PDP in search of new direction
Its former national chairman once boasted
that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
would rule Nigeria for 60 years. In the end it
managed only 16.
Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives
Congress (APC) dumped the PDP out of
power in presidential elections in March, in
what was the first win for an opposition party
in the country’s history.
As attention shifted to Buhari and his plans to
tackle endemic corruption and defeat Boko
Haram Islamists, the PDP and its former
president Goodluck Jonathan went quiet.
On Twitter — the main tool for the party’s
message in the election campaign — there
were no more posts from the party from May
18, but on October 29 it announced: “We are
Back!!!”
The PDP has been finding its voice again
since then and on Thursday the party held a
national conference in the capital Abuja to set
out its plans to regain power.
Its language was typically bullish, describing
the government as “the fascist APC regime”
and accusing it of human rights and
constitutional violations as well as abuse of
power.
Buhari’s crackdown on corruption has seen
several former and serving state governors
arrested on suspicion of corruption while he
has accused the PDP of leaving the country
virtually bankrupt.
But the PDP declared: “Participants noted that
the PDP remains the only credible national
political institution committed to national
interest and the deepening of democratic
tenets and ideals.”
Strong opposition –
Tub-thumping rhetoric and personal criticism
has long characterised Nigerian politics, which
relies heavily on patronage, elite connections
and, very often, hard cash.
The PDP personally attacked Buhari during
the election, accusing the former military ruler
of being an Islamic extremist, an unreformed
dictator and unqualified to hold office.
In the run-up to the vote, though, dozens of
PDP lawmakers switched sides to the APC,
complaining that Jonathan had reneged on a
promise not to stand for a second term.
There have been more defections since then,
in part due to PDP perceptions of an APC
“witch-hunt” against its members over
corruption.
Analysts attributed the PDP’s election defeat
to its failure to secure a consensus in a
religiously and ethnically divided country —
and also that after 16 years, people were
ready for a change.
Political commentator Chris Ngwodo said to
build on the democratic development of the
APC’s historic win, what the country needed
now was not rhetoric.
“Trickle-down politics of the worst kind”,
where powerful elites bestowed patronage on
their supporters, was in the past, he said.
To become relevant again, the PDP “has to
think more deeply” and come up with policies
that address the lack of social and economic
opportunities for Nigeria’s young population
across the country.
Simple criticism was “not moving anybody” he
told AFP.
“There’s no real sense of having an
opposition party. This is a party shell-
shocked from defeat, still grappling in the
dark. It needs to define itself,” he added.
“It’s in Nigeria’s interest for there to be an
opposition party. We need that sense of
competition, that keeps people on their toes.”
– Self-reflection –
Away from the formal debate, there were
signs the message was being taken on board,
as talk already turns to possible presidential
candidates for 2019.
Former federal lawmaker Abdul Ningi agreed
the PDP needed to get its house in order first
and had “no business for now taking a critical
look at this government”.
“What is important, in my opinion, is taking a
look at what we have done wrong and why
Nigerians actually rejected us,” he said on the
sidelines of the conference.
“We have failed to inculcate democratic
culture. We have ruled, on many occasions,
with impunity…
“Nigerians have looked at us and realised we
have derailed from our missions, dreams of
the founding fathers.”
Raymond Dokpesi, the conference’s chief
organiser, was criticised for apologising for
PDP mistakes in a television interview last
week.
“It is one thing to suffer such a set-back at
the polls anywhere in the world,” he said at
the conference.
“But most significant and far-reaching is how
quickly you learn from your mistakes and
effect the requisite adjustment necessary to
restore your winning ways.”
Source today news
Its former national chairman once boasted
that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
would rule Nigeria for 60 years. In the end it
managed only 16.
Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives
Congress (APC) dumped the PDP out of
power in presidential elections in March, in
what was the first win for an opposition party
in the country’s history.
As attention shifted to Buhari and his plans to
tackle endemic corruption and defeat Boko
Haram Islamists, the PDP and its former
president Goodluck Jonathan went quiet.
On Twitter — the main tool for the party’s
message in the election campaign — there
were no more posts from the party from May
18, but on October 29 it announced: “We are
Back!!!”
The PDP has been finding its voice again
since then and on Thursday the party held a
national conference in the capital Abuja to set
out its plans to regain power.
Its language was typically bullish, describing
the government as “the fascist APC regime”
and accusing it of human rights and
constitutional violations as well as abuse of
power.
Buhari’s crackdown on corruption has seen
several former and serving state governors
arrested on suspicion of corruption while he
has accused the PDP of leaving the country
virtually bankrupt.
But the PDP declared: “Participants noted that
the PDP remains the only credible national
political institution committed to national
interest and the deepening of democratic
tenets and ideals.”
Strong opposition –
Tub-thumping rhetoric and personal criticism
has long characterised Nigerian politics, which
relies heavily on patronage, elite connections
and, very often, hard cash.
The PDP personally attacked Buhari during
the election, accusing the former military ruler
of being an Islamic extremist, an unreformed
dictator and unqualified to hold office.
In the run-up to the vote, though, dozens of
PDP lawmakers switched sides to the APC,
complaining that Jonathan had reneged on a
promise not to stand for a second term.
There have been more defections since then,
in part due to PDP perceptions of an APC
“witch-hunt” against its members over
corruption.
Analysts attributed the PDP’s election defeat
to its failure to secure a consensus in a
religiously and ethnically divided country —
and also that after 16 years, people were
ready for a change.
Political commentator Chris Ngwodo said to
build on the democratic development of the
APC’s historic win, what the country needed
now was not rhetoric.
“Trickle-down politics of the worst kind”,
where powerful elites bestowed patronage on
their supporters, was in the past, he said.
To become relevant again, the PDP “has to
think more deeply” and come up with policies
that address the lack of social and economic
opportunities for Nigeria’s young population
across the country.
Simple criticism was “not moving anybody” he
told AFP.
“There’s no real sense of having an
opposition party. This is a party shell-
shocked from defeat, still grappling in the
dark. It needs to define itself,” he added.
“It’s in Nigeria’s interest for there to be an
opposition party. We need that sense of
competition, that keeps people on their toes.”
– Self-reflection –
Away from the formal debate, there were
signs the message was being taken on board,
as talk already turns to possible presidential
candidates for 2019.
Former federal lawmaker Abdul Ningi agreed
the PDP needed to get its house in order first
and had “no business for now taking a critical
look at this government”.
“What is important, in my opinion, is taking a
look at what we have done wrong and why
Nigerians actually rejected us,” he said on the
sidelines of the conference.
“We have failed to inculcate democratic
culture. We have ruled, on many occasions,
with impunity…
“Nigerians have looked at us and realised we
have derailed from our missions, dreams of
the founding fathers.”
Raymond Dokpesi, the conference’s chief
organiser, was criticised for apologising for
PDP mistakes in a television interview last
week.
“It is one thing to suffer such a set-back at
the polls anywhere in the world,” he said at
the conference.
“But most significant and far-reaching is how
quickly you learn from your mistakes and
effect the requisite adjustment necessary to
restore your winning ways.”
Source today news
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