WITH the outcome of presidential and National Assembly elections and those of the gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly, it is obvious that the once powerful Peoples Democratic Party PDP with solid blocks and cement has collapsed.
The PDP did not just fall on its own. Before the very eyes of its powerful men, it crashed and even on the hands of the gladiators of the party. It is now an official statement that the PDP, having ruled the country for 16 years and boasted that it would rule for sixty years, has finally lost its place as the ruling party PDP’s monumental loss to the APC did not only come as a rude shock to its supporters across the country, but also, as a devastating blow from a well organized opposition.
It was the first time a ruling party would lost the presidency or control of the National Assembly after and election in Nigeria. The final nail on the party’s casket was its poor showing at the April 11 governorship elections, while the APC secured over 60 seats out of 109, while PDP got 45 at the senatorial election, with the new development, the PDP has lost its positions of senate president presently occupied by David Mark, Deputy Senate President position with the Ekweremadu Senate majority leader postion and senate Chief Whip to the new leading party, the APC.
During the Governorship election and out of the 29 States where elections took place, PDP won only seven states. They are Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta, Gombe and Rivers.
APC on the other hand won in Adamawa, Ogun, Lagos, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Borno, and Nasarawa with those of Abia, Imo and Taraba inconclusive as at this report.
With the coming on board of the present political dispensation, the PDP in 1999 produced the president in the person of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who after eight years on the saddle, handed over to late Umar Musa Yar’Adua also of the PDP. It was the parties third successful victory at the presidential polls over the opposition. Also at the National House of Assembly, the party also held sway and since 1999. It controlled the majority at both the house of Representatives and the Senate. While the opposition parties had no choice than to play the role of the majority which is now the new place for the PDP, a party which will now under go what it takes to be in the opposition.
The PDP’s control of power at the centre, the state level and the National Assembly appeared unassailable, against the backdrop that the PDP pushed the power of the opposition parties to the geo-political zones.
Now that the PDPwill be in opposition for the number of years one cannot put together now, the questions that now beg for answers are what next for those PDP “gladiators who held sway for sixteen years? What role would they play now or will they just disappear into thin air?
A major loser in the entire scenario was the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu who came on a recent mission following the exit of the former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The PDP did not only lose the presidency to the opposition during Muazu as a sitting National Chairman and first of its kind in Nigeria. He also lost in his state where the PDP could not be rescued even with a combination of Yuguda and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed. They will, even remain in the opposition, for fear of intimidation they may even remain in Abuja where politicians who lose out usually stay.
What next for senate President David Mark who will by now be wishing he didn’t contest again. Also, what will happen to Ekweremadu and Gwarzo who held to their various positions for many years. What role will they play at the senate having occupied the number one, two and senior position, how will they make the PDP become vibrant again in the senate? Mark will miss Ndoma – Egba, Ita-Enang, Gwarzo, Adeyemi and others who will not join them at the 8 senate.
What next for the Chairman, BOT, Chief Tony Anenih? The Secretary, Senator Walid Jibril, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, Okwesiliezo Nwodo, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Bode George, Dr. Mohammed Hallru Bello Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Dr. Musa Babayo, Alhaji Shueit Oyedohun, Chief Ebeneza Baba-tope, Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Dan Orbih Pastor Ize-Iyamu all State Chairman, all State working committee, SWC and all Zonal National working committee members, and many others?
Let me draw the issue a little to Edo starting with the chairman, Chief Dan Orbih which I believe by now is a sleeping dog. I remembered how he promised to impeach the Comrade Governor by claiming majority seats in the state House of Assembly, unfortunately the reverse is the case and our vibrant Chairman has turned to a sleeping dog. What a shame? Even when Jonathan has not handed over power to the APC Government. I also will not forget the ambitious Pastor Ize-Iyamu who used to be a grand patriot of the APC, who decided to leave for the PDP for God knows what, what will be his faith now? Will he go back to his vomit or stay back in shame? Also, let’s not forget the one and only Tom Ikimi. This man used to be one of the founders of APC, what exactly happened to him, I will call it greed or stomach infrastructure. I can bet that in no distant time, Tom Ikimi will run back to APC, that is certain.
There are many more to talk about in Edo State. Let’s not forget Chief Tony Anenih, Chairman BOT PDP now finding shelter in his home town. There are many more to talk about those that vowed to crash Oshiomhole’s regime, but today, they are left with no choice but to leave in shame.
Come May 29, the PDP will have to readjust itself and get use to playing the opposition which the APC played for 16 years. We wait as these gladiators position themselves for this reversal of fortune, learn from the mistakes with a view to rebuilding the PDP and possibly bounce back as promised by metuh, if possible.
Tunde Owegie writes from Benin.
