Many thoughts have been shared about the “great fall” of the
People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Nigeria. How the mighty fall. It only reminds
me of the soap opera we saw as children The
Rich Also Cry. Does this title have anything to do with “our great party”?
Great civilisations are born, start to grow, they reach the
peak of their powers, decline and ultimately crumble. We often hear of the
great Zimbabwe, great Timbuktu, Egypt, Babylon, Carthage, Rome Othoman, Marcedonia
and the likes were all great civilisations at different times. Since nothing,
good or bad, lasts forever there came a time when they have to erode with
history. This is why I love the most quoted Nigerian saying “No condition is
permanent.”
The PDP perhaps did not realise its “humanness” at all. In
2008, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, the then PDP National Chairman, had publicly
boasted that the party will rule Nigeria for the next sixty years. At other
points some of its leaders echoed arrogantly that it will rule forever. This
was why the party did not prepare for the shock March 28 defeat. It was caught
off guard!
It is never easy to be in opposition after losing your daily
bread. It is never made easier when you are beaten to your own game. This
appears to be the fear of the party today. It is afraid of everything. This is not the time for the PDP strategists
to go to sleep. The party will not be the first to find itself in this kind of
position neither will it be the last!
The United Kingdom Conservative Party had to weather the
storm of turbulent period of fifteen years after since Labour Party’s Tony
Blair won in 1995. You can only imagine the Tories’ frustrations during those
years before David Cameron won in 2010.
The Mexican Partido
Revolutionario Institucional or the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)
held on to power for uninterrupted 71 years since 1929 winning every
presidential elections. Though some critics point out that it won the 1988 and
1994 elections by fraudulent ballots, the party never lost a national election
till 2000 when it relinquish power peacefully. It had to wait another twelve
years to return to power at the national level in 2012.
The United States Republicans had to cope with serial
electoral defeats since losing the Presidency to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936.
At some point their membership in the Senate reduced to less than 30 during
this period. The Grand Old Party (GOP) had to wait till 1952 to get back to the
White House!
The PDP does not appear to be prepared for the daunting
challenge of becoming an opposition party. The present crises rocking the party
over the control of its leadership should be a cause for concern to its rank
and file. It is just that they are not admitting it openly, opposition in can
be a unique experience. You are almost an endangered species; you are
constantly harassed, suspected or intimidated. There is no question of “Loyal
Opposition.”
It is now an open secret that the all is not well within the
party’s ranks. There are insinuations that some of its governors, with tacit
support of President Goodluck Jonathan are planning to float a new platform to
challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC). This appears to me more like a
mistrust of brand. The party’s brand has been seriously battered by corruption,
impunity, ineptitude and mediocrity. The future is looking rather gloomy by the
day for PDP.
As a matter of recommendation, if the party’s strategists
are working, they must look for ways to create a new image or brand for the
party which will pave ways for new orientation, new directions and corporate
culture.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olalekan Waheed
ADIGUN is of many parts. He is a writer, philosopher, academic, political risk
analyst and researcher. He also an independent political strategist and brand
consultant for political campaigns and organizations. His write-ups can be
viewed on his website http://olalekanadigun.com/
Tel: 08136502040, 07081901080
Email: olalekan@olalekanadigun.com
Follow me on twitter @adgorwell
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To be strong again, they must disintegrate to integrate. Except a seed of corn falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. PDP must die to self in order to come to life with many followers.
ReplyDeleteYou are right!
ReplyDeleteThere is a need for serious purging of self.
ReplyDelete