PDP Crisis, A Blessing Or Curse?
The recent crisis that has rocked the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country has elicited reactions from within and outside the party,as well as the general public ,not forgetting the opposition political parties.
While the opposition parties hailed the crisis which they saw (see) as signs of collapse of the self acclaimed largest political party in Africa, bearing in mind that 2015 general elections are around the corner, others pray that the PDP hegemony be broken faster than expected to free Nigeria from years of misrule. This school of thought is of the opinion that Nigeria has been passing through turbulent times since 1999 when PDP assumed the saddle of leadership in the country. This group cited mounting cases of corruption, poor power supply, insecurity and unnecessary power tussle amongst politicians as some of the reasons why Nigerians are becoming fade up with the entire leadership style of the ruling party. The group therefore sees the recent squabbles in PDP as a welcome development, wishing that it could end an ugly phase of unpopular rule in Nigeria. By the way, the crisis we learnt is between the National Chairman of PDP, Alh. Bamanga Tukur,27 governors and the National Working Committee(NWC). Tukur was accused of highhandedness, distrust and keeping protracted malice with members of NWC, as well as the feuding governors.
The matter climaxed when the 10-man NWC held a meeting without the knowledge of Tukur, annulling the recently conducted congresses in Adamawa State, this the National Chairman sees as betrayal.
The governors on the other hand, were said to have called for the resignation of Tukur for this face-off. Tukur has been quoted as saying that he has no intention of resigning his appointment for any reason. We equally gathered that stakeholders from the north have started shopping for a possible replacement for Tukur to forestall his being replaced with his Deputy, Dr Sam Sam Jaja from the South South. They are insisting that if for any reason Tukur leaves office he must be replaced with somebody from the north and Adamawa State in particular. In fact they are said to have penciled Dr Hassan Adamu, a one time Minister of Environment and Nigerian Ambassador to US during Olunsegun Obasanjo’s government . Adamu was said to have played a key role in stabilizing the administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan in the early stages via diplomatic shuttles to traditional rulers, as well as his fatherly relationship with governors across the country ,plus his influence on the BoT of PDP.
Opposition parties are gearing up towards possible unseating of PDP, come 2015. In fact Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, leader of Campaign for Progressive Change(CPC),his ACN and ANPP counterparts have intensified talks on how to form strong alliance to oust PDP in 2015. We think Nigeria and indeed Nigerians would be happier if in 2015 if a fresh political party ascends the Presidency, after all variety they is the spice of life. With the Boko Haram insurgence in the North, incessant vandalization of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta, despite the huge amount of money paid to ex-militants to secure the pipelines, kidnapping in the South East and South-South that has become a lucrative business, among several other social problems, the country definitely needs salvation. Nigerians are sick of the entire polity and as such anything that will bring a departure from this negative trend shall be whole heartedly embraced. We posit therefore that since the country has remained a dwarf after 52 years of nationhood, which is enough evidence that the current political leaders may not be the right ones for Nigeria and because we cannot fold our hands and watch the country go down the drains, we are forced to join forces with the right thinking Nigerians to ask for good governance. How it comes remains to be seen. What is important is that the country is in dire need of change either by fire or force. Our political leaders should either shape in or shape out instead of holding the country to ransom as currently being experienced. Our prayer is however that they turn a new leaf and steer the nation aright. ##
