How PDP crisis can be resolved —Bejide

Ambassador Dare Bejide is one of the founding members of PDP in 1998. He was  the pioneer secretary of the party in Ekiti state and  the gubernatorial running mate of Professor  Adeniran in 1999. Appointed ambassador and posted to Canada as High commissioner in 1999, secretary to Ekiti state government three times, former chairman, Federal Medical Centre. Birnin Kebbi, he is a lawyer.

WHY do you think the PDP crisis remained intractable?

The crisis has refused to abate because the majority of the people involved in the crisis are ignorant of the philosophy and the spirit behind the formation of the party in 1998. You will recall that the PDP was put together by great leaders across the federation to put an end to the dictatorship of the military government.

Now tell me, how many of such credible leaders are involved in the current crisis? Those involved are politicians that joined the party to harvest the fruits of the labour of the founding fathers of PDP and are not ready to obey the constitution of the party.

Since they are not part of the original promoters of the party and are not ignorant of the values and the philosophy of the leaders, it is very convenient for them to advance personal agenda contrary to the constitution of the party. They began a systematic imposition of candidates in all the states at all levels. The entire political system was fraudulently monetized in favour of a few political charlatans.

What do you think are the main issues that must be addressed?

Lack of internal democracy; non-adherence to the provisions of the party constitution. For instance, under the constitution, party is to be funded by members of the party through membership dues, donations, and contributions in accordance with the relevant laws, but the process has been hijacked by the governors.

Party members are no longer relevant in respect of funding and management of party affairs. Governors compile the list of councilors, members of Houses of Assembly and even National Assembly. Leaders and members of the party are only relevant during general election as party agents. The party has been taken away from the people by a privilege few. Certainly such an aberration is unacceptable and unsustainable.

It is no longer power to the people according to the slogan of the party. It is now power to the privileged few that have cornered and castrated the party.

What are the implications of the crisis?

The implication is that the PDP is gradually becoming irrelevant in the politics of Nigeria. As an opposition party, we are not playing our role. Nigerians expect more from PDP. There are factions of the party in all the local governments of Nigeria. As founding member of the party, I feel very sad. We lost the 2015 presidential election because of internal democracy. We lost Kogi, Edo, and Ondo governorship because of the crisis. Our leaders and National Assembly members are deflecting to the APC everyday. We are approaching crucial governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun and we are still fighting.

What do you think are the possible solutions?

The PDP is a political party. All the problems facing it at present are political in nature. Why are we then avoiding a political problem?

The leaders should jettison personal ambition for now and embrace dialogue, concentrate on reconciliation and rebuilding of the party. PDP has lost grounds in most of the state and there is need to bring everybody on board. The clamouring  for 2019 presidential ticket should wait until the party is stable. The gladiators should drop the toga of pride, consider the plight of the teeming members of the party and adopt a political solution that will take care of the interest of everybody.

The party should go back to the people. Congresses should be held by party people at all levels. Rules of the party must be obeyed. All party structures must be in place. The party Exco must be elected. The elders committee of the party at all levels should be constituted. Party decisions should be taken at party secretariats. Leaders and party leaders should be respected. No to impositions of candidates.