The first reaction of its members after the party lost the federal government to the opposition was the game of blame trading - accusing each other of being responsible for the defeat. The party leadership blamed the campaign team and the latter slammed the party’s BOT in return.
This was followed by a mass defection of its members to the All Progressive Congress APC. For such politicians, being in politics meant being in the leading party. How can they continue to eat from the national cake while in the opposition?
The party also had to deal with several internal squabbles that threatened and still threaten to paralyze its existence. And as if that was not enough, a number of its prominent members like Olisa Metuh and Uche Secondus are embroiled in embezzlement scandals and other financial crimes.
While the PDP runs from pillar to post in the bid to solve its numerous problems, the populace are left undefended and the hegemony of the APC unchallenged. The President Buhari-led administration forges on unopposed by the non-existence opposition of the PDP.
But I remember how the APC was at Goodluck Jonathan’s throat during the last administration. I remember how Alhaji Lai Muhammed, the then APC spokesman, vociferously lambasted the administration for one ineptitude or another on innumerable occasions. The APC held several press conferences, featured in television and radio programmes, as well as wrote countless articles in daily tabloids, slamming the ineffectiveness of the PDP led federal government. These moves also went a long way in enhancing the popularity of the party during the last general elections.
But now that the APC has taken over the mantle of leadership, the PDP is nowhere to be found to play its role as the leading opposition party. All we hear are murmurs and whispers that are nothing compared to the lively opposition put up by the APC when they were at the opposing end.
But what is democracy without a vibrant opposition? The major democratic nations in the world are where they are today because of the presence of active opposition that checks the excesses of the party in power. Without such checks, even a benevolent government can gradually degenerate into dictatorship.
Although the federal government may have made a number of good moves, there are still several of its policies that need thorough scrutiny and even outright overhauling. The populace are facing untold difficulties as things seem to be changing for the worse. The citizens are sick and tired of the incessant fuel scarcity in the country that brags as the foremost producer of crude oil in Africa.
Many Nigerians have also decried the harsh economic realities that have meted untold hardship household.
The power sector is in comatose and its scorching effect is felt daily by Nigerians. These are some of the areas through which the opposition can utilize in challenging the ruling government, demanding the dividends of this hard-earned democracy on behalf of the people.
But who said the task is for the PDP alone? Where are those other political parties that surfaced during the last general elections? There are no less than 63 registered political parties in Nigeria but their existence is only known during elections. Where is KOWA, Accord, APGA, Fresh, Freedom, SDP and the rest of them?
For our democracy to grow, there is need for a responsive government as well as a vibrant opposition. The opposition puts the ruling party on its toes, by forming a shadow government and making demands on behalf of the masses.
The PDP and other registered political parties are hereby called upon to rise to the occasion and go the needful. To demonstrate that they really have the welfare of the masses at heart, they are to press forward our demands, inform the leading government of our hardships and help lambaste the flaws in government policies.
With these, the PDP and other parties could increase their popularity amongst the populace, and who knows, may have an impressive outing in the next general elections.
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...2019 will show how dissipated.
ReplyDeleteJoor make I go hussle black market fuel for my generator. The weather is too hot and one week we have not had 24 hours total light all together.