PDP and diminishing democratic space
The fear is borne out of nothing. With about 80 percent of elected political structures across all tiers of government under its control, the PDP is accused of using its position of power to muzzle and influence the opposition into submission. This allegation has not been unchallenged however. Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the National Secretary of […]
The fear is borne out of nothing. With about 80 percent of elected political structures across all tiers of government under its control, the PDP is accused of using its position of power to muzzle and influence the opposition into submission. This allegation has not been unchallenged however. Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the National Secretary of the PDP recently told reporters that neither Governors, legislators nor any other Nigerian for that matter has ever been put under pressure to join the party.
National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Professor Ahmed Alkali recently queried- is it right for the party to close its doors to new members so as to stave off criticisms? This is most unlikely. But even as debate rages on the defining characteristics of this party and why carpet-crossing has consistently been in one direction, there is a crystallising shift of emphasis among the PDP leaders that only quality performance can guarantee the party’s hold on power.
This unarguably is consequent upon a realisation that there is a growing awareness among Nigerians that excellent delivery of electoral promises does not exclusively belong to a particular political platform because competence is jointly promoted by the manifesto of a platform as well as individual personal qualities. Some people have after all argued that all the 54 registered political parties in Nigeria are photocopies of the PDP as the originality of their manifesto and constitution cannot be divorced from the foundation of the PDP.
If there is a very thin line separating all political parties in the country in terms of philosophy or ideology, as most commentators agree, it defies logic that while other fifty-two political parties are fading out, the PDP is growing from strength to strength.
Our political parties cannot be weighed on the basis of ideological differences. So it is difficult to differentiate the character, tendencies and genie of these political parties. The difference is largely that some are in power at some levels while others are not. It is for this reason that all the ills that the PDP is accused of are also prevalent in the opposition, even in worse degree.
As things are today, the PDP is bowing to criticisms and is reconnecting to the ideals of its founding fathers in terms of internal democracy, free and transparent congress and conventions at least in the last two years as well as in openness and adherence to the rule of law. The on- going revelations and drama of contradictions in the PPA hitherto thought to be a little bit different from the other opposition political parties have opened the eyes of Nigerians further to the degenerate level of democracy within the ranks of leadership of the opposition.
Government is the biggest business that the majority of Nigerians run. Government and government businesses are the largest trade in the country, hence the largest dispenser of patronage. There are very few members of the political and business class who can sustain their riches in the void of government patronage. For this fact therefore, there is incipient tendency especially in the later stage of our history for every Nigerian to try to remain in government even while in opposition.
Add this to an economy that is yet to bounce back to its glory, add this to a rampaging greedy elite class, add this also to a fast fizzling nationalism -a detraction that has been in epic battle with patriotism- the gritty essential of nationhood, you behold a nation, a Nigeria that is there to be raped by a rampaging ethnic loyalty.
At best, the mettle of most opposition political parties is not far from social clubs masquerading as political parties. Their major engagement is the quarterly allocation from the INEC. The majority are without offices beyond the Federal Capital territory. They are also without structures and membership capable of winning a councillorship position even in the native constituencies of their leaders. Ideally, an opposition is a government in waiting. It provides effective check on government in power while also providing ideas.
Which opposition party has proven it can be better than the PDP? If the opposition is steadfast, committed and unwavering in its quest for power, it is unlikely the PDP will be having its way the way it does at present. Has the opposition been able to keep the PDP on its toes? The single debilitating factor therefore to the strength of the opposition today is the insincerity and crass opportunism, the unfortunate phenomenon of opposition-in-the-day, seekers-of-government-patronage in the night.
If M. K. O. Abiola did not sacrifice his wealth and comfort to defy Abacha, democracy may still be in abeyance and if the members of G34 did not dare the devil of dictatorship, democracy may not be ours today.
My opinion therefore, is that the polity needs an overhaul, our values, our orientation need to be re-charged to the direction where politicians should not join politics to feather personal financial interests.
Most importantly, we must engage in the amendment of our constitution to restore the missing essentials of federalism under which our founding fathers envisaged a great democratic and prosperous nation. The task is for all of us, the PDP, the opposition. The problem therefore is not the much bandied freeze of the democratic space by the PDP; it is about certain structural defects and the greed of the political class.
Ngige is of the Publicity Directorate of the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.