PDP’s unwarranted opposition

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unswervingly criticised the PMB steered government on as follows: That the PMB led administration should be held responsible for the escalation of the agitation, which threatens the unity and security of Nigeria. The PDP said the arrest of the spoke person of Biafrans is ludicrous, inopportune and a hollow decision. […]

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unswervingly criticised the PMB steered government on as follows: That the PMB led administration should be held responsible for the escalation of the agitation, which threatens the unity and security of Nigeria. The PDP said the arrest of the spoke person of Biafrans is ludicrous, inopportune and a hollow decision. The PDP said that there is sombre non-inclusion of youth in the PMB cabinets, thus PDP has accused the APC administration for the lack of clear cut policy direction that concerns the youth development. They consider these as worrisome issues that may hasten the expansion of the Biafra anxiety.
They also allege that gross marginalisation in governmental appointments in both political and civil service positions is becoming alarming. According to PDP, side lining any section of the country is bound to generate unhealthy relations among all integral parts of the country. This can result in angering folks from within the marginalised geopolitical zones to hunt for their sovereignty.
The PDP said that cohesion, development, prosperity and unity should be paramount in government policy and emphasized that unless all the various sections of the country are accommodated, certain sections will experience civil tension as a means of expressing their discontent.
From all the above, it is natural for every rational and objective reviewer to agree that the so-called Biafra sovereignty is a premeditated itinerary of the antagonists of Nigeria; the people so avaricious and materialistic to govern Nigeria no matter how. However, the contents of their revelations can eventually buttress the assertions of countless Nigerians that PDP is an agent of devil that work tirelessly to sponsor inequity and fragment the unanimity of this country. Arresting Kanu (the spoke person of the Biafrans), has come in the right time. No one is above the law. It was the lawless leadership of PDP, in the last sixteen years that raped our character of patriotism. Everyone ought to be brought to the book and must taste the wrath of law on his action(s). Chauvinism is not everyone’s monopoly. All tribes or social groups are would-be flag-wavers.  The call for secession by a particular group is a global condemnable criminality and inhumane which must not be left scot-free. The PDP should seek to admonish the young adults of south-east and south-south, and take them back to history and the consequences on the promoters of this madness, rather than taking the blame on the government. It is high time we stop stimulating rascality for political advantage.
If truly the Biafrans mean business; if they are objectively executing their plans, they should have for long kick start it, but not now. Biafra activists are myopic and sycophants because what wrong transgression has the Nigeria as a nation organised to these lazy individuals?  Must Nigeria be governed only by their decision alone? Where are those who claimed to be learned in these two regions? Wouldn’t they inform these foot soldiers who are mostly immaterial that democracy is a game of number, no more any less?
Does the PDP understand the concept of “youth” and the constituent of youth population? The National Population Census in its analysis on age distribution of the country’s population classified the inhabitants into three main groups, comprises of young, dynamic and ageing persons. In addition, the PDP and its agents need to be reminded that in the days of their governance, it happens people of between the age of sixty (60) and above have been bald-facedly appointed youth leaders. What a mix match or double standard?
It is a known fact that, in previous governments, some tribes profited considerably at the impairment of others, hitherto they neither significantly contribute in the development of their regions realistically or materially. Vast majority of the citizens of such zones are still surviving from hand to mouth;  yet  to take delivery of qualitative education; good and effective health care services and are compounded by lack of infrastructures.
On the role of government, I think it will sound well if PDP buried herself before the benign Nigerians. The prime function of every government, worldwide is to provide security for life and property of its citizens. Unless and until security is guaranteed, national development is not guaranteed.  The sixteen years of PDP governance increased the frequency of insecurity escalating with cases of extra judicial killings, insurgency, kidnapping, thuggery and impunity. Similarly, there is no time when PDP led government accommodate all sections and actors of this country. Rather, they have flourished in promoting hatred among different kinfolks, religious belief and constituencies.
It is widely acknowledge that every human commotion and deed is governed by the principle of reciprocity. PMB is at liberty to appoint whoever he wants and feel comfortable with. And I am sure in doing so; he has to placate those that have given their support on his contention. It will be ingenuous and parochial for him to surrender positions to those who are prodigiously opposed to his emergence. If PDP is sincere, they should have advised the people of south-south/south east to give their support to PMB.
It has been the tactics of PDP, coercing oppositions in the wake of failure. The party having had nothing to offer Nigerians in their sixteen years always considered oppositions as the source of their failures. At the peak of boko haram terrorism everyone can remember that the then central government instead of it to take the drastic measures efficiently capableof addressing the situation, PDP primedwhoopla of blackmailing the opponents.
Meanwhile, it is the task of elders, political office holders and carrier civil servants within south-south/south-east zones to as a matter of urgency not only to come out and distance themselves from this menace, but also to take the necessary steps of stopping it.
Nura Ali, Department of Economics, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State
email: [email protected]