was the prerogative of the party standard bearer to choose one from among the three whom he will work with. And the party presidential candidate has made his choice and explained the reason for his decision but Wike remains implacable, talking flippantly, doing anti-party activities obscenely hobnobbing with the members of the opponent parties. He is busy threatening fire and brimstone to destabilize the party. When he is not issuing notice of defection to another party, he is boasting of working against the PDP in the election or calling for the resignation of the party’s chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. He is also alleged to have persecuted members of the party in River State loyal to Atiku.
Clearly, all these are clear signs of indiscipline. Wike is arrogating many things to himself. He is thinking that he is indispensable. I would advise the PDP leadership to treat the case with attention and seriousness it requires. Nobody will hold the party to ransom. It is obvious that he either want to use the crisis to negotiate or destabilize the party. Wike is not bigger than the PDP. He was not there when the party was formed and therefore cannot be bigger than the founding fathers of the party.
There is no gainsaying that Wike’s intransigence constitutes serious distraction to the party at this period of intense politicking. I will advise Atiku and the PDP hierarchy to tackle the matter decisively or ignore Wike completely. There is urgent need for Atiku and his team to remain articulate, organized and focused on the onerous task ahead. I will also not mince words in saying that Wike needs PDP more than PDP needs him. Wike’s attitude could be a ploy to create confusion in the party and give the opponents leverage.
The PDP’s victory in the recent Osun gubernatorial election clearly shows that the PDP family can do without the likes of Wike and his group who feel that they are indispensable. I may not dwell on Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Ayo Fayose antics. I must say that I am not disappointed at their perfidious behavior. Everybody knows whom they are working for. It is expected. It is characteristic of their people to behave so.
Hajiya Mohammed writes from London via
