Those that anticipated loud combustion from the PDP’s current NEC assembly have been disillusioned, writes Tunde Olusunle
Sceptical reporters had certainly forged the headlines of the tales they have been going to file, forward of the 98th Nationwide Government Committee, (NEC) assembly of the Peoples’ Democratic Occasion, (PDP), Thursday April 18, 2023. They have been awaiting the information of the implosion of the occasion after what was going to be a testy, nervy convergence of the occasion management at that degree. The NEC ranks subsequent to its Nationwide Conference. The current PDP, NEC engagement was the primary because the rancorous 2023 common elections. Very bitter acrimony hallmarked the elections with partial breakaways by stakeholders at numerous ranges. Most notable of those was the revolt of the *G-5* an amalgam of Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom, former governors of Rivers, Enugu, Abia and Benue. Seyi Makinde who’s serving his second time period as governor of Oyo State was the final of the quintet. The final 4 stood in solidarity with Wike who misplaced out in his bid to pair with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the PDP presidential ticket.
The previous Rivers governor got here second on the presidential main of the occasion held in Could 2022, and routinely fancied himself as working mate for all his troubles. Wike has serially confirmed that he labored for the presidential flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Bola Tinubu and has been rewarded with a ministerial appointment to a plum ministry. Ortom admitted he labored for the emergence of Peter Obi who flew the flag of the Labour Occasion, (LP), for the nation’s primary job. Like Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu, Ortom sadly misplaced his bid for the senate. By some uncanny coincidence, all three have been trounced by candidates from different political events. This has generated discussions about their political rootedness of their numerous political areas in opposition to the rather-too-early conversations about 2027.
Conjectures and permutations previous the assembly of the main oppositional NEC, envisaged a collision between pro-Atiku and pro-Wike tendencies on the occasion. It was presumed that the core of discourse on the programme could be the query of the substitute of the chairman of the occasion, Umar Iliya Damagum. Following the suspension of Iyorchia Ayu a former college trainer and Emeritus minister from the place early final yr, Damagum, the senior deputy nationwide chairman took over in an appearing capability. Owing to the poor funding of the occasion which has all the time derived its oxygen courtesy of the benevolence of its governors, parliamentarians and stakeholders, it has been superior that Wike has been supportive of Damagum. Regardless of being minister in an opposition authorities, Wike has not relinquished his membership of the PDP and has not been disciplined. He has mentioned on a number of events that he hoped to stay within the occasion, however compromise its unity and stability.
The agenda for the assembly, nonetheless, precluded this specific subject. The sitting mentioned the: Timetable for occasion congresses and reconstitution of the disciplinary and reconciliation committees. It additionally located a committee to amend the structure of the PDP; sustainable funding of the occasion and the necessity to rebrand the 25-year-old emblem of the occasion, the very well-known “umbrella.” Attendance on the assembly was massive and broad-based. No fewer than 350 leaders of the PDP from the 36 states and the federal capital turned up. The crammed up convention corridor of the occasion rekindled the query about why the PDP is but to finish its purpose-built multistorey
nationwide headquarters on the very coronary heart of Abuja which has been deserted for a couple of decade.
Atiku led the way in which with former Vice President Namadi Sambo in tow. There have been additionally the previous President of the Senate who can be the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, (BOT), Adolphus Wabara and a few of his successors, notably David Mark and Bukola Saraki. Former Deputy Audio system of the Home of Representatives Austin Opara, Chibudom Nwuche and Emeka Ihedioha have been on the entrance row. The PDP has by no means been in brief provide of formidable and respected Nigerians with former occasion chairmen; former governors and serving governors; federal parliamentarians; members of the Nationwide Working Committee, (NWC) and elder statesmen within the BOT amongst these in attendance. You possibly can really feel the “long-time-no-see” bonhomie, whilst you possibly can virtually slice the foreboding within the air of the constrained convention corridor of the occasion in its secretariat.
Since Ayu is from the north central, a piece of the occasion is inclined in direction of what has been described as a “like for like” substitute. It will see a PDP stalwart from the identical zone change him, which is the angle of the Atiku faculty of thought. Gabriel Torwua Suswam, former governor of Benue State and three-time federal parliamentarian suits the invoice. He has seen all of it up to now 25 years of fourth republic democracy and can’t be bullied by anybody. On the flip facet, pro-Wike components reportedly want that Damagum ought to certainly be formally consecrated on the NEC assembly as substantive chairman of the PDP. Strategists within the occasion, nonetheless, reckoned that perpetuating Damagum who acquired a vote of confidence from the Nationwide Working Committee, (NWC) and the Nationwide Caucus of the occasion simply days earlier than, could possibly be politically suicidal. His present relationship with Wike could possibly be counterproductive to the worldwide curiosity of occasion.
Atiku’s repute as an genuine nationalist with friendships and relationships constructed and nurtured over eons, stay very formidable. He’s a basis member of the PDP who led the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua’s “Peoples’ Entrance,” (PF), as a core element of the PDP when the occasion was in gestation in 1998. His nationwide recognition and expertise are crucial to the occasion’s consolidation and preparations for future electoral involvements. He’s subsequently the proverbial elder who, from his native sofa, can see that which a younger tree climber can not see. He gave his well-known “don’t fear” smile once I engaged him a number of days earlier than about his expectations on the assembly. That capability to make mild of challenges have to be one of many causes for his bouncy well being even at his age.
Those that anticipated an inevitably loud combustion from the assembly have been disillusioned. Atiku and his loyalists drawn primarily from the ranks of longstanding members of the occasion have all the time desired strategic adjustments throughout the ranks of the PDP’s management constructions, as a method of strengthening the occasion within the run-up in direction of 2027. He was, nonetheless, tactically amenable to the deferment of the doubtless explosive topic of management change which was pushed to the back-burner. The necessity for sustained reconciliation and the enthronement of occasion self-discipline was subsequently foregrounded. Two committees have been activated particularly the reconciliation committee to be led by Saraki, and that of self-discipline which might be chaired by Udom Emmanuel, the suave rapid previous governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Atiku thus supported the continuation of the Damagum-led NWC for the following couple of months throughout which the north central zone will construct consensus round a particular candidate from the zone for the place of nationwide chairman. This adopted the proposition {that a} follow-up NEC assembly be referred to as in August 2024. Time beyond regulation, Wike is claimed to have foisted leaders on the PDP and fallen out with them as quickly as he thought-about them not in alignment along with his designs. Within the current historical past of the occasion, Wike it was who proposed Ali Modu Sheriff, Ahmed Makarfi and Uche Secondus who, instructively is his kinsman from Rivers State, as chairmen of the PDP. He reportedly additionally supported the ascension of Iyorchia Ayu on the advice of Samuel Ortom, preparatory to launching his presidential bid in 2022. The Atiku camp got here ready to take Wike on if the difficulty of the substitute of the nationwide chairman got here up for dialogue. Atiku diplomatically talked them out of the difficulty.
Atiku differed pointedly from those that reacted within the aftermath of the assembly that the occasion had misplaced its gravitas. His phrases: “PDP is just not completed. The occasion has demonstrated maturity and management. The appearing Nationwide Chairman has been holding forth for nearly one yr. It was the consensus that he would get replaced by a nominee from the north central. That zone has been placed on discover and given three months to place their home so as and convey a candidate.” Overseas affairs minister within the Obasanjo/Atiku administration, Dubem Onyia in alliance with Atiku, additionally admonished dissenters to hearken to the previous Vice President, a father determine within the occasion. He appeared to rehash the favored African parable which educates that when a tree is being hewn from its backside, the previous man is anxious about how and the place it’ll land, not the rhythm of the axe or the sound of its fall.
Segun Sowunmi a former Atiku spokesman warned members of the occasion in opposition to de-marketing the occasion. He enjoined occasion stalwarts to push out the narrative that the PDP being a way more democratic and organised occasion than is imagined. This he says is essential so the occasion doesn’t, inadvertently play into the palms of haters and traducers. Quoting a biblical verse from Ecclesiastes Chapter 9, Verse 11 to buttress his level, Sowunmi reminded PDP supporters thus: “The race is just not for the swift nor victory for the sturdy. However it’s the Lord that exhibits mercy.” Dagogo Farah a former parliamentarian from Rivers State saluted Atiku’s “maturity and sagacity” in stopping the PDP ship from shedding course on the NEC assembly. Unquestionably, the PDP is able to a rebound so lengthy it avoids the pitfalls of the previous.
Olusunle, PhD, is a Fellow of the Affiliation of Nigerian Authors, (FANA)