PDP CRISIS: ARE THINGS FALLING APART?

By Olalekan Waheed ADIGUN

Many thoughts have been shared about the “great fall” of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Nigeria. How the mighty fall. It only reminds me of the soap opera we saw as children The Rich Also Cry . Does this title have anything to do with “our great party”?

Great civilisations are born, start to grow, theyreach the peak of their powers, decline and ultimately crumble. We often hear of the great Zimbabwe, great Timbuktu, Egypt, Babylon, Carthage, Rome Othoman, Marcedonia and the likes were all great civilisations at different times. Since nothing, good or bad, lasts forever there came a time when they have to erode with history. This is why I love the most quoted Igbo saying “No condition is permanent.”

The PDP perhaps did not realiseits “humanness” at all. In 2008, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, the then PDP National Chairman, had publicly boasted that the party will rule Nigeria for the next sixty years. At other points some of its leaders echoed arrogantly that it will rule forever. This was why the party did not prepare for the shock March 28 defeat. It was caught off guard!

It is never easy to be in opposition after losing your daily bread. It is never made easier when you are beaten to your own game. This appears to be the fear of the party today. It is afraid of everything. This is not the time for the PDP strategists to go to sleep. The party will not be the first to find itself in this kind of position neither will it be the last!

The United Kingdom Conservative Party had to weather the storm of turbulent period of fifteen years after since Labour Party’s Tony Blair won in 1995. You can only imagine the Tories’ frustrations during those years before David Cameron won in 2010.

The Mexican PartidoRevolutionarioInstitucionalor the Institutional Revolutionary Party(PRI) held on to power for uninterrupted 71 years since 1929 winning every presidential elections. Though some critics point out that it won the 1988 and 1994 elections by fraudulent ballots, the party never lost a national election till 2000 when it relinquish power peacefully. It had to wait another twelve years to return to power at the national level in 2012.

The United States Republicans had to cope with serial electoral defeats since losing the Presidencyto Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. At some point their membership in the Senate reduced to less than 30 during this period. The Grand Old Party (GOP) had to wait till 1952 to get back to the White House!

The PDP does not appear to be prepared for the daunting challenge of becoming an opposition party. The present crises rocking the party over the control of its leadership should be a cause for concern to its rank and file. It is just that they are not admitting it openly, opposition in can be a unique experience. You are almost an endangered species; you are constantly harassed, suspected or intimidated. There is no question of “Loyal Opposition.”

It is now an open secret that the all is not well within the party’s ranks. There are insinuations that some of its governors, with tacit support of President Goodluck Jonathan are planning to float a new platform to challenge the All Progressives Congress(APC). This appears to me more like a mistrust of brand. The party’s brand has been seriously battered by corruption, impunity, ineptitude and mediocrity. The future is looking rather gloomy by the day for PDP.

As a matter of recommendation, if the party’s strategists are working, they must look for ways to create a new image or brand for the party which will pave ways for new orientation, new directions and corporate culture.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
OlalekanWaheed ADIGUN is of many parts. He is a writer, philosopher, academic, political risk analyst and researcher. He also an independent political strategist and brand consultant for political campaigns and organizations. His write-ups can be viewed on his website http://olalekanadigun.com/

Tel: 08136502040, 07081901080
Email: [email protected]
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