NIGERIA POLITICS:
PDP AND ITS CRITICS
The 2015 general
elections are fast approaching, of which in every quarter aspirants to the
various elective positions are in one way or the other appeasing the gods so
that their political ambitions will not be doused.
Nigeria operates a healthy political system in that, the
present government is always on its heels following criticisms from the
opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, which is a strong
contender to the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Criticisms from the APC quarters became
intensed following the abduction of over 200 Chibok secondary school girls in
Borno state, on April 14, 2014, by the dreaded Boko Haram.
President Goodluck Jonathan was initially seen as a
visionless, clueless and confused leader, who lacks the wherewithal in ensuring
the safe release of the abducted girls. For several months, there were placards
and billboards with the harsh tag #bring
back our girls.
Governments of the U.S, England, France, pledged their
support towards the safe return of the girls to their parents/guardians. With all
these, the opposition party saw no good intention by the President to bring back the
girls.
As this was not enough, the issue of Ebola Virus Disease
came on board, with several lives lost, one of which was a top Nigerian medical
doctor, Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who, on attending to the index case, a Liberian-American,
Patrick Sawyer, died in August, 2014.
Today, Nigeria has recorded a great feat in the fight
against the disease, following the N200 million intervention fund given by the
Federal government to help the Lagos state government to contain the virus. The
latter stated that the former should not take the glory of containing the
disease in the state. This is an outright criticism.
The Ekiti state governorship election which was held on June
21, 2014, brought about another set of criticism from the quarters of the APC,
attributing the defeat of its candidate to desperation of the PDP hierarchy to
win the election by all means.
Even governor Kayode Fayemi in an interview, refused to
accept the fact that something went wrong with the party in the state, rather,
he opined that the election was turned to Federal forces against APC in the
state.
President Jonathan was being accused of militarizing the
Ekiti state election in favour of his party candidate. Would you say he did not
do same in the Osun governorship election held on August 9, 2014 where the PDP lost?
Following the National Convention of the APC, held on 13th
June, 2014, where former Edo state governor Chief John Odigie Oyegun emerged
the National Chairman of the party, some aggrieved members like Tom Ikimi left
the Party due to wrangling in the party.
Funny enough, General Muhammadu Buhari, who had lost the
Presidential seat for two times, still fights to gain the No.1 position of the
country. To him, the 2015 general election will be the watershed for the country.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who was disloyal to
his boss, General Olusegun Obasanjo, also seeks the same position, and was even
the first to declare his intention for the presidential race.
His words “the 2015 general election, will bring to end the
era of impunity that had allegedly characterized the administration of
President Goodluck Jonathan.”
 |
| Chief John Oyegun |
The first National Chairman of the APC, Chief John O.Oyegun,
on Monday, 6th October, 2014, in Benin City, said the 2015 general
election will mark the end of the road for the PDP. To him, “President Goodluck
Jonathan and the PDP are totally running out of steam. Criticism everywhere!
 |
| President Goodluck Jonathan |
From the look of things, whether you like it or not, whether
you align with the government of the day or not, the electorates are clamouring
for President Goodluck Jonathan’s continuity in office.
Former governors Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state and his
counterpart Peter Obi of Anambra state have seen the need to align with the
government of the day and not saboutage their political career.
Another governor,
Dr Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, who was formerly in self exile, has finally
returned to the party which he left, because of the strong democratic
credentials of President Goodluck Jonathan who has shown inspirational leadership to
Nigerians.
His words, ”our immediate target is to help the process of
getting President Goodluck Jonathan re-elected.” With these developments, the PDP
will be mounting strong pressure in the south-west region.
Though the criticisms may continue, what will be, will be.
TAGS: criticism, APC, PDP, Goodluck Jonathan.
