By Rapheal
It is not unusual that the butt of jokes among analysts, of late, is the unceasing haemorrhage within the membership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party is down, no doubt; some even say it is almost out. This could be so, with time, or not. But the PDP as it is today is heavily stressed and distressed. Were it to be a human being, it would be apt to look at the party as being in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a medical facility, with chances of survival extremely slim!
Among other crushing internal challenges, the PDP has been hit by serial defection of its key members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevberi, and his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Umo Eno, are among the most recent emigrants, alongside members of their Houses of Assembly. The APC is also rumoured to be intensifying efforts to get the governors of Bayelsa (Douye Diri), Rivers (Siminilayi Fubara), Enugu (Peter Mbah) and two others defect to its column.
That would make the PDP further shrink in essence and reputation. Two awkward expressions in our political lexicon explain the current exodus from the party. One is the Igbo phrase: 鈥淥nye kpu Igu, ka ewu na-eso鈥 (loosely interpreted as a goat gets attracted to the man with palm fronds). The next is the lingo, 鈥淢ugu falls, guy man chops (the wise reaps from the misfortunes of the fool). Both are sordid philosophies but incidentally, determine the actions of an average Nigerian politician. Because the bulk of the players have no second addresses other than politics, they are always attracted to the ruling party of the time. If you therefore think that the gravitation of the opposition politicians to the APC is borne of love for the party or conviction, please perish the thought. These are Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), seeking accommodation where the action is. In a way, they represent hawkers on traffic who thrive better on backlogs. They are marabouts of fortune. The day the APC ceases to bubble, they will hit the road for other windows of opportunities. So, the APC is now the smart guy, reaping from the fall of PDP, the 鈥楳ugu鈥.
But the question not being adequately addressed is how PDP came to its piteous state and what lies ahead for the APC. PDP is a bugled dream, truth be told. At its formation on July 29, 1998, the facilitators had far-reaching visions. They had thought of a party that would put the country on a new phase of political engineering.
They had intended to erect a political platform that would ensure a 鈥渞e-creation of civil political institutions, reconciliation of Nigeria, rekindling of the spirit of unity and brotherhood in the polity and the revitalization of powers of the people to build a prosperous industrial democracy鈥.
Guided by these ideals, the founders worked towards bringing together like minds into a single formidable party, capable of renewing and refocusing the loyalties and productive energies of the nation for national reconciliation, economic and social reconstruction, respect for human rights and rule of law and to restructure the country in the true spirit of federalism.
The encompassing principles of the party were adequately captured in an embracing motto 鈥 Justice, Unity and Progress, while the slogan of the party, proclaimed; 鈥減ower to the people鈥. To add up, the PDP had in its fold a generous spread of the nation鈥檚 first-rate politicians. It also appropriated to itself the tag of the largest party in black Africa. In a way, its claim of greatness paid off handsomely, initially, as it garnered many electoral victories, though, often questionable in some cases.
But even at its moment of glory, the party did not seem destined to last. Hubris and impunity underlined every inch of its actions. That was why, from the skewed emergence of Olusegun Obasanjo as the party鈥檚 presidential candidate in its1998 Jos Convention, PDP has not had any transparent primary even at its state chapters. The party has also not had any democratically elected National Chairman since the Second Republic Vice President, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme and former Plateau State governor, late Solomon Lar, occupied the office in interim capacities. What has rather been the norm is imposition and absence of internal democracy. By 2015, PDP had fallen and continues to roll down the hill.
APC has been feeding on the carcass of the PDP enjoying a free reign, riding roughshod on Nigerians in the absence of a viable alternative. How long will the party live in the illusion of grandeur, remains the question. But make no mistake about it. APC has not particularly come across to Nigerians as one that could lead them to the proverbial Promised Land. In fact, even as its founders pranced about in excitement in February 2013 over the new organisation, it was easy to deduct from the fleeting antecedents of some of them that the party was a mere congregation of power mongers seeking a stronger platform to actualise their dream. That power has been in their hands since 2015. But for more than 10 years of being in charge, the leaders of the party remain in disarray. Take away the scramble for and partition of the nation鈥檚 resources, APC leaders lack ideas on what to do with power for advancement of the people. Consequently, almost the entire inanities associated with PDP in its days in office, have multiplied under the APC.
Under the APC, Nigerians have sunk deeper in poverty, ethnic and religious disharmony. Two Presidents on the platform of the party 鈥 Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, have widened the subsisting fault lines in the country, elevated nepotism and provincialism to national policy. With the PDP, the problem was absence of internal democracy but with the APC, it is undisguised march to civilian autocracy.
In place of structured line of command, President Tinubu is in approximate term, the Supreme Leader of the APC. The danger in such situation, is the observation by English Catholic historian, John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton (Lord Acton), in his 1887 letter that, 鈥淧ower tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely鈥. This sheer arrogance and absolute corruption of power is seen in the President literally coercing opposition politicians to join his party to smoothen the way for his 2027 reelection agenda. The next step after corralling all the players to his fold, remains unknown. But one thing is certain; take aside Tinubu, APC is in shambles and will perhaps be worse than the PDP.