Politics
PDP Chairmanship Race: Who Wears The Crown?
As ants swoop on sugar, a legion of politicians have indicated interest in leading the Nigeria’s ruling political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
At the last count, not less than 25 members of the party including the serious, not so serious and the unserious are jostling for the post even after zoning arrangement of the party. The race has been limited to only contestants from the South-East.
The contestants are the former Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Ex-National Secretary of the party and former Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Ex-National Vice Chairman, Chief Fidelis Ozichukwu, the incumbent National Vice Chairman, Olisah Metu and Chief Engr Ezekiel-Izuogu.
Going by the list so far, it could be said that the five front runners are attracting the attention of stakeholders for different measures.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prof Rufai Alkali says the South-East zone would still produce the next substantive chairman of the party. He said under the existing arrangement, the South-East produces the National Chairman of the party.
However, since Nwodo’s resignation, the party hierarchy has been polarised, some want Alhaji Bello Mohammed to be in charge till the next party convention, others want the South-East to complete their tenure, which expires in September 2011.
Quite interestingly, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo is among those calling for a candidate from the South-East for the replacement of Okwesilieze Nwodo in order to give the zone a sense of belonging. The former President is rooting for Chief Ojo Maduekwe, whom he believes is more qualified than any one else.
President Goodluck Jonathan wants leaders from the zone to decide. Hence, the leaders from the zone have set up a seven man-panel headed by the Imo State Governor, Ikedim Ohakim to screen eligible contestants from the zone.
From investigation, the battle is certainly going to be between Chief Ojo Maduekwe and former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim.
A new twist to the contest is a court order barring one of the contestants, Chief Olisa Metuh from contesting, an Anambra High Court had barred Chief Olisa Metuh from contesting following a court action by two aggrieved members of the party, Prince Emeka Eze and Hon. Tim Egboka.
The South-East therefore needs to put its house in order to achieve a common political front for the people of the zone to clinch the chairmanship position of the party.
The political question now is who wears the crown as the next National Chairman of PDP from the South-East geo-political zone?
Surprisingly, prominent Northern politicians are in support of North holding unto the party chairmanship position to counter-balance the power equation in the country between the North and the South.
But what is puzzling political observers is the impact of frequent changes of PDP chairmanship and stability of the party. Does the changes foster stability of the party and voters confidence in the party?
Chief Isaac Obele Eeh, former State Financial Secretary of the PDP in the State said that such changes of the party leadership would never foster the much needed stability within the party. He said “frequent changes will never ensure policy stability in the party,” stressing that a new chairman comes with a new vision, blue print and policy thrust for running the party either to reforms weaken or strengthen internal democracy within the party.
Chief Eeh advocated for internal conflict resolution mechanism to be adopted within the party to settle differences arising from the party’s leadership, rather than frequent removal.
However, the PDP leadership must ensure internal reconciliation within the party by reaching out to most aggrieved members in order to face the general elections as one united political party, as a house divided against itself cannot stand.
However, for failing to unite the home front and ensure cohesiveness within the party in the South-East, the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo was forced to resign his position prior to the party’s national convention.
The former Chairman was alleged to have played an undignified role between the camps of the two frontline presidential aspirants of the party, prior to the primary won by President Goodluck Jonathan.
However the last political straw that broke the camel’s back over Nwodo’s removal was his alleged disobedience to a lawful court order issued by an Enugu High court. Nwodo was alleged to have flouted the Court order and his appearance briefly at the convention angered the party leadership.
The PDP said “Nwodo flouted a court order restraining him from parading himself as the National Chairman. His presence at the special convention caused the party some embarrassment.
The Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Bello Mohammed also said,” the action of Dr. Nwodo dragged the party into disrepute contrary to the party’s Article 21 (1) (c) & (h) of the PDP Constitution.
Meanwhile, since 2007 when the position of the party’s National Chairman was zoned to the South-East, the zone had produced two National Chairmen within a period of three years, nine months. In 2007, Dr. Vincent Ogbulafor who was elected the party’s National Chairman as a neutral candidate between the contending forces in the party to keep the party united following the polarisation of support for either Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, the former Senate President or Dr. Sam Egwu, former Governor of Ebonyi State who were campaigning then for the chairmanship position of the party.
Three years into his tenure, Dr. Vincent Ogbulafor was forced to resign to pave way for Nwodo as his successor. Immediately, Nwodo took over, he declared the zoning principle within the party dead while he embarked on internal reforms within the party.
At inception on 24th September, 1998 as a political party, Dr. Alex Ekwueme became the founding and interim National Chairman who voluntarily resigned the position to contest the party presidential primary with General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. Chief Solomon Lar took over the mantle of leadership and led the party to victory by winning the presidential election in 1999 and majority governorship seats in the country.
Engineer Barnabas Gemade, now PDP senatorial candidate for Benue State took over the party chairmanship position from Chief Solomon Lar.
Chief Audu Ogbeh, a principled politician took over the mantle of the party leadership to restore confidence of the party members. Chief Ogbeh did his best to improve upon the image of the party.
Today, Chief Audu Ogbeh is a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Retired Army Colonel, Dr. Ahmadu Ali whose tenure was regarded as the “Garrison Command Period” took over from Chief Audu Ogbeh and successfully led the party to victory in the 2007 general elections.
Political watchers argue that for the South-East to produce a credible leader to move the party forward, that leader must have the political clout to lead the party to victory in the forthcoming elections.
The pitfalls of the past National Chairmen from the zone must be avoided by any incoming National Chairman. Only then can the party restore the confidence of Nigerians and in their party members.
Philip-Wuwu Okparaji
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
-
Sports5 days ago
CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo
-
Sports5 days ago
FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa
-
Sports5 days ago
NPFL club name Iorfa new GM
-
Sports5 days ago
NNL abolishes playoffs for NPFL promotion
-
Sports5 days ago
NSF: Early preparations begin for 2026 National Sports Festival
-
Sports5 days ago
Kwara Hopeful To Host Confed Cup in Ilorin
-
Sports5 days ago
RSG Award Renovation Work At Yakubu Gowon Stadium
-
Politics4 days agoRivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension