The New PDP faction formed as a result of the August 31st
mini convention of PDP by disgruntled political heavy weights from the
north led by Atiku Abubakar a former Vice president of Nigeria, 7
governors mainly from the north and a former acting national chairman of
PDP Abubakar Kawu Baraje have further deepened the ethnic-religious
divide among Nigerians.
It is worthy of note that the members of
the breakaway faction gives this whole PDP split drama an
ethno-religious coloration with 6 out of the 7 governors from the north
and the main man thought to have orchestrated and led the governors away
on the day of the mini convention also from the north. In fact, of the
52 house members and 24 senators rumored to have openly declared support
and allegiance to the new PDP faction, 80% are thought to be mainly
from the north. The only southern presence is the Rivers state governor
Rotimi Amaechi and his supporters; most notable among them is Sam Jaja
the vice chairman of the new PDP.
It is pertinent to note that the
government of President Goodluck Jonathan and his loyalist has through
its fighting dogs, continually and dangerously threaded by further
deepening the already existing ethno-religious divide each time elders
like Edwin Clark and ex militant Asari Dokubo come out in his defense to
insist that he will contest come 2015 or Nigeria will cease to exist.
These deplorable and inflammatory statements of theirs have further made
the president look suspect on this very sensitive terrain and never
helped matters or douse such feelings shared among people.
This ethno-religious coloration to the
current crisis rocking the largest party in Africa has further worsened
President Jonathan’s chances at the polls come 2015 considering the
large voting population/bloc in the states led by these rebel governors.
With most members of the newly formed PDP rumored to have romanced with
the opposition either currently or in the past as a merger is thought
to be in the pipeline for the new PDP and the newly formed APC formed by
an alliance by the progressive parties which have continued to wax
stronger and consolidate their spread and support base from the
south-west down to the north, which has always been the strong hold of
the PDP.
As the politicking of 2015 unfolds in the
coming days and the crisis rocking the largest party in Africa
continues unabated, one hopes that it does not deteriorate to the level
of ethno-religious violence come 2015, as we await to see how the
presidency with the aid of Tony Anenih aka “Mr. Fix” believed to be
experienced in games of this nature will come out of this current
political quagmire he has currently found himself. Or will the unfolding
drama and wrangling (current crisis) rocking the PDP, which is on its
way to self implosion, sweep away the PDP and Mr. President ambition of a
deserved second term as claimed by those in the presidency.
It is a known fact that both factions do
not have the interest of Nigerians. In all, it calls for caution from
both factions as it will benefit no one if this personal interest of
theirs deteriorates to ethno-religious violence come 2015. As the adage
goes in local parlance “where two elephant fight na the grass dey
suffer”.
As these permutations and power tussles
continue, 2015 begins to look very interesting as all political
intrigues displayed by these political heavy weights continue. We wait
to witness whether PDP will remain in power with President Jonathan as
president come 2015 or will there be power shift to another political
party as the self implosion in PDP threatens?
Sancho Oprah is a freelance writer. He Tweets @sancho_oprah, email: sanchoo.opara@gmail.com
Credits: Omojuwa
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