PDP National Convention: A Charge For The Second Horse, By Mikhail Adeniran

“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference and undernourishment” -Robert Hutchins.

Over two years into the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the ruling party has enjoyed unfettered display of opposition by the PDP which went on a trance after their loss in the 2015 general elections. With many loopholes that has marred the present administration directionless fight against corruption, the PDP should have scored lot of political point that the 2019 election should be a home run by now.

The failure of the PDP to play the necessary evil in opposition is very dangerous to the democracy of Nigeria. The manner at which the APC has handled many grievous issues with neglect gives various concern on whether we have not been shortchanged. They have been acting like they don’t owe us anything. The PDP ruled this country with impunity and corruption for 16 years, and yet, they don’t feel they owe us at least a good opposition, in as much as the quality of that engagement is most time lacking in intellectual depth and is more propaganda than fact based.

When the APC was campaigning for votes towards the 2015 general elections, they promised jobs, security, electricity, transparency and so on. In as much as there have been challenges in delivering most of the promises, we the people need to know that the government is doing all in her power to fulfilling its obligation.

From FIRS and CBN back channel jobs, to the president’s health, to mishandling of corruption cases by the EFCC, to the former SGF, to Mainagate, one can ask where is the promised CHANGE? But when you point these questions to them, they are quick to label you a “wailer”.

The PDP National convention which held in Abuja last weekend (9th and 10th of December) saw the emergence of Dr. Uche Secondus as the new National Chairman of the party. I must congratulate the PDP for organizing a peaceful convention, that is prove that it is capable of organizing and reviving itself back from the sojourn of oblivion.

The first major task for Dr. Uche Secondus led team is to reach out to aggrieved members and pacify them to work with the leadership to achieve its aim. There is no way there won’t be scuffles during the build up to the national convention, the new chairman must quickly reach out to the south west member of the party and ensure peace with them, they must understand that they have to be united going forward.

They should realize that the last thing they need right now is the emergence of factions within the party as this will lead to their journey to permanent oblivion.

Dr. Uche Secondus should also turn on the heat on the APC, I remember how Lai Muhammed, now minister of culture and tourism used to “fire” the then PDP, even on the day of his ministerial screening in the senate, he was still throwing shots at the PDP, he wasn’t asked any question, he just bowed and left.

The PDP need to know they did damage to Nigeria for more than 16 years, and in fact, they have made the country a mess for anybody to manage, we haven’t recovered from the damage and we probably won’t, but the path to recovery includes helping us put the government on its toes, by playing good opposition. They have only been on the bench for four years, they should know that if a player wants to get back to the field, he would have to prove to the coach that he deserves a spot in the team or perhaps he is better than a player in that position.

Nigerians are the coach and we don’t like the way APC is playing, but when we look at the bench and see someone like Atiku, we know we don’t have a choice but rather keep APC on the field.

Same people that are in APC today were in the PDP before and we know they are bunch of corrupt individuals hiding in APC to prevent them from being investigated by the EFCC. A call for fresh breath is summoned by Nigerians, we can’t have the same set of people recycled over again to rule over us.

Mr. Uche Secondus should know he is being charged to be the second horse to save the democracy of Nigeria. Who could have thought or believed that PDP could be the savior by being the necessary evil Nigeria democracy desperately needs?

Mikhail Adeniran is a researcher and an Engineer, he writes via adeniranmikhail@yahoo.com
twitter, @MikhailAdeniran