PART 2: UNEASY LAYS THE HEAD (A Review of the PDP Dynasty)

Happy new week and thank you for joining me again for the wind up on the article which started last week. I have received lots of emails and reactions from people as regards the last article and it was quite an eye opener. This week I will do justice to finish up on this particular issue.

Having point out that the Amaechi & Rivers State Business was the beginning of turmoil within the PDP Dynasty and without having to bore you with various events happening in the PDP, I will like to jump on the TAMBUWAL and House of Rep. Saga. This is certainly an event which caught the attention of not only Nigerians but also the International Community and will go down in History as one of the most abusive use of Power by the PDP.

The 28th of October 2014 was a black Tuesday in the calendar of the PDP, as it marked the exit of Tambuwal the Speaker of the House from PDP to join the leading opposition party (APC). This move definitely tilted the balance against PDP in the game of numbers.

The Speaker who didn’t give any reason for dumping the party seems to be concerned about how much power the APC holds in the house with 172 out of 343 members been its member. For me the speaker was just watching out for himself knowing how unstable his current party was.

The action of the Speaker unarguably didn’t go down well with the PDP dynasty as their next action clearly suggests.

On 20th November, 2014, I tuned my TV and the breaking news read “Police lock out Tambuwal from National Assembly”. The first thing I could do was burst into a heavy laugh and then I asked a question “how did our Police get here” with little or no honour left. I thought to myself so PDP as chosen to wage war on a man trying to secure his seat rather than solve the problems eating through her ranks. At least in politics “there is no permanent enemy or friend only a permanent interest”.

The tragic event as I tagged it saw lawmakers scaling the gate of the house to gain access to compound, after which the Speaker was smuggled in by his Stewarts. Teargas was shot at the lawmakers by men of the NPF. The police responded to the bizarre event thus “the operation was based on an “intelligence report” and was meant to forestall the invasion of the assembly by hoodlums”. This singular act further sealed the faith of the PDP in the lower chamber of the legislative arm as the Senate President was also assaulted by some members of the House of Reps.

Deciding Towards 2015

The expertise of the PDP on poor crisis management and wrong decision making as trailed the party primaries in virtually all states. Adamawa, Ebonyi, Enugu, Port Harcourt and recently Ogun State are all states where the PDP is facing either total facing out or relegation to the minority.

My light beams’ on Ebonyi State as this once silent State in Nigeria has suddenly come to limelight due to the current political tussle in the State. In the on-going scuffle which as seen the Deputy Governor of the State Engr. Dave Umahi in his quest for power as Governor of the State practically hijack the State chapter of the PDP from the grasp of the Governor Chief Martin .N. Elechi. 

PDP gubernatorial primaries was held in the State without the Governor and major stakeholders in attendance, the State House of Assembly primaries was allegedly forged by the Deputy Governor. But the NWC of PDP still announced that the result was valid and has been accepted by the party.

Fingers has been pointed, accusations has been made but the NWC of the PDP has chosen to close its eyes to seeing the actual picture of what is happening in the State and have decided to give judgements with a closed eyes. 

Some of the stakeholders believed to be fuelling this crisis include The Secretary to the Federation Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, the PDP National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh, the First Lady.

One of the aggrieved members is quoted as “Since the First Lady and Senator Anyim feel they have the right to decide and impose Umahi on us against our wish, we have also decided to leave the party and go to a place where we would be allowed to exercise democratic rights of the majority having their way”. 

Aggrieved members of the Party which made up 70% of the members have already left the party to join the Labour Party. The Governor though remains a PDP member. The newly formed Labour Party has since done her primaries with Sir (Dr) Edward Nkwaegu emerging has her Gubernatorial Candidate. A more than formidable opponent for the PDP acclaimed candidate.

Closing Thoughts

With all the shady business going on in the PDP dynasty, the curios question is “Will PDP Survive the 2015 Elections?”. As all fingers stay crossed and all eyes monitor the rush in the political realm of the Nation, I hope the PDP will get her house back in shape before the elections.

Thank you so much for your time and hope to have you around for my next article. Please do share your Opinion and views using the comment box. You can also email me directly via thewhiteknight13@yahoo.com or follow on twitter @dwhiteknight and @thisseidublog