The news is awash with the crisis tearing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart. The factionalisation into “New PDP” and “Old PDP” is at the center stage of newspaper reportage. All the fence mending and peacemaking meetings are the issues everywhere. But when I looked at it more closely I asked myself, all that is happening in PDP, in whose interest is it? Who will benefit from this crisis in the long run? Will it be the political actors or the Nigerian masses or the Nigerian nation?
I see these entire happenings as political interest of the gladiators. They are seeking to perpetuate their own interest. I am yet to see the interest of the Nigerian nation or her people being promoted by these people.
The Bamaga Tukur group or “Old PDP” is fighting tooth and nail to keep hold on the power they possess now. They are threatening the so-called dissidents with court cases and jail terms. They are calling them names and using unprintable gestures on them. The question is, what has Nigerians benefited so far from their leadership? I agree that they are just party members but their party is the one ruling this country for over fourteen years now. Can Nigerians come out to say that their leadership has been of immense benefits to them? Do they have anything outstanding to show especially with the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan?
The Baraje-led faction or “New PDP” has come out singing the song of change. They have taken a position as if they are putting power back in the hand of the Nigerian masses. They are blaming the old hands for failing Nigerians. The questions for them are plenty. Were they not part and parcel of this monstrous PDP for the past fourteen years? What difference were they able to make in their own domains that makes them different from the other group they are accusing? To remove an elected chairman or stop the President from running or whatever other demands they have, are these in the interest of the Nigerian masses or in pursuant of their selfish interest?
The President who is at the center of this all, what is his role in this? Whatever position he takes, is it in the interest of Nigeria or for his second term bid? Does he sincerely think that he has performed enough to warrant him seeking a second term? Can he confidently say that Nigerians on the streets will give him their votes like they did in 2011? Doesn’t it occur to him that he has lost the luster he has when he was candidate in 2011 when Nigerians see in him hope for a change? Is his transformation agenda really transforming anything? The corruption he professes to be fighting, are there indices to show that he is winning the battle? I was even thinking he will parley with the “New PDP” having seen how he accepted the Jang-led NGF faction.
Those others trying to make peace, Obasanjo, Anenih, and so on, have a few questions to answer. Is their effort at restoring peace to the warring factions in the interest of Nigerian masses or are they trying to maintain the structure that gives them relevance in the scheme of things at the detriment of other Nigerians? I heard some of them are actually pretending to be working to restore peace when they are actually fueling the crisis.
In my own opinion I see nothing new in the aspirations of the all the parties involved. They are fighting for their own selfish interest. They may claim that when there is peace within the party they can settle down to give us dividends of democracy, what have they done in the last fourteen years when there was no crisis. Our interest is not promoted in this matter. When they have their nocturnal meetings and some bucks exchange hands the matter will be amicably settled and business as usual resumes.
Nigerians have a role to play. We must demand for, and ensure we receive, good governance. We have the power in our ballot and we must use it effectively to bring the change we so much yearn for. We must vote out those who do not represent out interest and vote in those we feel can bring succour to our pains.we have the freedom to speak and we must not relent in speaking out. It is our God-given right, use it!
God bless Nigeria!
#PoliticalGabriel
#2015OnMyMind
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