By Innocent Onyeukwu
I have nothing against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For those who say I have consistently written against the party on this page, let me say here that I do not dislike the party. Rather, I will say that I am displeased with some of its undemocratic actions.
It is only a caring and loving father that scolds his or her child when the child does something wrong. This is the case here. Because the PDP is the ruling party in the country and its actions determines to a large extent our future, it is therefore important that the party is scolded at all times for it to be alive to its responsibilities.
In Imo State, where the party is in opposition, it appears the loss of the governorship seat in the last general elections has made it to be focused and strategize for 2015. I must commend the party leadership in the State for effectively managing the affairs of the party since it was subdued by the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
My views in today’s discourse will not necessarily touch on the PDP in Imo State; rather I have beamed my searchlight at the national level of the party. Recently, the National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi, poured out his heart to Nigerians when said the party is partly responsible for the upsurge of the Boko Haram insurgency. The NSA who spoke at the just concluded South- South Summit was not economical with words when he said the actions of the party is responsible for the terror unleashed on Nigerians by the deadly sect.
The NSA’S pronouncement has attracted mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some called for his sack, others said the nation’s spy chief should be hailed for being bold enough to pin point reasons why Boko Haram is raining Nigerians with bombs.
For me, I have a different perception of the entire saga. And I write on the basis that the NSA’s assertions seem to have diminished or dented the image of the ruling party. This is the bitter truth the PDP must swallow. And if the leadership of the party does not work hard to convince Nigerians that it is not a party where those who seem to aid and abet terrorism find political accommodation, then it may be in for rough times before the next elections.
Before Azazi’s bombshell, I had written on this page titled ‘PDP: Walking On The Edge of A Razor’ that the party is cruising to the edge of damnation if it does not retrace its steps and sanitize some of the undemocratic actions it wilfully indulge in. I cautioned that the party may lose the confidence of Nigerians if it fails to correct the impression that it is a party where the ethos and norms which shape our democracy is not respected.
Azazi’s revelation therefore portrays the party in bad light. And it puts a question mark on the credibility of the PDP. This raises a fundamental question. Will Nigerians will give the party another chance to navigate the nation’s ship of governance in 2015?
This brings to the fore the possibility of other political parties in opposition to successfully take over governance from the PDP. Aside the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC), other political parties are mere mushroom political set up that lacks what it takes to capture power. In otherwords, they are no where to be found in the nation’s political chessboard and sometimes, I wonder why INEC has not withdrawn their license to operate. A political party that cannot win elections or impact its political ideology on the electorate is not worth being called a political party.
Recently, the ACN, PDP, ANPP and CPC announced its intention to enter into an alliance, ostensibly to cut the might and size of the PDP. With the 2015 elections strolling into the nation’s political lexicon, it remains a political mystery how these political parties can come together to break the dominance of the PDP. The ANPP has showed greater commitment for such an alliance, while others seem to be foot dragging, ostensibly for selfish and divergent political interests. I only pray they bury such interests and work for the success of the alliance.
I welcome the idea of an alliance only on the basis that it will enliven the political terrain and compel the PDP to sit up. I also believe that only an alliance of these political parties can deepen democracy in Nigeria. It will encourage healthy political competition in the next political dispensation and offer Nigerians an opportunity to make informed choices at the next elections.
I advise those in opposition that Nigerians will continue to be at the mercy of the ruling party if they fail to offer them an alternative. From General Azazi’s point of view, a vote for the PDP in 2015 entails endangering the lives of Nigerians!
This is why an alliance must work! If for nothing, to offer Nigerians an alternative- an alternative to enable Nigerians have the right to choose which of political party can guarantee security of their lives and property.
Historical political events in the country have shown that alliances/mergers of political parties have proved to be the passport for ruling political parties to be dethroned from power. We saw it work in the First and Second Republics.
Nigerians cannot continue to entrust their fate in a political party or political parties that seem to have no answer to their myriad problems. We should take a cue from the ongoing political events in Europe where political parties which had no answer to the economic crisis were shown the exit door out of governance by the masses.
We saw how Britain’s Gordon Brown’s Conservative party, Italy’s Silivio Berlusconi’s PDL party, and lately France Nicholas Sarkozy’s Union for Popular Movement were ejected out of office for failure to halt the economic recession that impoverished Europeans.
Can we replicate such feat here? Don’t ask me, ask yourselves. See you next week.
