Felled by indiscipline, executive recklessness, can PDP overcome its challenges?

As the belligerent forces in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remain uncompromising in the quest for the soul of the leading opposition party, KUNLE ODEREMI gives an insight into what appears to be the root cause of the infighting.

A handful of the authentic founders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are still left in the political circle. Just a few of them are still active in the activities of the leading opposition party that has the symbol of umbrella, and which governed the country for 16 years. It was displaced in 1015 by a coalition of forces under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Unarguably, only a minute percentage of those personalities currently locked in a fratricidal war over its soul,  can lay claim to be have been part of the real leaders that conceptualised, gave birth to, nurtured and herded the PDP to becoming the ‘largest party’ on the continent of Africa. Rather, the majority of such politicians is either joiners or played the second fiddle to some influential and powerful elements within and outside the Establishment that pulled the string from the background. But one face was most conspicuous throughout the processes that culminated in the emergence of the party and partook in nurturing it to a formidable one.  He is Professor Jerry Gana.  From the time of the conceptualization of the party to the actual birth, he was the secretary of the promoters. This gave the privilege of fully capturing the vision of the proposed party.

The journey for PDP began as when 18 concerned leaders wrote a memo to the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, over his plot to transmute to civilian president. The list of the members included Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Alhaji Lawan Kaita, Professor Musa Yakubu, Mr Wilberforce Juta and Alhaji Abubakar Iro Dan Musa.  Fate soon conspired to escalate the membership to what is called the G-34. The G34, led by Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme,  comprised Abubakar DanMusa; Abubakar Olusola Saraki; Abubakar Rimi; Adamu Ciroma; Ahmadu Ali; Aminu Wali; Ango Abdullahi; Atiku Abubakar; Audu Ogbe; Bamanga Tukur; Barnabas Gemade; Bello Kirfi;  Bola Ige; Daniel Saro; Garba Nadama; . Isiyaku Ibrahim; Iya Abubakar and Iyochia Ayu. The rest included; Professor Jerry Gana; Jibril Aminu; Jim Nwobodo;  Lawal Kaita; Musa Musawa; Sani Zangon Daura; Solomon Lar; Sulaiman Kumo; Sule Lamido; Sunday Awoniyi; Tanko Yakasai; Tom Ikimi; Tony Anenih; Walid Jibril and Yahaya Kwande.

The pioneer chairman and first civilian governor of Plateau State, Chief Lar, had enthused that Nigerians were upbeat “because of the quality and integrity of its members.” Thus, on August 19, 1998, an amalgam of political associations including the All Nigerian Congress (ANC), the Peoples Consultative Forum (PCF), Social Political Party (SPP), the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Peoples National Forum (PNF) coalesced into PDP and it was launched at the International Conference Centre Abuja on August 31, 1998. The party was an instant success at the poll, as it secured 471 out of the 774 LGAs across the country, as well as won in 28 of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory

 

Catalyst

The template for the formation of the PDP evolved following the national broadcast by the new Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, on the way forward for the country after the sudden demise of Abacha. The tragedy was catalytic in the processes. On Wednesday, July 22, 1998, G-34 members convened an emergency meeting in Lagos, to appraise the broadcast by General Abdulsalami and issue an appropriate response to some fundamental issues he raised pertaining to the polity. The leaders concluded the time was ripe to form a broad-based political party that would promote and uphold equity, justice and the rule of law. Part of the communiqué of the meeting read: “A special session of G-34 was convened on Wednesday 22nd July, 1998 to review the national broadcast of the Head of State. At the said session, members thoroughly reviewed the issuies and policy statements contained in the broadcast vis-a-vis the proposals contained in the G-34 memo to the Head of State on the way forward. Members were generally impressed with the address and resolved to issue this press statement to highlight those areas of the transition programme that deserve commendation, and those aspects that call for principled objections and appropriate remarks.”  The leaders further unequivocally stated: “ We wish to place on record our appreciation and support for the following policy directives contained in the address: (a) The release of all political detainees and the renewed commitment to human rights and the rule of law;

(b) Dissolution of the five political parties; (c) Cancellation of all elections conducted under the flawed transition programme; (d) Dissolution of transition agencies and NECON; (e) Genuine dialogue with civil society organizations, pro-democracy groups and NGOs on the way forward; 9f) Strong commitment to a transparently honest electoral process under the supervision of an Independent Electoral body, and under the watchful eyes of reputable international organizations such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the OAU; (g) Withdrawal of charges against political detainees and political exiles, thereby making it possible for such exiles to safely return to Nigeria; (h) Realistic package of socio-economic policies aimed at improving the quality of every Nigerian; (i) Respect for freedom of association by Nigerians and the revival of popular organizations such as the labour unions, student unions, etc; (j)freedom of Nigerians to form political parties of their own choice without manipulations.”

However, the G-34 leaders gave the government condition to achieve progress and public support, given the past ugly experiences Nigerians had gone through in the previous military regimes in the name of political transition programmes.  Therefore, the G-34 leaders declared:  “While we commend the Head of State for these policy directives, we wish to draw attention to the following issues:

“Viewed against the sad reality of previous broken promises, the new terminal dtae of 29th May 1999 should be regarded as sacrosanct. The Nigerian people are tired of elastic transition programmes. There must be a resolute determination by the Federal Military Government to hand over to a democratically elected government on 29th May 1999.

“Also from experience, Nigerians are fed up with the practice of democracy by installment through the manipulative process of staggered elections. We are therefore opposed to any programme of staggered elections. Therefore, the law establishing the new Independent electoral Commission must make it abundantly clear that elections should not be staggered but held together as proposed in the new Constitution.

“The new Constitution should be released immediately for public debate of its proposed provisions. Given the determination of the present administration to hand over to a popularly elected civilian government, we believe it is important to warn against any change of guards by any set of power-seeking officers.”

Accordingly, they came up with what they described as an extraordinary resolution to form a broad-based political party after intensive further consultations. “Following the broadcast of the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the G-34 have carried out wide-ranging consultations on the challenges ahead. The overwhelming reactions show the desperate desire of the Nigerian people for a civilian government based on principles of social justice, equity, accountability and the rule of law. The reactions also indicate a desire that all genuine democratically–minded individuals and organizations should seize the opportunity offered the nation by the broadcast by coming together to form a credible political organization that will mobilize and unite our people, strengthen civil society and defend a genuine benefit of all our people.

“After a detailed review of recent developments and the above reactions, the G-34 has resolved to facilitate the formation of a credible national, broad-based, people-oriented, disciplined and formidable political party that will present and execute if elected into government a programme of national reconciliation, reconstruction and recovery. In order to carry all genuine democrats along, the G-34 has decided to embark on a process of in-depth consultations with individuals, organizations and political leaders in all the six geopolitical zones in the country who desire the same vision for Nigeria.’” Professor Gana stated in the communiqué in his capacity as the secretary of the G-34.

 

Breaches

The core contents of the communiqué statement signposted the vision and mission of the PDP, and it was expected that all those who had signed to be part of the party must be ready to uphold those cardinal principles and objectives.  With that template, the PDP had agreed to bond with the electorate after the election nit it formed government and must maintain its structures at the federal, state and local government and ward levels, where it has presence.  There is brazen impunity across the board, especially among those who had either forced themselves to be on the front row or who by virtue of other circumstances thrust to weigh enormous influence in the affairs of the party. There is scant regard for consultation, equity, accountability, rule of law and justice as the innocuous syndrome of might is right has become the rule rather than exception, whereas those virtues were unequivocally outlined and laid down in the July 20, 1998 resolution of the real founders of the PDP.  Consultations as precursor before key decisions are arrived at among stakeholders rarely genuine and done.

The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) led by its founder and promoters, the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, as the satellites of the group in South-East, the South-West and other parts of the country fused into the PDP. The groups included the New Dimension led by the late Chief Sunday Afolabi and the Primrose under the guidance of Chief Dapo Sarumi in Lagos State. These were core loyalists of the late military officer.

There was also the South-South Peoples Conference (SSPC) convened by the Second Republic President of the Senate, Dr Joseph Wayas, with His Royal Highness, Chief (Dr)  Dappa Biriye, JP, as the leader.  Chief Edwin Clark, Dr Melford Okilo, Dr Alfred Diette-Spiff, Chief Tony Anenih, Dr Peter Odili, Dr Emmanuel Essan, Chief DSP Alamesiegha, Chief Edet Amana, were at the meeting of the group held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on August 8, 1998, where they declared, in an eight-point resolution that a contact and strategy committee should be set up. Almost all the leaders eventually joined the PDP as the structure of the SSC collapsed into the party. “We have contributed more than any other political zone in this country in sustaining the unity, peace and stability of this country. What is good for the geese is equally good for the gander,” Dr Ways stated in his address as the convener of the August gathering.  His assertion resonated in the wake of the unforeseen death of the late President Umaru Ya’Adua. It put the sanctity of the avowed commitment of the party to the vision articulated by the founding fathers. Thus, the intrigues that played out within the rank of PDP power brokers over the fate of Yar’Adua’s vice, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, becoming acting president and later as substantive president exposed the underbelly of the party. The high-wired politicking and conspiracy by certain influential interests to allow a seamless leadership succession based on the letter of the Constitution, coupled with the zoning principle of the party, became another albatross for the PDP.  The ideals of equity, inclusiveness and justice went on trial.

Many concerned PDP stalwarts have not failed to raise their voices against the reign of such impunity, especially because it has impacted negatively on the fortunes of the PDP in general election and offseason elections.  Apart from having fallen from the Olympian height as the ruling party, the number of seats that the PDP controls in terms of state governorship level, as well as in the legislative houses at the federal and state levels have also diminished. It is also evident that the internal contradictions in the party led to opposition parties such as the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to boost their presence in the political space by securing seats in the National Assembly or producing governors in the South-East and the North-West in the last elections.

A former deputy national chairman of the PDP,  Chief Olabode George, is among the leaders that have been consistent in advocating a revisit to the vision the founding fathers of the PDP had in birthing the party in 1998. He said the party must toe the path of redemption so be in a position to rescue the country.  The Board of Trustees (BoT) member described as disheartening and pitiable, a situation where some members were working against its interest as the buildup to the 2027 elections. He stated: “As a loyal party man who lives, thinks, talks, breathes and defends PDP, I have never left this party since it was formed; so today gives me a great opportunity to deliberate on the future of our party.” Chief George believes that PDP remains the only party that can save Nigeria from the quagmire, but that the opposition party should be ready to seize the opportunity to make the difference by not allowing disloyal elements to continue to use the platform for their selfish interests.

A former leader of the party, who craved anonymity while speaking with Tribune Polity, was particularly miffed about what he described as the culture of indiscipline and impunity that has left the PDP oscillating from one crisis to another. According to him, “A party that was founded on democratic principles began to impose candidates and force its ways. Next was arrogance, being in power for so many years gave the party leaders a false feeling of invincibility and they began to behave as if Nigerians had no other choice. Indeed, it did not seem to care or worry when hordes of its membership began to defect to other parties…The party became incapable of disciplining its members. The party seemed to have lost any ability to resolve conflicts as it seemed to move from one crisis to another in many states.”

Another surviving first generation of PDP leaders, Alhaji Sule Lamido is hopeful that the PDP can rise again if certain measures are taken by the stakeholders.  He is nostalgic about the vision of the founding fathers of the party, stressing the need for PDP leaders to reconcile and refocus on the party’s original mission of national unity. “The PDP that governed Nigeria from 1999 to 2014 was the real PDP. The current PDP, from 2014 onwards, is not the party I remember. But I believe that if the leaders who left the party—some of whom criticised it—can return and work together, we can still offer a credible alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC),” Lamido said.

For the umpteenth time, elders and leaders of thought of the PDP under the auspices of BoT met on Wednesday at Wadata House as part of the ongoing efforts to resolve the protracted supremacy tussle between certain tendencies within the party and affirmed the necessity for the belligerent forces to respect the vision of the founders and end the battle for superiority.

READ ALSO: PDP chairmanship: BoT insists on zoning to North-Central