Who Will Rebuild The PDP?

With a resolve after recent top-level meetings to stay together, the potency of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, surviving in the harsh political and economic climate as an opposition party would be seriously determined by the sagacity of the men and women who will lead its reinvention.

By Charles Kumolu

WITH an electoral defeat that bruised and deflated the ego of virtually every MEMBER of the self acclaimed largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the prospects of the party were hazy in the eyes of Senator Olurunnimbe Mamora, the deputy-director general of the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation. One caution he gave to the emerging opposition political party was to imbibe the principle of constructive criticism.

Indeed, the PDP had since its formation in 1998, never lacked men whose political clout ensured it emerged relatively strong from internal crises, all mostly drawn together by the party’s hold on the presidency. However, with the loss of the presidency that attraction is now going to be put to serious TEST.

It is of note that many chieftains, who before the polls were assumed to be of remarkable electoral value, surprisingly failed to deliver their polling units at the polls.

Special committees

Many of the mighty names bandied about in the media at the end of the day failed to deliver even their polling units to their party.

Having emerged from the defeat with a bruised ego, it was not a surprise that the party recently planned to constitute a committee for re-packaging.

With the primary aim of halting it’s dwindling fortunes, the party resolved to set up special committees with the task of rebuilding.

However the committee decides to carry on its agenda, it will have to take into consideration the inclination of some prominent chieftains of the party upon whom the fortunes of the party could be rebuilt the PDP.

Among them are:

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

It is natural that all eyes would be focused on the President in the quest to reposition the party, given that he may be the party’s national leader even as a former President.

Though he is not considered as politically savvy in many quarters, it is expected that he would still command some influence that the party would find useful.

How Jonathan’s imprints would add up to the party’s fortunes may be constrained by his perception of not having a leading voice in party affairs.

Nyesom Wike

The exit of Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi from the PDP, inevitably put the leadership of the party in Rivers State on Wike.

So it was not surprising that Wike, who is now the governor-elect of Rivers State, was the arrow ahead of the PDP during the political crisis that had engulfed the state.

Some in the party would want to call upon Wike to use his pugnacious instincts in reinventing the party at the national level. However, such hopes would be seriously limited on the basis of the fact that the federal cover that was brusquely used by Wike in Rivers State would be missing after the exit of the Jonathan administration at the end of NEXT month.

Nevertheless, Wike would be a rallying point in propelling the party in the South-South and notably in Edo State where he has a close affinity to the PDP state chapter through his friend, Chief Dan Orbih.

Godswill Akpabio

Under the PRESENT circumstances, the outgoing governor of Akwa Ibom State would be the cynosure of eyes given his leading role in the party as the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum. Though his stature as a powerful PDP leader, may have wanned following his party’s woeful electoral performance, his galvanizing ability would be brought to bear.

However, with his imminent exit from the Government House and his entry into the Senate, his stature and swagger would be diminished by the decrease in his ability to expend patronage.

Despite the fact that he would be a rookie in the Senate, Akpabio’s presence and deft political moves would perhaps be advantageous to the PDP caucus in the 8th Senate.

Chief Tony Anenih

In this troubling time in the life of the PDP, Anenih’s expertise in the art of politicking, is something that would have been called up. But Anenih may have reached his limit not only in his political mileage, but also would be seriously constrained by age.

Anenih, who would be 82 in August is however already being seen as an old warhorse. Even more, the Uromi born tactician’s political expertise has only been known to shine under the klieg of the ruling party. His political endurance in the opposition has not been TESTED. So it would be doubtful if the party decides to rest its fortunes on the aging politician.

Musiliu Obanikoro

Even with the political battles he had fought among PDP chieftains in his home state of Lagos, Obanikoro remains ONE of the few leading figures in the South-west.

With a popularity among the party faithful in the state that is only disputed by his traditional antagonists, the former ambassador to Ghana boasts of the knack required to make a difference in the party.

Barring the re-emergence of perennial rivalry among party stalwarts in Lagos, Obanikoro’s personal inputs may be valuable to the party as it seeks to rediscover itself in the country.

Bode George

Obanikoro

The former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP is no doubt, an asset to the PDP.

In spite of a political stature that had prominently been shaped by controversies, he commands a sizable number of followership in the Southwest.

Unfortunately the Lagos Boy as George is also known as, may not be available to rebuild the party having vowed to go on exile should Major General Muhammadu Buhari, retd, WIN the presidential poll.

Col. Ahmadu Ali

He was among those relied upon for the President’s re-election, given his pedigree as a former National Chairman.

In his capacity as the Director General of the PDP campaign organisation, Ali was in his typical elements of jabbing those he felt were antagonistic to the party.

As a MEMBER of the old guard in the PDP, Ali’s wisdom would be sought in rebuilding the party.

Being successful at that may not come easy for him especially in his home state of Kogi where the APC had made an overwhelming inroad.

His perceived reputation of lacking in capacity and mannerism needed to carry everyone along may be a liability this time.

Buruji Kashamu

Not even the international pressure for his extradition to the US for alleged drug-related offenses, would deter the PDP from relying on Kashamu for its reinvention especially in the southwest.

After all, it was under the same situation that Kashamu emerged from just an associate of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to a notable leader of the party in the zone at a time when the party had mixed fortunes.

Whether he delivered in his position as the Chairman Mobilization Committee of the Southwest PDP, should not be a matter of strenuous debate considering the performance of his party in the last election.

However, the growing pressure for his extradition could BECOME very distractive for Kashamu, who was recently elected to represent Ogun East in the Senate.

Ayodele Fayose

Despite being regarded as politically irritant, Fayose is so much valued in the PDP.

The fact that his actions resulted in collateral damages for the party does not matter since he is regarded as ONE of the few foot soldiers left in the PDP.

Already, he has vowed to be the last man standing as the party commences its role as the major opposition party.

While declaring his commitment to the party’s redemption, Fayose vowed not to dump the PDP under any condition.

Though his mobilization capacity is not in doubt, his Knack for always courting controversies remain a source of concern.

David Mark

The outgoing Senate President is ONE of the few PDP chieftains whose loyalty had never been a subject of controversy.

Serving as the Senate President longer than anyone else before him, his durability is a testimony of his mastery of political games.

Speculations that he would defect to the APC were dismissed by Mark, who vowed to remain and rebuild the PDP.

Unlike some who may be tackled by some personal and public shortcomings, Mark is considered ONE of the few beacons upon which the future of the lies upon.

Adamu Mu‘azu

Mu’azu

Being the national chairman of the party, the buck stops on Muazu’s table. Agitation for his removal being the chairman who changed the game of the party has for now been stifled following a meeting with governors-elect and party leaders from across the country.

But holding the unenviable record of the chairman, who led the party to defeat, raises so much doubt about how well he can lead the party out of the political wilderness.

Also likely to undermine Muazu’s ability are allegations of corruption and anti-party activities broadly levelled against the leadership of the party.

Even as it is not contestable that his position might be ONE of the casualties of the repositioning, the former Bauchi State governor would be a handy reference point for the task ahead.

Sule Lamido

Being ONE of the original nine persons that formed the party, the outgoing governor of Jigawa State resisted the temptation to exit the party at the height of the dispute between some governors and the immediate past national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. He had asserted that he would not leave the house he built for someone else.

As the last man standing among the founders of the party, Lamido’s reputation of political sagacism and tact would be of inestimable value to the PDP.

He is also expected to champion civility, peace, dialogue and constructive engagement that are key to intra-party relations.

However, the grace and gait with which he walked in the party was severely damaged by his failure to deliver the party in his state and WIN any measurable office for the party during the last general elections.

Notwithstanding what people think, Lamido comes across as someone who could be relied upon in his party’s quest for re-engineering.

With a detribalised personality, robust political contacts that had endured for decades, fearless stance on national issues, and rich experience, neglecting Lamido would be inimical to the PDP.