The opinions presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent InTv Media’s editorial position.Thank you.
According to Àṣà, the France based Nigerian female music Super Star, there is fire on the mountain and nobody seems to be on the run. There is fire under the umbrella of the PDP and the fire brigade are no where to be ‘found’. They are short of water and the tires of the fire engines are flat. The efforts of those under the umbrella to douse the fire is of little effect.
They are using buckets of water with sand to put out an inferno. The enemies of the PDP are happy that the flames are getting bigger. They are even pouring petrol into Wadata Plaza. The fire is now raging like the wildfires of the American States of California and Montana. The enemies are laughing, hoping that the winds will aid in totally destroying the Party, but this Party will not burn, fail nor fall down.
This is the present state of the PDP with the big multi coloured umbrella, reputed to be the biggest political party in Africa. According to some party Chieftains, the party was meant to rule Nigeria for an uninterrupted 60 years. It only did for 16 years. This is the story of the main opposition party as at today.
Four prominent leaders of the party have major roles to play to bring peace and unity back to the party. They are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri Adamawa, former Vice President and the Presidential Candidate of the party for the 2023 general elections. Next is Dr lyorcha Ayu, a former Senate President, a 2 time Minister and presently the National Chairman of the party. He is presently in the eye of the storm. There is also Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal ,who is the Governor of Sokoto State, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Ex Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is the Director General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). Lastly is Barrister Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State and leader of the G5, a powerful faction of the party.
READ ALSO: Ahead Of #NigeriaDecides2023, INEC Must Address Its Credibility Deficit
These 4 political heavyweights are the problem and they have the solution to the party’s intractable troubles. Starting with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by position held, age, experience, and as the Presidential Candidate of the Party, the leadership of the party is entrusted to him. He was the Aspirant to beat once the contest was thrown open and zoning discarded. He is a cool, calm and experienced politician. He has the capacity and knowledge to be a great President. One would have expected him to have handled the Wike saga decisively immediately after the primaries. He has allowed the grievances to fester for too long.
Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal was also a Presidential Aspirant. His last minute stepping down at the Convention ground and directing his delegates to vote for Atiku is the genesis of the problems the party is currently facing. Wike was coasting home to victory before the Sokoto Governor allegedly under severe pressure stepped down. Some political Observers are of the opinion he stabbed Wike in the back, considering the support Wike gave him against Atiku in the 2018 PDP primaries in Port Harcourt. He is the Director General of the Atiku/ Okowa Presidential campaign Council.
Nyesom Wike is the Leader of the PDP G5 team against Dr Iyorcha Ayu, the National Chairman of PDP. The group includes Governors Seyi Makinde, Okezie lkpeazu, Samuel Ortom and lfeanyi Ugwuanyi of Oyo, Abia, Benue and Enugu States respectively. The group has the support of former Governors, Ministers, ex Party Officials and Political Leaders. They are demanding for the resignation of the National Chairman in the interest of regional balancing, equity, Justice, fairplay and peace. Since the Presidential Candidate is from the North, they are insisting the party’s Chairmanship should revert to the South. They were absent at the Campaign launch in Uyo on the 10th of October 2022. I hope their absence from the campaigns will be temporary.
Dr Iyorcha Ayu, the National Chairman makes up the quartet. He was the Senate President in the short lived 3rd republic and served as a Minister under the Obasanjo presidency. He is at the center, heart and focal point of the whole agitation and brouhaha . The G5 Governors are of the opinion he was a biased umpire in the presidential primaries. The suspicion intensified when he called Governor Tambuwal “the hero of the Convention “ the day after.
READ ALSO: Dino Melaye Claims APC Not Prepared For Elections, Governance In 2023
The return of the housing allowance by 5 members of the National working Committee has piled more pressure on him. As it stands, the Wike group has vowed not to partake in the Presidential Campaigns so long Dr Ayu remains at the helm of affairs of the party. The resignation of Senator Walid Jubril as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and replaced with a Southerner, Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara was not enough to placate the G5. A Committee set up by the BoT, headed by its Chairman has visited the principal Actors. They intend to submit their report to the larger house during the week.
Meanwhile the Campaign kicked off on the 10th of October at Uyo, Akwa lbom State. The State Governor Emmanuel Udom is the Chairman of the Campaign Council.
In the interest of peace and unity of the party, the warring gladiators should embrace peace, reconcile and look at the larger picture and price. The Presidency is for the PDP to lose if it does not put its house in order. The formation of the nPDP headed by 5 unhappy PDP Governors in 2014 heralded the gradual disintegration of the Jonathan Government. They fused into the newly formed APC. This happened to a Government in power. Although the G5 have said they have no intention of leaving the party, the 5 million votes in their constituencies can be a game changer.
Lightening should not strike twice on the same spot, nor should history repeat itself. The elections are still about 4 months away, hence reconciliation talks should continue until the party unites and becomes one. United we stand, divided we fall.
Femi Alafe-Aluko
The opinions presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent InTv Media’s editorial position.Thank you.
According to Àṣà, the France based Nigerian female music Super Star, there is fire on the mountain and nobody seems to be on the run. There is fire under the umbrella of the PDP and the fire brigade are no where to be ‘found’. They are short of water and the tires of the fire engines are flat. The efforts of those under the umbrella to douse the fire is of little effect.
They are using buckets of water with sand to put out an inferno. The enemies of the PDP are happy that the flames are getting bigger. They are even pouring petrol into Wadata Plaza. The fire is now raging like the wildfires of the American States of California and Montana. The enemies are laughing, hoping that the winds will aid in totally destroying the Party, but this Party will not burn, fail nor fall down.
This is the present state of the PDP with the big multi coloured umbrella, reputed to be the biggest political party in Africa. According to some party Chieftains, the party was meant to rule Nigeria for an uninterrupted 60 years. It only did for 16 years. This is the story of the main opposition party as at today.
Four prominent leaders of the party have major roles to play to bring peace and unity back to the party. They are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri Adamawa, former Vice President and the Presidential Candidate of the party for the 2023 general elections. Next is Dr lyorcha Ayu, a former Senate President, a 2 time Minister and presently the National Chairman of the party. He is presently in the eye of the storm. There is also Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal ,who is the Governor of Sokoto State, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Ex Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is the Director General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). Lastly is Barrister Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State and leader of the G5, a powerful faction of the party.
READ ALSO: Ahead Of #NigeriaDecides2023, INEC Must Address Its Credibility Deficit
These 4 political heavyweights are the problem and they have the solution to the party’s intractable troubles. Starting with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by position held, age, experience, and as the Presidential Candidate of the Party, the leadership of the party is entrusted to him. He was the Aspirant to beat once the contest was thrown open and zoning discarded. He is a cool, calm and experienced politician. He has the capacity and knowledge to be a great President. One would have expected him to have handled the Wike saga decisively immediately after the primaries. He has allowed the grievances to fester for too long.
Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal was also a Presidential Aspirant. His last minute stepping down at the Convention ground and directing his delegates to vote for Atiku is the genesis of the problems the party is currently facing. Wike was coasting home to victory before the Sokoto Governor allegedly under severe pressure stepped down. Some political Observers are of the opinion he stabbed Wike in the back, considering the support Wike gave him against Atiku in the 2018 PDP primaries in Port Harcourt. He is the Director General of the Atiku/ Okowa Presidential campaign Council.
Nyesom Wike is the Leader of the PDP G5 team against Dr Iyorcha Ayu, the National Chairman of PDP. The group includes Governors Seyi Makinde, Okezie lkpeazu, Samuel Ortom and lfeanyi Ugwuanyi of Oyo, Abia, Benue and Enugu States respectively. The group has the support of former Governors, Ministers, ex Party Officials and Political Leaders. They are demanding for the resignation of the National Chairman in the interest of regional balancing, equity, Justice, fairplay and peace. Since the Presidential Candidate is from the North, they are insisting the party’s Chairmanship should revert to the South. They were absent at the Campaign launch in Uyo on the 10th of October 2022. I hope their absence from the campaigns will be temporary.
Dr Iyorcha Ayu, the National Chairman makes up the quartet. He was the Senate President in the short lived 3rd republic and served as a Minister under the Obasanjo presidency. He is at the center, heart and focal point of the whole agitation and brouhaha . The G5 Governors are of the opinion he was a biased umpire in the presidential primaries. The suspicion intensified when he called Governor Tambuwal “the hero of the Convention “ the day after.
READ ALSO: Dino Melaye Claims APC Not Prepared For Elections, Governance In 2023
The return of the housing allowance by 5 members of the National working Committee has piled more pressure on him. As it stands, the Wike group has vowed not to partake in the Presidential Campaigns so long Dr Ayu remains at the helm of affairs of the party. The resignation of Senator Walid Jubril as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and replaced with a Southerner, Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara was not enough to placate the G5. A Committee set up by the BoT, headed by its Chairman has visited the principal Actors. They intend to submit their report to the larger house during the week.
Meanwhile the Campaign kicked off on the 10th of October at Uyo, Akwa lbom State. The State Governor Emmanuel Udom is the Chairman of the Campaign Council.
In the interest of peace and unity of the party, the warring gladiators should embrace peace, reconcile and look at the larger picture and price. The Presidency is for the PDP to lose if it does not put its house in order. The formation of the nPDP headed by 5 unhappy PDP Governors in 2014 heralded the gradual disintegration of the Jonathan Government. They fused into the newly formed APC. This happened to a Government in power. Although the G5 have said they have no intention of leaving the party, the 5 million votes in their constituencies can be a game changer.
Lightening should not strike twice on the same spot, nor should history repeat itself. The elections are still about 4 months away, hence reconciliation talks should continue until the party unites and becomes one. United we stand, divided we fall.
Femi Alafe-Aluko
