Options before G-7 governors (II)

The closure of the office of the new PDP in Maitama is tragic and signposts our descent into possible anarchy but God knows even if this is not a democracy, it is also not a banana republic and lest we forget, every time Nigerian leaders had sought to rule against the will of the people, […]

The closure of the office of the new PDP in Maitama is tragic and signposts our descent into possible anarchy but God knows even if this is not a democracy, it is also not a banana republic and lest we forget, every time Nigerian leaders had sought to rule against the will of the people, whether in uniform or civilian clothes, they had been unhorsed. It was so with Babangida, Abacha and Obasanjo. It is such a shame that despite the fact that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had had two factional chairmen, it was of no interest to the Nigerian Police. The Alliance for Democracy has for a long time also had parallel leaderships, but the Nigerian Police never intervened. But here we have a drowning ruling party broken into two and suddenly the Nigerian Police takes sides.
The crisis in the former largest political party in Africa stems from the habitual attitude of some members who fail to correctly read the mood of their colleagues and refuse to step down their personal ambition for the good of the party. There is an important message in all this; Jonathan has lost the political will to organise free and fair elections in 2015. The seven governors must quickly reconnect with the electorate, excite and sensitise them to the possibility of their votes being brazenly stolen in the next elections. They should be warned against the desperation of anti-democrats (in whose judgement 16 is greater than 19) who may want to instigate violence to warrant the imposition of state of emergency in opposition states, just like hostile police commissioners could also be posted to their capitals to emasculate them.
More importantly, there is the need to beat Jonathan at the 2015 polls to demonstrate to the militants and their God fathers that Nigeria is beyond them and that in a democracy it is the superiority of votes that matter and not the drunken logic of some pipeline vandals, creek mobs and their ignoble godfathers.
Obviously, the G-7 and their sympathisers wanted a vote on new party leadership but Jonathan would not allow it because he feared that could wrest control from him. President Thabo Mbeki should be telling Jonathan to listen to his party men. Mbeki himself had lost the leadership of African National Congress (ANC) and therefore the presidency of South Africa when the supporters of President Jacob Zuma rebelled against him in Polokwane in December, 2007. As Mbeki lost the ANC presidency, he also stood down from the South African presidency.
The seven governors must not water down their demands or lower their guards under any circumstances. They should understand that having denied his previous commitments, there is no fresh agreement that Jonathan can enter with them and honour it. This is fight to finish. So, it is much better for them to form an alliance with the devil himself and redirect power than to compromise with this administration. Of course, they know that this administration has amassed a terrific war chest and believes that every one of us has a price and that we shall all be bought between now and 2015. This is possible considering how some so called Northern elders are speaking from both ends of their mouth. But if they use that obscene amount of money to buy us, then we shall have been stripped of our dignity. We must draw from the remainder of our sense of morality to insist on honour and civilised conduct instead of selling our souls to the devil in exchange for crumbs.
Nor must they waver or panic on account of threat of war from confused minds. Like Bob Marley says: “Two thousand years of history could not be wiped away so easily.” Next year will be 210 years since the legendary scholar, Usman Ibn Fodio, took up arms against oppressors; there cannot be fear in their hearts except confidence and valour because no group of Nigerians has conquered their people. The seven governors have a duty to for once forgo political party solidarity and rescue the country from mediocre and dishonourable leadership. The reality of social and economic hardship cannot be hushed by empty slogans or some phantom transformation. The people are not really demanding for or expecting any transformation; they are simply asking for good roads, electricity, drinking water and functional clinics and schools for their children, among other things. Unfortunately, they are daily confused by a lying, ineffective, misguided and self-serving government that seeks to exploit our differences so as to remain in power.
In reality, the G-7 governors have only one option; sacrifice every-thing and work with like minds to terminate the misrule of this government in the 2015 election. We cannot continue to have leaders that rely only on luck and are unable to carry out the demands of the oath of the office they took.
There is no more democracy inside this Democratic Party. If you threaten the territorial integrity of the country, you are ignored; but if you endanger the oneness of the PDP, the roller coaster vehicle for capturing power, you get the maximum response. This could be in form of EFCC investigation, the removal of party structure from you or the propping up of your adversaries or even the institution of a national conference to unsettle your alliance with political soul mates. This is no business for the chicken-hearted; between now and 2015 every provincial method, every novel political trick, every mischievous, divisive and treacherous tactic will be used to hold on to power, and it doesn’t have to be exercised to address even your most urgent or basic need.
By the end of 2019, neither you nor your folks will be left off with any dignity. Have the G-7 seen the inside of Nigeria’s most harrowing prison? Or will they continue the plots and laughter in Aso Villa after 2015?