PDP and 2011 politics

To answer the question effectively, we have to look at the internal structure of various political parties. The reality on the ground at the moment is that the PDP remains the reference point as far as internal democracy is concerned in our party system. This cannot be for any other reason than the fact that […]

To answer the question effectively, we have to look at the internal structure of various political parties. The reality on the ground at the moment is that the PDP remains the reference point as far as internal democracy is concerned in our party system. This cannot be for any other reason than the fact that it is not only the ruling party, but a dominant party, being in control of about twenty six states of the country apart from the federal government. Some have even argued that the colossal size of the party in the political dominance is not healthy for the polity. To such people, the power sharing phenomenon among major political parties needs redistribution.

It is therefore not an accident that other political parties had been employing various strategies aimed at ensuring that the PDP is forced to shed its weight drastically come 2011. One of these strategies is the unusual negative interest which they have shown in the internal affairs of the party. For instance, the zoning arrangement which is supposed to be an internal arrangement of the PDP since 1998 had been attracting negative reactions from other political parties. After realising that respect for zoning arrangement is the only magic wand with which the PDP can maintain its relevance in the nation’s political landscape, they have remained unrelenting in rubbishing the zoning arrangement of the PDP.

On the other hand, the PDP had remained unsuspecting of the very intelligent antic of their opponents. If they were suspecting, the leadership of the PDP should have been wondering while those political parties that criticize them on zoning implacably had been keeping strict adherence to the same formula. To them, it is only to the PDP that ‘any Nigerian from any part of the country can aspire to any office’. In their own international arrangement however, they silently adhere to the North as the zone to produce their presidential candidate. However, the ACN was forced to let the cat out of the basket at its last national convention in Benin. That was when it publicly declared that Chief Bise Akande was returned as Chairman because the position of national chairman had been zoned to the South West. It is only wise that the second leg of national zoning of offices which is the Presidency could only have been zoned to the North.

But the paradox is that at the same ceremony the sole presidential aspirant of the ACN Nuhu Ribadu still found time to condemn the PDP over its policy of zoning. That is notwithstanding the fact that he himself is a major beneficiary of zoning. Otherwise, what qualifies Ribadu to stand with the likes of Chief Ngige or Adams Oshiomole or even Bola Tinubu but for the fact that they are southerners?

Apart from the ACn, the two other major political parties jostling for the presidency are CPC and ANPP. In the case of the CPC, there is no dispute or any debate over the choice of Buhari. For the ANPP on the other hand, the choice lies between Shekarau and Tofa, both Northerners. It will remain the myth of a tragedy if the PDP allows other parties to harvest the plant of its wise men as far back 1998 while it, the original plant owners dies in starvation and hunger.

The second leg of the opposition plot against the PDP is to make sure that it does not present a candidate of high profile political/democratic credentials that can match or even surpass them in the political market.

For instance, remove the incumbency factor in Goodluck Jonathan, what does he have to compete with the likes of Mohammadu Buhari for electoral support at the general election? Even the incumbency under reference itself is a product of zoning. One thing which Atiku has over and above any of the present political gladiators pursuing the presidency is a national coalition of friends, associates and admirers.

This dates back to 1989 under the endless Babangida transition. Since then, he has remained, not only in touch, but very relevant in the politics of the six geopolitical zones of the country. While Buhari can be described as doyen of the northern grassroots, and Shekarau, the man of Kano State, Atiku has equitable influence in all the six zones of the country.

On the part of the PDP, however, and its so-called giant size notwithstanding, the only choice left for it is to tow the line of political reality currently spreading in wind across the country. It is a reality of the moment that the mood of the nation favours the North to produce the next President in 2011. If the PDP moves with time, it will save itself from national disgrace. But if it remains static by transient executive phobia it will be swept away by the tide of change.

It is an empirical truism that the dynamics of politics as a social institution is to submit to the wish of the people.

Agboola Sanni wrote this piece from Ibadan.