Leadership (Abuja)
Chioma Iyke-Ani
24 February 2008
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Abuja — The battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party, self styled largest party in Africa, climaxes in a fortnight when democratic elements in the party move to rescue the party from the strangle grips of despots and soldiers of fortune. The national convention of the party, the first since the exit of the maximum ruler - Olusegun Obasanjo, is obviously going to be a real test for Nigeria's fledgling and fragile democracy and a trial of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's commitment to reform the nation's dubious electoral process.
It is interesting that at last the party has turned to men of God in its search for credible leadership. It was pioneer party leader, the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, who in the wake of his unceremonious exit from the party that had declared that he was happy to leave the congregation of evil men. Awoniyi, a founding father of the party knew what he said and had since then stayed away from the contraption that existed from the pocket of then President Obasanjo. The Peoples Democratic Party to many Nigerians is a demonic assemblage of evil men who had in the last eight years held the nation to ransom. With obvious undemocratic credentials, the party succeeded in changing the face of partisan politics in Nigeria.
PDP leadership had since Obasanjo seized power been ceremonial, mere mouth piece or errand group of the big man in Aso Rock. Chairmen of the party have always been solely picked by the former president and the person so picked take almost daily instructions from the maximum leader. The out-going chairman of the party, the renowned garrison commander, elevated the booth-licking record in the party since his appointment as he made a huge dance of his subservience to the supreme leader. Col. Ahmadu Ali was a disgrace in office and he didn't bother to hide his face in shame.
The national convention of the party has been scheduled for March 8, next month and there are expectations that the party under Yar'Adua may for the first time go for a free and fair convention where candidates for all the elective offices will compete under specified rules and regulations. The national convention may likely see the votes of the delegates count unlike previously where the party had been forced to affirm to persons picked by Obasanjo.
Already, there are two frontline candidates for the office of chairman of the party and these two candidates according to reports are fronts of the two strong divides in the party. While Dr. Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State, is holding the stick for the old order, Chief Pius Anyim, former president of the Senate, is the arrow head of the new order, the democratic elements in the party who want to put an end to the sole administratorship style of the old order.
The good thing is that the two candidates, who are from the same state, are also born again Christians and of the same faith. Egwu and Anyim are all elders in the Assemblies of God Church. Those who are conversant with the doctrine of the Assemblies of God Church will admit that the party cannot get anything better than what is in line for them especially now that they are seeking the face of God. It is remarkable that in the search for a better PDP leadership, the power brokers, the god fathers, have settled for born again Christians, leaders that will lead with the fear of God. Although man by nature may not be predictable, there are basic moral guides that control the lives of real faithful of the church that you can easily predict where they will stand on any issue. Of all the Pentecostal churches in Nigeria, the Assemblies of God has remained one of the few that is rigid with its principles. And due to its rigidity with its faith and doctrine, the church does not appeal to these later day Christians who go to church naked.
Egwu and Anyim are surely pure gold for the PDP. Any of them will positively complement Yar'Adua in cleansing the party and giving the nation a credible leadership that will be inclusive and people oriented. They are a class different from the cantankerous Ali who talks before he thinks and who has not drained himself of military hang-over. Both are everything Ali is not. They are humble, respectful and God fearing, the best that PDP needs now to secure full reconciliation.
As governor of Ebonyi State, Egwu ran an inclusive administration, creating a new Ebonyi in less than eight years. And as president of the Senate and chairman of the National Assembly, Anyim was a servant leader who preferred to stand with his constituency, carrying them along in all he did. He brought openness and inclusiveness in the administration of the Senate that today, he enjoys country spread appeal. I am not in doubt that the two candidates will reposition the party and give effect to the reconciliation efforts of the Dr. Alex Ekwueme committee. They will put the interest of Nigerians ahead of their personal interests and advice President Yar'Adua positively in the discharge of his presidential assignment.
I think where the PDP has a serious problem is in the leadership of its Board of Trustees and the earlier they find a way out of it, the better for the party. But Egwu or Anyim could just be a veritable instrument in dislodging the Ota farmer who has refused to hang his boots and thank God for the much He has done in his life. Obasanjo seems to be an ingrate who is challenging his maker. I heard he is the one behind the candidacy of Egwu and that is the cross the former governor is carrying as the progressive elements have lined against him. Egwu will need to be his own man if he intends to make any impact in this race as a bad man cannot sell a good product successfully.
As the party counts down to the big day, stories trailing the ward congresses have not been cheering at all, leaving most of us wondering when the preaching of President Yar'Adua will sink into the hearts of his party men. The story in Delta was that overbearing wife of Ahmadu Ali, who was sent there to take her pound of flesh after she was disowned by the state party during her adventure for a Senate seat, was locked up inside the congress venue for several hours before she was rescued by policemen. In Anambra, the congress held in two places, one at the party secretariat and the other at the campaign headquarters of Andy Uba. It is the same story in most states that I am afraid that the search for a decent and free and fair electoral process may take a very long time to be real. But it is without saying that Yar'Adua must do more than pontificate on his intentions to reform our electoral process. He must move swiftly to get offenders prosecuted not minding the party they belong. That is when Nigerians will take him serious. But for now, we are waiting for the PDP born again chairman.
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