Mega Parties And The Pdp

Mega parties and the PDP By Reuben Abati THOROUGHLY exasperated by the insufferable arrogance of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), a select group of opposition politicians and civil society leaders are working on a project to create a mega party: an alliance of opposition parties which can wrestle power from the PDP in 2011, and put an end to its menace. The ambition of the coalition is in sync with the aspiration of many Nigerians. Ten years after seizing majority status in Nigeria's political space, the PDP has been unable to make much difference in the people's lives. In a few isolated states across the country, there may have been intimations of progress, depending on the personality of the Governor in office at a particular time, but generally, the pervasive impression is that the PDP is a non-performing political party whose members and representatives have failed to give full effect to the co...Read the full article.

[Agidimolaja]

This is a new Tower of Babel to be built or already in the building.

Very soon, there will emerge different languages whereby one will not

understand the other, thus leading to total confusion.

The final song will then be,"To your tents,O Israel"!

[John Igoli]

This brings to fore the age old question 'Who will bell the cat?'. I agree that the problem with our country is not PDP but the mentality of the opportuned ruling class. Opposition members and neutral others have gone into government as appointees, what difference have they made? Is there a 'pdp juice' they drink such that they forget all personal principles and 'automatically' behave as if they have been there all this time? For any meaningful act the proponents must prove themselves to the people. Unfortunately all in the political space seem grey to the electorates now. The days of clear cut political and personal ideologies may be over.

[ariteni]

Too little, too late. That is a good beginning for the 2015 Presidential Elections. By that time Nigerians would have understood what true democracy is.

There is something we (UPN (Unity Party of Nigeria - 1978) members fondly refered to as "party discipline" which is non-existent in the Political Parties of the day.
I also remember a gentleman named Suleman Takuma. During the 1982 Party Primaries for the 1983 Elections numerous frivolous cases were filed by party members against the NPN over Party Primaries. Party Secretary Suleman Takuma went on TV - NTA gave ALL Plaintiff concerned 48 hrs to withdraw those cases or consider themselves EXPELLED from the Party. The rest as they say is history.

There are, today Governors and other Politicians installed in office by court order. Some are serving "court prescribed" terms. We clapped when the courts ruled that a Vice President can de-camp to another political Party and still hold on to office. We clapped when INEC was denied power to screen candidates. We insisted that Party Registration was a right. (Yet we jokingly compared 50-Party Presidential election to Ghana's 2-Party one and tried to ridicule our country) Even the Ballot paper was difficult to produce. Guobadia was not a problem but Maurice Iwu is. Atiku did not win neither did Buhari but Yar'Adua stole somebody's MANDATE. Atiku is begging to return to PDP and HE Dr orji Uzor Kalu has joined the National Unity Govt. Chief Gani Fawehinmi stood for the Presidency but got no votes.

Dont raise our hopes in vain again. Alliance of 49 mushroom parties is an unserious way to bring change. You know already that Atiku will not step down for Buhari. Buhari will not step down for Dr Pat Utomi. Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the APGA Candidate should not be insulted with a request for step down. And we all know for sure that if an whenever it is declared to be time for Igbo Presidency, HE Dr Orji Uzor Kalu is unchallengeable.

History repeats itself! In the second republic Zik would not step down for Awo. Progressive Governors would not come up with a single candidate.
Inspite of those lessons Buhari contested against Atiku!

To bring positive change we must adhere to certain guidelines:


1. ALL REVOLUTIONARY YOUTHS SHOULD JOIN THE PDP EN MASSE AND EFFECT CHANGE FROM WITHIN. BUT ELDERS AND OTHERS TOO CLEAN TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE "ROGUES AND SCATTERERS" IN PDP SHOULD GO ON 40 DAYS PRAYER AND FASTING FOR THE FALL OF THE PARTY OR SUDDEN DEBILITATING ILLNESS OF ITS CHAIRMAN BOARD OF TRUSTEEES. This is because there are presently two ADs, two APGAS, four ANPPS, three ACs, one and half PPAS etc etc
2. EVERY PARTY SHOULD LIMIT GOVERNORSHIPS AND PRESIDENCY TO ONE TERM ONLY. (We succeeded in killing "third term" but watched second term slip by us)
3. PROMINENT NIGERIANS SHOULD ALWAYS COME OUT AND GUIDE VOTERS LIKE PROF SOYINKA HELPED NIGERIA NIP THE SECOND BUHARI PRESIDENCY IN THE BUD. BUT ALL EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON CANDIDATES NOT PARTIES EVEN AT STATE LEVEL.
NO RETIRED GENERAL SHALL RULE NIGERIA AGAIN FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS. (But watch David Mark!)
4. ANY CHANGE ATTEMPTED WITHOUT THE WELL KNOWN PRO-DEMOCRACY/NADECO ACTIVISTS IS BOUND TO FAIL SO WE MUST SOUND THE HORN "BACK TO THE TRENCHES!"

Dr Abati does a very good job of "cursing" PDP and it members but he is not the only person who has benefited from the Party (Abuja land) but continues to "curse" it. This write up shows his limited understanding of the political landscape but there is hopelessness in the land therefore some Nigerians might "see" hope in the excellent piece.

[Observer]

Reuben, Who will save Nigeria?

[changenigeriamovement]

Only a crook can be a politician in present day Nigeria and I say this without any apology because the evidence is there for all to see. If you look at the members of the so called mega party, you will realize that they are not different from those in PDP. This week, Atiku who has been one of them until lately supported my views that PDP is the child of NPN and it will go the way that party went. When NPN's arrogance was finally terminated the fat-bellied-public-funds-looting politicians were scampering for cover. Nigerian politicians are beyond redemption and many of them know that the end is near for them - we are heading towards a revolution. There is a saying that those whom the gods intend to kill, they first make deaf.

[K_Station]

The current generation of politicians are incapable of changing the political culture or the value system for that matter. It is time we stop putting our hopes in these clowns, eschew the current siddon-look attitudes and instead engage politically. By we, I mean average Nigerians who are by no doubt in the majority.

It is time for us to join the political parties enmasse and try to be the change that we all like to talk about.

[ozoodoo]

Ariteni says

if an whenever it is declared to be time for Igbo Presidency, HE Dr Orji Uzor Kalu is unchallengeable.

I find the above statement very very depressing. Is it true that the best the Igbos have to offer Nigeria today as a President Is "Dr" Orji Uzor Kalu? Chei!....My country don finish.

[blondie]

Originally Posted by ozoodoo

Ariteni says


I find the above statement very very depressing. Is it true that the best the Igbos have to offer Nigeria today as a President Is "Dr" Orji Uzor Kalu? Chei!....My country don finish.

Mr. Ozoodoo, have you taken time to read the other comments above? Among the other geopolitical zones tell me the best from this present political class that they will bring. The best that this political class can bring will always be an Orji Uzo Kalu and that cuts across all the zones. There is simply no hope and the most exasperating thing is that Yar' Adua is so lustreless and clueless. I wonder how Obasanjo sleeps at night because he foisted this zombie on us.

[crownabbey]

This is Yar' Adua getting fit so that he can take on all the problems!

View this at

YouTube - Yar Adua in Gym 2007

[crownabbey]

Originally Posted by crownabbey

This is Yar' Adua getting fit so that he can take on all the problems!

View this at YouTube - Yar Adua in Gym 2007

View this at [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7iVGpOMq00"]

[ozoodoo]

@Blondie,

If the East is going to present their i.diot as our president when it is their turn when are we going to end the circle of having i.diots rule over us?

[Enyi]

@ariteni
We clapped when INEC was denied power to screen candidates
I disagree with this statement. INEC was not really denied the power to screen candiadtes. The court verdicts must be viewed in their proper perspectives. My understaning of the verdicts is as follows
1). INEC can screen candidates but must operate within the existing laws of the land.
2). No law grants INEC an absolute and discretionary right to ban candidates.
For example, if a candidate stated in the form that he/she is a citizen of Ghana, INEC has every right to disqualify him/her.
If, on the other hand, the candidate states he/she is a Nigerian but somebody else alleges that the candidate is indeed a Ghanaian then the discrepancy must be resolved in a court of law before INEC can take a decision. To do otherwise will be equivalent to finding somebody guilty or not guilty based on an unproven allegation. Shugaba's case readily comes to mind!
It will be recalled that INEC banned Atiku in 2007 based on the findings of a hurriedly set up administrative panel of enquiry. One does not need the wisdom of Solomon to see that this was purely a political vendetta. This view is supported by the timing of the panel, the time (2 days) given to the "accused" to appear before the panel (irrespective of where they were) and the findings of the panel. We must not forget that some of those cleared by the panel had serious cases with EFCC at that time and some were subsequently charged to court. I must hasten to add that I am not a fan of Atiku and will never vote for him for any position whatsoever.
Similarly, INEC refused to accept an affidavit sworn to before a competent court of law in US. A more prudent action would have been for INEC to seek a judicial resolution of any doubt it had about the validity of the document.
INEC must at all times not only be an umbiased umpire but must also be seen to be so.
"ALL REVOLUTIONARY YOUTHS SHOULD JOIN THE PDP EN MASSE AND EFFECT CHANGE FROM WITHIN"
I am sceptical about the success of this strategy. PDP by its actions has shown that it does not have internal democracy. Have you looked at the track records of those calling the shots in PDP. The revolutionary youths will either have to join them or be frustrated out of the party. I shall like to see a situation where disciplined bellievers in democracy and visionary leaders moblize these youths and form a party. Members of this new party must realize at the onset that they will not come to power overnight but are willing to stick to their idealogy and work arduously until victory is achieved. The current mega-party in making has so many crooks that it will be business as usual.
"BUT ALL EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON CANDIDATES NOT PARTIES EVEN AT STATE LEVEL"
I completely agree with you on this. I shall even go further by suggesting that the masses must be sensitized to defend their votes at all costs. Even the corrupt judges will think twice if they are convinced that the masses will not let them pervert justice with impunity. Have you taken note of the nature of the states where tribunals returned conflicting judgements with virtually the same set of facts? This is food for thought.

[Showcase]

Somebody should tell Chief Anthony Enahoro to bid goodbye to partisan politics. He is a revered figure in Nigeria's political/independence history, and there are places his name should not be mentioned at this time and henceforth. What can he have in common with Tofa, for instance?

[Profegee]

Ogbulafor does not need to be a prophet in this matter. He is very correct. In the words of Reuben Abati, how easy is it to put dove and vulture, cobra and chameleon, lizard and crocodile, cat and lion, dog and wolf, etc in the same cage? What agreement do we expect from this arrangement? When the AC was formed, the dullest individual knew it was purposely for Atiku, whose credentials are stamped "unmarketable" in the present day politics.

Certainly, the future of Nigeria is blique, unless ...