Prince Vincent Ogulafor, the present chairman of ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), recently informed Nigerians that his party will rule Nigeria for sixty years. This outburst by the PDP's boss led to series of comdemnation by true democrats, as he even canvassed for one party state, which indirectly means that only PDP should be the party for Nigerians.
The PDP is used to such undemocratic tendencies which they always tend to have their way by hook or crook. Before the end of first tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Tony Anenih the ousted former Chairman of PDP's Board of Trustees was quoted as saying there will be no vacancy in Aso Rock. Really the party proved to Nigerians that indeed there was no vacancy in Aso Rock as they bulldozed their way into Aso Rock and the rest is now history.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also declared the 2007 election as do or die affair and indeed it was do or die as Nigerians have not yet fully recovered from the PDP's onslaught on their country's democracy . Even as elections have been annuled , the party has made it clear that its candidates that had their elections annuled will return to their various offices as it has done in all the bye-elections conducted all over the country. The PDP demostrated this in Kogi and Adamawa States.
Why is it that the PDP always has it ways ? And are Nigerians really sincere with their complaints of PDP's bastardising the nation's democratic process as witnessed during the 2007 elections ? Are Nigerians really supporters of the PDP as the PDP seems to be the only party spread nationally ? Has the PDP performed so well in the last nine years that Nigerians will continue to support the party for the next 51 years as claimed by Ogulafor ? Really the way things are moving the ruling PDP will definately rule for 60 years except when , along the line , Nigerians have become really councious and believed in true democracy , when their votes are really counted.
As said earlier, the way things are moving, the party will rule for 60 years. Already the party had 8 years in it's kitty. President Umaru Musa Yar'adua has 1 year already out of his four years first tenure ( forget about the case before the supreme court). When he completed the first four years, by then PDP has 12 years in it's kitty. President Yar'adua will definately benefit by the out come of the nation's constitutional review as five or six- year single term may be adopted in the amended constitution which may be effective from 2011. If you add 12 years to five or six years by then PDP will have 17 0r 18 years in it's kitty.
As usual when President Yar'adua completed his first two terms (?), power will shift as it has been done (thanks to Obasanjo) to South and guess Vice President Jonarthan Goodluck will be waiting and with all the luck in this world he will enjoy his first single term or two and by 20.... PDP will have almost thirty or even above in it's kitty.
Already we are heading towards a one-party state as canvassed by Ogulafor . The opposition parties are janus faced as they are outdoing one another on the extention of the ruling PDP . Also the biggest party after PDP , the ANPP , is fast dismantling as it's key players are rushing enmass to join the PDP or sitting on the fence for the time been. Governor Ali Modu Sheriff had already declared that if President Yar'adua's election is annuled by the courts he and his supporters will definately support, work and vote for Yar'adua. As for former governor of Zamfara state , Senator Sani Ahmed , Yeriman Bakura , has said , he wants to be Nigerian President and the only party that he can contest on it's platform to realise his ambition is the PDP. As for Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state when he fulfills his desire of marrying one of Mr President daughters he can't be in the opposition against his Father-in- Law.
As for Kano state and Zamfara states that happens to be in the North-west , President Yar'adua's zone definately PDP will desire to have them. As for Zamfara state, Yerima has already promised to move to PDP with all his supporters and structures. In the case of Kano State it has to be trickish and already things are slowly manisfesting as Governor Ibrahim Shekarau is concern about his future after leaving office in 2011 as he may want to go national as his former counter-parts former governors and noe Senotors Saminu Turaki and Adamu Aliero . Shekarau's supporters have already endorsed the good works President Yar'adua is doing and there are stories going round that Shekarau and Yar'adua are "School Mates" in Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria, and their wives are best of friends which is the reason why Governor Shekarau's wife was the first "First Lady" to pay solidarity visit after President Yar'adua was declared winner of 2007 elections.
The big names in Action Congress (AC) have decamped enmass to PDP such as Alhaji Abubakar Rimi and Alhaji Ghali Umar Na'abba . The party is also torn between those in support of joining goverment of National unity and those against it .
Nigerians have to decide for their future if they really want true democracy in their country . They deserve free and fair elections , where their votes really count. Democracy is about true representation and good governance . Rigging and imposition of leaders is far away from true democracy . In free and fair elections Nigerians would not mind if the ruling PDP will rule for 1000 years, not even 60 years as speculated by Ogulafor . And Nigerians deserve real opposition parties not those that will continue to compromise the support Nigerians gave them to trade for their selfish and personal gains.
Shehu Mustapha Chaji
shehuchaji@yahoo.com
Tuesday 29 April 2008
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