PDP-An Old Man Behaving Badly?
There is no gainsaying the fact that PDP is the oldest political party in Nigeria having come into existence between 1998/99. PDP was in power at the centre and in majority of the states in Nigeria from 1999 till 2015. This is an unbroken period of sixteen years. A good number of current politicians in Nigeria have had one stint or romance with PDP in its heydays. Needless to say that many left its membership for the simple reason that PDP politics is killing, predictably undemocratic, oppressive and corrupt.
Back in time, PDP prided itself as the only party that has not changed its name, logo or flag until the advent of the political Tsunami of 2015 that swept it away from the Villa and in most States of the federation. Today, PDP is in miserable opposition, perhaps as a spoilt child that has always had goodies and did not know lack until things went awry. It is not out of sync to say that PDP is in political coma having not played opposition politics before and worse still, it is most unwilling to imbibe the ideals of democratic politics by accepting that power truly belongs to the people and not to a few rough necks or a cabal.
The current reality is that the confused PDP is in danger of extinction unless it changes its poor political character and behaviour. It is highly doubtful if a leopard can change its spots. Recent events in PDP National and many of its State branches arising from its congresses and leadership tussles clearly buttress that PDP and its fast depleting members have not learnt anything from their 2015 debacle and are oblivious of their sacred duty to Nigerians as a leading opposition party.
PDP has failed itself and Nigerians because the APC, as the party in government, needs to be put on the hot seat to deliver on its electoral promises to Nigerians. This can only be done by a vibrant and robust opposition party or parties. Unfortunately for Nigerians, PDP is in coma and may never survive its self-inflicted terminal disease.
For those who do not know, opposition politics is the beauty of democracy. Alas, a party in opposition must strive to be democratic and rule of law compliant. An opposition party that cannot obey its constitution and guarantee a level playing field for its members to compete for power is bereft of or lacks the moral high ground to criticise the party in power.
It is untrue and with due respect idiotic, as a few ignorantly argue,that shortchanging the democratic process and rule of law is the internal affairs of a political party. A political party is not a secret cult or society. A political party duly registered by INEC by the powers exclusively donated to it in that behalf under the 1999 Constitution as amended is a public body and must respect the Constitution and Electoral laws in the conduct of its affairs. This is where PDP leaders and its membership get it all wrong. Vulgar impunity, lawlessness, unbriddled corruption, imposition, disregard for popular majority rule, lack of internal party democracy is the rule rather than exception in PDP politics at all levels.
Owing to rougish politics, today, countless number of factions and groups exist in PDP National and State branches. Why must this be so? Yet, a few disgruntled PDP members shamelessly want discerning members of the public to view it as "internal family affair" for which reason nobody except PDP members should comment or feel concerned about it. What a great pity. What a charade. Democracy is an open book!
A noisy elderly neighbour who is always fighting and bullying his wife and subjecting his children to indignity and public disgrace is a big public nuisance and disaster waiting to happen. There is nothing internal about PDP's persistent failure, refusal or neglect to obey settled democratic ethos and nuances and thereby heating up the polity. With PDP, power does not belong to the people. In PDP, power is all about cash and carry. This is wrong and must stop!
Democracy is all about the people having a democratic mindset. A politician must stand prepared to accept and defend the truism that power belongs to the people. The absence of good leadership and development in Nigeria can be located at the door steps of lack of internal party democracy which throws up weak and tepid leaders. There is no opportunity for independent candidacy in Nigeria. This means that only political parties can sponsor candidates in an election. Therefore, political justice and internal party democracy is the irreducible minimum in party politics in Nigeria whether from the ruling or opposition party.
In conclusion therefore, we opine strongly that-
(a) PDP may not change its name, logo or flag.
(b) PDP must not change its motto- Power belongs to the People because power truly and verily belongs to the people in a democracy such as Nigeria.
(c) PDP must change its characteristic politics of corruption, vulgar impunity, lack of internal democracy and unbridled lawlessness.
An old man must not behave badly.
Prof Obiaraeri N.O Ph.D (Law), FHRI, FCAI, KJW
Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Political Adviser to the Executive Governor of Imo State, Nigeria.
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