The storm over leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), resurfaced with confusion about the authentic candidate for the forthcoming Ondo gubernatorial election. EMEKA NZE examines how the protracted disputes affected the party’s chances at the Edo governorship polls and bungled opportunities of peace in PDP
These are indeed hard times for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). First, the actors in the intra-party rift are well acquainted of the consequences of their actions and they are already reaping from it — that the fortunes of the party would deplete following an avoidable conflict.
Secondly, they are also mindful of the fact that since the shepherd is no more, the propensity for the sheep to stray or scatter has become very high and if care is not taken might remain so.
As a corollary, since PDP is no more in power at the centre, some supposed members of the erstwhile ruling party will prefer to sell out, sabotage genuine efforts to rebuild, to claim some states and or regain power at the centre.
Suspicion is also mutual and rife that some will play the bull in the China shop just to score a point that no one recognises them or looking their way in terms of holding positions in the party.
There is no doubt that some will be willing tools, used as instruments of destabilisation in the hand of the party in power to destroy the only strong rival — the PDP; many will likely do it for a piece of porridge or as quid pro quo to appease the party in power which now holds the cudgel for political persecution.
To save themselves from EFCC, ICPC or even CCT, they will sell their consciences to work against their own party.
There equally those who are reaping from the party squabble. They probably know that if the party comes together, they will not get much and they prefer that the party remains in conflict.
Yet, there are still some, staunch party members, however, who are buoyed by old sentiments- sentiments that it is the party that made us and we need to struggle hard to redeem its image, restore peace and rebuild it.
This set of people will fight to rebuild the party, they are not ideologues nor do they claim to be. They are not fighting to defend or establish the principles of welfarism which stand to benefit Nigerians.
Such people struggling with genuineness of their effort to ensure that APC does not shame them by taking them to the EFCC, ICPC or court of public opinion where Nigerians would be harangued by figures in billions and trillions allegedly stolen.
These are the ones likely to swallow their pride to embark on the arduous task of dialogue to restore peace in the party.
It has variously been observed and restated that the difference between APC and PDP is not a clash of ideologies because the two major political parties do not lay claim to any set of ideologies as the basis for their difference as is obtainable in other climes.
They are virtually the same in their hue but merely separated by ambition and quest to control power and resources by the actors whether at the local government, state or nation, which is why anybody can easily fit in in the other group when he or she is frustrated out of one group.
More often than not this is the reason for inter-party movement encapsulated as defection or decampment.
But while the conflict in the PDP is beginning to take its toll, no thanks to the loss of Edo governorship polls to the APC, the actors now have come to terms that there is a need and that it is possible for PDP to regain strength.
Perhaps buoyed by the judgment of Nigerians that the APC government is not living up to its biddings and (or) solicitations from some influential and eminent citizens, the actors rose up to talk.
Nigerians and lovers of democracy have hailed this latest step.
Not even the absence of factional national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (he was said to be on overseas trip), could stop the talks and when he came back, just last week, he stamped authority on the achievement made so far to underscore the significance of peace in the party.
According to Sheriff, “Myself and Makarfi met sometimes ago and discussed with the founders of the party who have benefitted from the party at every level. It is true that we agreed to find a lasting solution; I was away for more than two weeks so it is important you hear from me directly”, he said.
Sheriff went through the whole gamut of information which was already in the press, and talked about the committee to be set up, 12 members from each faction but noted it will be inaugurated this week’s Tuesday to work out the framework.
The factional chairman also talked about the need to return the party to people who are original owners.
“There is no political party like the PDP anywhere; it is only the lack of internal party democracy that is the problem of the party. We are not doing this for personal interests but to give the party to the owners.
“I cannot sit here and decide what happens in Gamborugala. It is not true, this party belongs to the people everywhere; unless we do that we cannot get it right. Ones the right thing is done, we can go to election and there will be no competition.”
He also talked about the failed role of the members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) in the party’s quest for peace but the sore point of Sheriff’s briefing was when he was responding to question bothering on the true candidate of the party in Ondo state.
The embattled chairman could not hide his emotions despite his belief that there cannot be an alternative to peace in the party when he said:
“Jimoh is still our candidate. Five people contested in the primaries and Jimoh won but the other side, we did not even hear of any primary. However, as a party, we have produced Jimoh, whatever the law says, we will abide by it.”
Sheriff’s insistence on Jimoh Ibrahim coupled with the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja last Friday, October 14, 2016 have sparked fresh controversy and the following day the Ahmed Makarfi faction retorted in a press release and re-affirmed Eyitayo Jegede as the gubernatorial candidate of the side.
Its spokesman Prince Dayo Adeyeye wrote: “For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Eyitayo Jegede remains the Flag Bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, November 26, 2016 Ondo State Governorship Election.
“We therefore call on all our members, teeming supporters and the electorates in Ondo state not to allow this ruling to distract them; but should continue with the Guber campaigns to ensure the victory of our flag bearer, Hon. Eyitayo Jegede in the election”.
He argued that “the Ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja did not in any way affect the matter of the PDP candidacy in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.
“The issue of Ondo Governorship was not the matter before Justice Abang in the suit. The matter before his Lordship was in relation to the 2019 General Elections”.
Political observers across the country believe that the Ondo case has thrown up a challenge capable of worsening the seemingly intractable crisis in the PDP.
Purveyors of this view said it was the lack of coherence and cacophonous voices of the party authorities that ceded victory to the APC in Edo state and if the search for peace in the party is not fast-tracked, the PDP might still have bidden farewell to Ondo in the next month’s governorship election.
Many Nigerians have equally enjoined the PDP not to miss this chance because if it does it would only lay credence to the prophets of doom who are beginning to see peace in the party far flung.
