PDP: Between search for candidate and a president
It is the season again – as aptly captured in MKO Abiola’s popular campaign theme song, “Nigeria is on the march again, looking for Mr. President”. While the ruling All Progressives Congress appear settled to return incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, our great Party the Peoples Democratic Party is locked in a battle of wits to […]
It is the season again – as aptly captured in MKO Abiola’s popular campaign theme song, “Nigeria is on the march again, looking for Mr. President”. While the ruling All Progressives Congress appear settled to return incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, our great Party the Peoples Democratic Party is locked in a battle of wits to choose from an array of 12 political gladiators.
There is no doubt that our Party parades a galaxy of stars each possessing intimidating credentials and proven track records of excellence in service. Each of the aspirants is eminently qualified to lead. The question however is which of them is capable of matching the populist narrative and cult like image moulded of Buhari by the APC spin doctors?
A lot has been said about the strengths of the various aspirants. Some for instance are viewed as sidekicks of the “assumed owners” of the party and are therefore vantage placed. Some are seen as possessing humongous war chests that have earned them purchased follower-ships across the country. Some others are seen as landlords or “founding fathers” while others boast of their relative youth as a means of appealing to the growing youth population.
The question however is, who among the aspirants command a formidable structure to stand up to the entrenched myth of a Muhammadu Buhari especially among the areas of the North considered the ‘ vote banks” of the country? While closeness to power blocks within the party may earn you a nomination that may not necessarily translate into victory in the ultimate contest. In the same vein, while a huge war chest may successfully buy you delegates to conventions, you may not be able to buy the entire Nigerian electorate in the general elections. Your being a youthful candidate may appeal to carnivals in rallies but does not amount to votes.
What is therefore needed to uproot the APC and its demigod is a broad based movement with a counter cult like following that successfully showcases the PDP as a changed platform that is ready to correct the mistakes of the past. There is no doubt that the APC took advantage of the bitterly divisive campaign of the PDP in 2015. The pronouncements, tone and texture of the speeches alienated a significant part of the country and sold the message that the PDP was “anti-North”. It was therefore easy to sentimentally appeal to the common people in the North that they were endangered under a PDP Government. Such a dangerous possibility still exists in the North for instance if a candidate even if he is from the North emerges that is seen as a lackey of those who sent out hate messages against the North in 2015.
A candidate whose major strength is the amount of money he has also deepens the anti PDP sentiments as a party still seething in corruption. This again plays into the hands of the APC who though steeped in corruption has successfully sold a dummy to some Nigerians and the international community as being a champion of anti-corruption.
A candidate boasting of youthfully energy without a message and pedigree that resonates outside the borders of the Party is just wasting time. What we require is a candidate that is a proven fighter, a candidate with a natural gift of popularity across party lines and a candidate who in addition to all that has demonstrated a capacity to perform and mentor others before now. The PDP needs a candidate that will unite the rest of the country and confront the APC demigod in his so called stronghold and give him a run for his money.
This is where among the candidates Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso stands out. If President Muhammadu Buhari can stand and boast of his achievements in tackling insecurity, Kwankwaso has better success stories as Minister of Defence. While he held sway as minister, Nigeria witnessed zero insurgency. The era of re- professionalization of the armed forces by orienting them to keep away from politics recorded huge successes with him as minister. When Buhari sings about his anti-corruption posture, Kwankwaso posts verifiable successes here too. Kano under him as Governor abolished the opaque system of security votes insisting that finances of Kano must be transparently administered.
When Buhari talks about employment of youths, Kwankwaso not only employed thousands of youths but enhanced their capacity by training thousands in institutions across the world. Today, we have pilots, engineers, doctors, lawyers of Kano descent offering quality services across the country.
The KWANKWASIYYA movement proclaiming his ideology is present in every polling both in the country including hitherto strong holds of the APC. His capacity to draw large crowds to surpasses the APC road shows hence their deliberate measures to prevent his functions from holding using flimsy excuses. The KWANKWASIYYA Ideology resides in the hearts of the people and that shall be expressed on Election Day.
Senator Kwankwaso may not possess the war chest but his effortless ability to connect with the people and ignite passions is an asset the PDP delegates cannot afford to ignore. The PDP needs a candidate with a burst of hysteria and a distinct positive identity capable of burying the stereotypes and negativities that have blighted its image in the past.
The PDP needs a candidate who shall go into the contest to win and not just to participate in a walk over. That candidate with the character, discipline, will power and mass appeal is Senator Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. He is not just willing to be a candidate, he is ready to be President.
Ekeoma wrote this piece from Aba, Abia State.