PDP and its festering crisis

In the aftermath, a splinter group known as ‘the New PDP’ headed by former interim Chairman of the PDP Kawu Baraje emerged with the staunch support of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and seven governors namely: Magatakarda Wamakko – Sokoto, Rotimi Amaechi – Rivers, Babangida Aliyu – Niger, Rabi’u Kwankwaso – Kano, Murtala Nyako – […]

In the aftermath, a splinter group known as ‘the New PDP’ headed by former interim Chairman of the PDP Kawu Baraje emerged with the staunch support of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and seven governors namely: Magatakarda Wamakko – Sokoto, Rotimi Amaechi – Rivers, Babangida Aliyu – Niger, Rabi’u Kwankwaso – Kano, Murtala Nyako – Adamawa, Sule Lamido – Jigawa and Abdul-Fatah Ahmed – Kwara, as willing acolytes. They accused the chairman of PDP – Bamanga Tukur of highhandedness, meddlesomeness in Adamawa and Rivers’ PDP executives and demanded for his sack.
This implosion was long overdue. First, the unresolved crises in the PDP are numerous and also not new. Second, from inception, the politics of arm-twisting and sidelining of benefactors runs in the veins of the party and has continued to generate bad blood amongst members. Third, the party has no regard for internal democratic principles in the day to day running of its affairs. To make matters worse, past and present leaders in a bid to control the machinery of the party unilaterally impose leadership and manipulate the party structures to their advantage. This precedent was unfortunately replicated at various levels of PDP government and it has continued to hunt the party till today.
Before that day it was obvious that only time will tell that the much touted biggest political party in Africa is in a quandary and must put its house in order to be able to overcome its self-inflicted internal political challenges, become relevant and win the 2015 elections. A crisis management effort to reconcile the aggrieved splinter group was hurriedly put in place with President Jonathan at the head of the negotiation. The peace initiative died on arrival.  
In the course of this reconciliatory moves, the splinter group oblivious of the antics of PDP formed alliances with other aggrieved members, individuals averse to PDP and even with opposition political parties all in a bid to spite and upstage the PDP come 2015.The matter came to its logical conclusion when some of the G-7 governors announced their defection to the All Progressive Congress. How right is this move at this moment?
There are persistent problems in PDP no doubt but these have not in any way factionalised the party.  
The ‘New PDP’ and these governors who claim to have defected to APC know the implications of committing such a naïve political hara-kiri. See if their much cherished seats will not be declared vacant the moment this defection is formalised. You do not spite your face to save your nose. Politically based conflicts and issues of this nature are not resolved on mere propaganda, sentiments or emotions dissipated on it in the media especially in a highly tribal-based society like Nigeria. In fact, this PDP conflict is a test of who determines the politics of what; come 2015 and does not reflect the interest of the common man in the streets of the states of G-7governors or the entire nation.

 Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, <[email protected]>;