The return to civil rule in Nigeria in 1998 when bans on formation of political parties were lifted was greeted with all sense of responsibility, positively and enthusiasm.
Activities of numerous political associations leading to the formation of political parties began in earnest following the setting up of the national electoral umpire.
It was seemingly a joke when it began, but speedily the associations metamorphosed into the numerous political parties we have today in Nigeria.
However, the quest for a multi-party system in the country, saw the birth of the over fifty political parties in Nigeria, both the nominal and functional once.
Each of these political parties have their ideologies, views and aims with focus on winning to control the federation and federating states.
Prominent among these political parties that met the requirements for registration and operation as in view today are the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, United Nigerian Peoples Party, UNPP; All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP; Congress for Progressive change, CPC; Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; Action Alliance, AA; Action Party of Nigeria, APN and several others.
Chief among these parties that occupies the highest seat both at the federal, states and local governments is the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Others are the ACN, APGA and ANPP.
In this episode of the issues abattoir, we shall be looking at the unending crisis in the political setting especially as it affects the ruling political party, how it operates and ends. We shall probably examine the causes of the crisis and tend to proffer solutions for a lasting and peaceful democracy in the country.
It is pertinent to note that the crisis in the ruling PDP, is not the genesis of political crisis in any political setting in the country. I say this because of certain comments and insinuations in some quarters in the country.
I am sure that there were serious challenges over some issues, particularly leadership in other political parties before and upto date. For instance, Umeh and others are fighting over leadership of APGA; Alhaji Atiku Abubaka fought with Buhari over leadership of ACN before the former later re-decamp to PDP. The proposed merger of a mega party is not also finding it easy because of leadership.
All these are either for specific interest for the respective parties or personal; so no where is crisis free but why is the PDP’s case a peculiar one.
A man may fight with his wife in the house and the problem is sealed up. The same man would become an arrow head of gossip on another man’s misfortune with his wife, what a misnomer.
The crisis in PDP should be considered PDP internal affair and be left to the party alone because PDP crisis cannot hinder other political parties in any electoral process. Members of other political parties should atleast focus on their internal issues and let PDP carry her cross. Afterall, if PDP crisis rages on without remedy (if at all) it could be an advantage to others to go to the polls alone, probably achieve what they have been yearning for over the years.
Beloved Nigerians and fellow fighters, PDP crisis in Imo, Edo, Osun etc had given those states to other political parties.
If I am not disputed, permit me to say that PDP crisis is dimensional as the party itself is well rooted in the game of politics. Its crisis or war is such that never ends without a result either negative or positive. Its crisis, I think could be likened to an axe that is laid to a tree that must certainly go down at the desired time.
Again, if I am not disputed, from the fillers around, it was rumoured that the death of some prominent and founding members of the PDP were occasioned on certain crisis in the party. A lesson one must learn if that is anything to go by.
The humiliation, incarceration and humorous nature of the first executive governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamiesiegha was due to certain crisis in this party, the PDP.
Alamiesiegha was not only impeached, but was arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated even beyond the shores of Nigeria, it was because of crisis. He was never wanted to be known as governor general of the Niger Delta.
Today, Timipiri Silver is facing similar process probably due to his preferred mode of igniting crisis in his state then, and challenges against his brother the President.
For these two former Bayelsa Chief executives, their crisis might be insubordination to the party and disobedience to authorities; I think all Nigerians were witnesses.
Can a man climb a tower with the aid of a ladder and thereafter pull the ladder down, the question will be, with what shall he return down?
Crisis in a political setting might take any form and dimension depending on how and what ignited such.
In Imo State, it was internal crisis that pulled Chief Ikedi Ohakim out of office and hastily paved the way for Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha of the APGA in disguise.
Governor Theodore Oriji of Abia State came in to office through another platform and later decamp to the PDP. His case and emergence was because of crisis in PDP via the former governor of that state, Chief Oriji Uzor Kalu.
There is no war in PDP that does not accomplish one purpose or the other either in favour or against the initiator(s).
There is a long list of crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP but one thing remain constant that, when such crisis must have taken the casualty of its choice, the party would still win the polls.
This crisis did not exempt Rivers State, as it claims Governor Celestine Ngozichim Omehia in 2007. Omehia’s removal though by the supreme court of the land, it was obvious that there was a push base on aggression by some elders of the party to buttressed their anger.
At this point we can read the hand writing on the wall perhaps saying “smart boy! Smart boy! Arrogant boy!, intelligent boy, don’t worry you will be rewarded accordingly at the appropriate time.
If every war has its advantages and disadvantages in the society, what could this raging war in the Peoples Democratic Party wishing to claim before it ceases.
So far, the war has claimed the chairman of the party in the state, Chief Godspower U. Ake and his entire exco to clear the way for another exco led by Hon. Felix Amaechi Obuah. It also claimed the executive chairman of Obio/Akpor, Prince Timothy Nsirim and his councilors and as well the special Assistant to Gov. Amaechi on conflict resolution, Mr. Obinna Anyanwu.
Who else is this crisis waiting to take before the ceasefire? This is my worry.
Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree had raise alarm last month on an alleged ambush to kill the governor but without further explanation.
Similarly, the governor himself, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on Monday May 28th, 2013 had said he was not scared of impeachment, having nothing to loose if he leaves office.
The same governor had gone to a high court to seek for an injunction restricting the PDP from any further action against him and as well quash the suspension slammed on him by the party. Was he not the one who boasted of not being afraid of impeachment?
Whether the NEC or NWC of the party reserves the right to suspend, expel or not; “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Almighty”.
From the foregoing, we have seen how PDP crisis claimed casualties from inception, it goes to show that the party, PDP “is no respecter of any person”. Because certain actions were taken in time past in Rivers Sate against some subordinates and elected officials with impunity, without recourse to the party constitution, it presupposes that such could also be done by a national office of the same party, I am afraid.
In one of our episode in vol. 4 No. 18 of May 9-15 2013, entitled “Rivers PDP Politics: One Good turn deserves another” on page 12, the antecedence in the party crisis were thoroughly highlighted.
As said earlier, breaching the party’s principles’ constitution and orders are great offences that could lead to crisis in the party. Insubordination are serious offences that could not be taken lightly by any party, imagine what happens in the party.
My worries, if council chairmen could not condone erring counicllors, governors never pardon erring council chairmen, what then would a nation’s president do to erring governors?
It is important to understand that, in whatever our actions are, there are people watching at us, hence the need to do to others what we wish others to do to us.
Public officers should as a matter of urgency retract their steps in evil doing especially against their superiors because there is an axe laid to every tree not for decoration but destruction.
In other to avert any impending danger to our state, I have said in most of my episode that dialogue is the key to resolving crisis but where dialogue is denied anything goes.
I propose that our dear governor, Rt. Hon. Amaechi should implore any possible means to make peace with those he has wronged, political mentors, friends, relations and the party as well to ensure peace and save his head.
Amaechi himself knows that power is like fire which refines but also destroys because he is in it and have used it against those under him. Think of the sacked chairman. Nobody dares a burning fire because even its flames are dangerous. Beware.
Do we think that God and humanity were not watching those events which he, Gov. Amaechi supervised?
I think that forgoing what he claims as right or legality in or against the party would save the rocky situation of our state and its officials now.
The party has its way of resolving problems and knowing that this is an internal party crisis, the court has her limitations and if in the negative what happens acknowledging that the party might use its powers. I cannot imagine the resultant effect of such actions.
There are instances that party crisis never ends without a sad story particularly as it affects supporters of the targeted victims.
In my sense of understanding, the expression “No victor, no vanquish” does not apply in any political crisis because I have seen many crisis in the political environment and how they ended.
No one involve in this crisis in Rivers State should expect ‘No victor, No vanquished’ in this tournament because there must certainly be more casualties.
Therefore having been aware of this, it is my humble proposition as other stakeholders in the state have opined, that obedience and dialogue should play major role now than ever.
According to a former House of Assembly member in the state and former commissioner, Hon. Elemchukwu Ogbowu, “he was happy that Gov. Amaechi is now begging former governor Celestine Omehia.
To me if begging is a part of dialogue, Sir Celestine Ngozichim Omehia had once implored that measure but to no avail, when the incumbent governor never granted him such means for peaceful coexistence. I am not opposed to begging Omehia but must he be the right person now?
First, it is a lesson for someone to feel the pains of others and how uneasy, it is for one to beg.
Again, it is a belated action for Omehia to be drag to the dialogue table now, when he was earlier rejected such offer.
If we understand the times, we could see the handwriting on the wall was as the game is playing out itself. I see the stage set for action by the National office of the Peoples Democratic Party.
For the very first time since the suspension of the Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the National Chairman of the party Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had just spoken.
He said the party will no longer condone any act of anti-party activity by any individual or member of the party in any form.
According to him, the party will send packing any erring member who is not ready to be in the party, stressing that such persons can go to any party of their choice.
I think this is no time to play with the words of the party, all should be focused and strongly identify their status in the party as the case may be.
PDP Axe never go in vain, let whosoever that swims in the murky, mudy rivers look up and only think of peace at all cost, not retaliation.
Think about yesterday and future. ###
With James Mgboineme
