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The news that began to filter out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Primaries late Saturday afternoon December 16th, was beginning to indicate a different outcome from what most Nigerian enthusiasts had been envisaging. One would have imagined otherwise, afterall expectations were sky high among many Nigerians that some sort of historical milestone was going to be crossed this day. That a pleasant wind of change was going to blow, which would lift up all old and unwanted political debris and toss them calmly into the sea for good.
Instead, the name Umaru Yar' Adua, which previously had scarcely been mentioned in connection with the PDP primaries, began to occupy various press outlets as the name likely to bear the flag of the PDP's 2007 presidential aspirations. By Sunday evening the bits of news had amalgamated into a full blown reality. Umaru Yar' Adua had been controversially given his party's presidential ticket in a rather subdued ceremony. The news seemed to carry more doom and gloom than the elation and euphoria many had been expecting.
The signs were ominous, when on Friday December 15th, key PDP aspirants like Donald Duke and Peter Odilli began to step down from the race in a manner shrouded in some notable mystery. Once again Nigerian politics was being played out in its own unique way to the irritation and dissatisfaction of many. A lot of well meaning Nigerians, at home and abroad, had been banking on these Primaries as a moment that would spell a significant paradigm shift in the nature of our political workings. What an anti-climax the whole thing turned out to be.
It's a bit like waiting for a great big turkey for Christmas but instead getting a lean chicken. It's been reported that most of the PDP delegates looked quite downcast, as if in a mournful state, a mood I am sure was replicated across many parts of the country. It is almost comparable to the immediate after-math of George Bush's re-election in the 2004 US presidential elections. People were just simply stunned into wondering 'how did that happen? Well, what seems to have happened here is that the bigwigs of the PDP have connived to bring about a strategic political result they feel will ensure their party's success come May 2007. In the process, they've left many, even within their own party, deflated and probably doubtful of the progress we are making in our political processes.
The inner caucus of PDP might view this outcome as rather successful and clever political manoeuvring to counter the presidential ambitions of the likes of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Ibrahim Babangida, and possibly Mohammed Buhari. The argument being that the selection of a Northern flag bearer like Umaru Yar' Adua, with a strong family name, will appease the Northern electorate, splitting their allegiance and thereby snuffing out the aspirations of the aforementioned. Clever political gymnastics one might say, but is this the right way to toy with Nigeria's fragile political system or the hopes and aspirations of its people.
I have never been an advocate of politics based on tribal leanings, zonings or favours. I don't subscribe to the idea of returning a favour to one at the expense of dissatisfying many. At this stage of our political life and all we've learnt from history, we ought not to be strapped by this idea of wanting to satisfy one group of people at the expense of our progress. If we focus our energies and strengths on enthroning the best person as President, it will benefit all and not just a few. If we focused our attention and intention on supplying the tools that will ensure free and fair elections, we will be in the position to select the right people to run our political affairs. All of which will foster unity and bring us closer together, rather than splitting us up along tribal and regional demarcations.
I have nothing against Umaru Yar' Adua. As a matter of fact he is one of the five Governors who appear to have acquitted themselves well in the governance of their respective states. He has not been found wanting by the EFCC and will more than likely continue with the good reform agendas set by President Obasanjo. I just feel he wasn't the best candidate out of the PDP pack. It is not the question of him being a Northerner, rather the idea that our current president feels for some reason that the presidency should be zoned back to the North. For instance, if the likes of El Rufai or Nuhu Ribadu were to declare presidential ambitions, would we deny them and ourselves the opportunity to better this nation because of their Northern origins. Or would we frown at the presidential aspirations of Dora Akunyili and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala because they are from the South-east. Of course not. These people have been a revelation and blessing to this country. And I for one welcome anyone who has Nigeria's best interest at heart. For that's the only it can become the truly great nation it's aspiring to be.
It is believed in some quarters, that with Yar' Adua's close affiliations with Obasanjo, his presidency will in effect equate to Obasanjo still having his finger on the nucleus and affairs of the nation, even if from behind-the-scenes. If this is true and Yar' Adua becomes President, Obasanjo would have effected a brilliant political calculation that would see him succeed in the 3rd term bid agenda which many thought he had been denied. We can only hope that these guys mean well for this nation.
The choice of Jonathan Goodluck as Yar' Adua's running mate is another smart move by the administration, and may appeal to the politically immature. But seasoned observers recognise it for what it is - appeasement. This not to discredit Jonathan Goodluck's worthiness or credibility, but what sense does it make to pull a man way from the brilliant job he's been doing to repair the damage Alamieyeseigha had done to Bayelsa State. Time will prove if Umaru Yar' Adua was the best person to be the PDP's presidential ticket. If he does become Nigeria's president, I shall wish him every success for the country's sake.
The annoying thing is that those in the PDP hierarchy have probably been aware of this agenda for a while. Yet they allowed a lot of their good candidates to campaign tirelessly across the country, wasting time, money and probably endangering their lives, only to hand the presidential ticket to someone who had not even raised a campaign finger. This is just bad and shameful politics, which is bound to leave even party members feeling disgruntled and short-changed. I can understand anyone trying to stop Atiku and IBB from holding the nation's number one office. But I hope this is one political gamble they wont live to regret. For if one of the other parties fields a strong and charismatic candidate, it could result in the very thing they were trying to avoid in the first place. Has the PDP selected the best and most suitable person for the job? I am inclined to believe otherwise.
This whole PDP shenanigans has been a complete letdown. A huge disappointment and a slap in the face of hope and belief in our capacity for better political conduct. What we are witnessing here is nothing more than power play amongst a few people who feel Nigeria is something they have inherited from God. Unfortunately, it's the masses who pay the heavy prize for their misdeeds, mismanagement and miscalculations.
When President Obasanjo asserted that he wanted to be succeeded by one of the current governors, most eyes were probably turned in Donald Duke's direction, simply based on his gallant and formidable record of achievements in Cross River state and a clean bill of health by the EFCC. The prospects of Duke as president had sent many Nigerian hopes through the roof. I am sure there are very many angry and disappointed people out there who's fury will be directed at the Obasanjo administration for this underhand political play.
Perhaps someone like Duke was too good to be true for Nigeria at this time. Or to put it another way, not everyone shares this enthusiasm for a young, squeaky clean and effective President, as Duke would have been. All throughout the campaigning he didn't seem to get as much press coverage as one would expect of someone with such virtue and glaring achievements. I think some parts of the Nigerian society are still greatly seduced by money, bravado, thuggery and the big-man-syndrome. They seem to endorse the more grandiose posturing of some of our politicians, all the things Duke clearly doesn't have nor wishes to have in his repertoire.
In spite of this unexpected blip in our political arena, Nigeria moves on. They say ' man proposes, God disposes '. It will not halt Nigeria and Africa's march towards a better existence for all its people. The impossible just takes longer. The dawn of a new era of progressive politics is just round the corner. Nigeria now has an array of exceptionally blessed and worthy representatives waiting in the wings to form its future political dispensation. I don't need to mention their names, you already know who they are. Time will ensure that the old will eventually die out and the new will come in. So please keep up your campaign for a better Nigeria for it will surely come.
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Posted by Robot| 18.12.2006 23:22