PDP: Living in denial

It’s become habitual for the Peoples Democratic Party to dismiss and deny the truths about them that paint the party in a bad light. They also ridicule all non-favourable observations or conclusions on their performance contained in independent internal and external reports. This quite simply isn’t the way to get us out of our problems, […]

It’s become habitual for the Peoples Democratic Party to dismiss and deny the truths about them that paint the party in a bad light. They also ridicule all non-favourable observations or conclusions on their performance contained in independent internal and external reports. This quite simply isn’t the way to get us out of our problems, and it shows. In the 14 years since 1999, successive PDP administrations have made a mockery of democracy by entrenching undemocratic processes and failing to provide the quality of governance Nigerians expected. It’s increasingly evident that PDP leaders are conspicuously deficient in the powers of organization. They lack the level of control and management of the affairs of men required to move the nation forward. They absolutely love the display of power, but fail to rise up to its responsibilities.
Time and time again it has been pointed out that the reason Nigeria is still an undeveloped nation isn’t for lack of mineral or human resources but simply due to mismanagement and corruption. It’s vitally important for leaders to accept that other people’s opinions of them are more important than their opinions of themselves. The whole history of PDP administration over the years has been one of ignoring realities and living in denial as the nation plummets further into deprivation and chaos.
Former President Olusegun Oba-sanjo is a good example of living in denial. In a keynote address at a recent summit on leadership, he blamed Nigeria’s leader-ship failure on the younger generation.  When elected in 1999 he was by no means a young man, yet his eight year administration was an unmitigated national disaster and a lesson in failed leadership. The truth is Nigeria’s leadership problem isn’t with the youth but with the PDP. President Obasanjo himself confirmed this by providing examples of “failed young leaders”. He specifically mentioned the indolent Lucky Igbinedion, philandering James Ibori, fraudulent Salisu Buhari, kleptocratic Deprieye Alamieseigha and erstwhile second-hand clothing mil-lionaire Orji Kalu. Without exception they were all members of the PDP.  
Under Obasanjo’s watch voters wanted to remove these errant PDP governors but the electoral commission blocked the effort. Further attempt to remove PDP from power in 2007 was frustrated by an old man “Professor” Maurice Iwu of best forgotten memory who gave us all a lesson in corrupt and failed leadership. An “elder statesman” famous for his “no vacancy” phrase and still highly visible in the presidency was one of the key players in this saga of frustrating the wishes of the electorate, hijacking democracy and foisting inept leadership upon the people. Nigeria’s leadership problem isn’t the youth; it’s the PDP which never blames others for failed leadership. Rather than providing the required standards of leadership, the “largest party in Africa” defends the indefensible.
The main reason why PDP continues to fail the nation is their constant state of denial. Initially the Federal Government’s decision to produce bi-annual evaluation reports on the performance of ministers appeared to be an indication that the President recognized PDP failure in service delivery. However, when the real reason was clarified it manifested as further evidence of self-aggrandisement and living in denial. Apparently since PDP could no longer stomach all the negative independent assessments of their performance, they decided that in future they will produce their own positive ones!  The public aren’t concerned with government giving itself a pass mark. The truth is poverty rate is on the increase, malnutrition is widespread, unemployment is high and by all indices Nigerians have become worse off under the PDP.  
In France they have a saying “Plus ca change mais plus c’est la meme!” which literally means all has changed but all remains the same. PDP has reduced Nigerian democracy to the simple conduct of elections without any real change. From Obasanjo to Yar a’dua to Jonathan they have won elections and changed leadership but remained the same failure in almost all aspects of governance. One of the greatest public relations setbacks this particular administration suffers from is the pictures published of their weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings.  While the insecurities of Boko Haram bombs, armed robbers, assassins, kidnappers and communal conflicts have etched apprehension and suffering on the faces of the populace, ministers are pictured laughing together in the Villa as if totally unconcerned at the mess.  While increased NEPA charges, lack of job opportunities, and the high cost of transportation, food and new clothing have foisted economic hardship on the average citizen, well fed and well dressed ministers preen themselves in front of cameras as if there is no problem. PDP governors celebrate purchasing motor vehicles as major achievements and happily commission over-priced basic facilities such as street lights, boreholes and access roads as “dividends of democracy”.
Since 1999 Nigeria has become a more callous and less caring society; yet for some reason PDP can’t accept the fact that their party traits of insincerity, insensitivity, ethnicity, greed and incom-petence are the causes of this downslide. If Nigeria as a nation is to progress then we simply cannot afford to continue with a party that refuses to accept valid criticisms, ignores visible realities and lives in a state of constant denial.