By The Guardian’s Editorial Board
Nigeria’s nascent democracy definitely needs a vibrant and patriotic opposition to strengthen it as well as keep the government of the day on the course of the rules and tenets of a constitutional system of government. But the way and manner the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has carried on out of government makes it look like a party ill-prepared for the opposition role it should assume and the challenges that go with it. For PDP’s good and the good of this country, the party has to get its act together and rise to the challenge.
Of course, only an exceptional political party would think out of the box to prepare, even while in power, for the possibility of defeat and how to make the best of such situation. That would require a much more than average, ordinary party leadership, persons who are less of politicians and more of philosophers, who are less of managers of the status quo and more of visionary leaders. For indeed, the inevitability of change guarantees that a party in power today may, tomorrow, be out of power but, it should be added, not necessarily in the cold.
Less than a year after the PDP that ruled Nigeria for 16 years, lost power and the immense benefits that accrue from it, it has fallen into a state of disarray. Its membership, or what is left of it after a substantial and influential segment jumped ship before the April 2015 elections, has continued to decimate as even members migrate to the All Progressive Congress (APC) the party now in government, where they hope their bread may be better buttered. It cannot but be stated that many Nigerian politicians are at best nomadic with a migration tendency. They are thus habitual carpet-crossers who play their peculiar brand of politics with absolutely no sense of shame.
In the dictionary of bread-and-butter politicians, of course, can never be found such defining terms as political values and ideas, ideological convictions and party loyalty. The driving motive for joining politics is not a principled desire to lead, to formulate and implement policies that change a lot of the people for the better or even the direction of governance. It is an investment for the sole purpose of maximising financial and other returns that accrue from being in government and having access to public resources.
These and other reasons explain the fast-declining fortunes of the PDP. So soon in the opposition, it has not only lost members, it has suffered leadership tussles of various hues. Talking of leadership, it is trite to say that PDP has come to this passe as a direct consequence of the quality of its leadership. This self-styled largest party on the continent once threatened to rule Nigeria for the next 60 years. An arrogant, integrity-deficient leadership neither builds nor strengthens an institution: it corrupts, weakens and ruins it. Such a leadership was, primarily, the bane of PDP.
A political party worthy to be so called should ordinarily not be falling apart so spectacularly because it is not in government. But of course that presupposes a political party that is conceived and built around a clearly articulated and defensible ideology by men and women of like minds. An ideology is put simply, a comprehensive body of ideas deriving from the shared values and worldview of a social group and which, in the case of a political party, enunciates the fundamental principles and direction of governance. It must be quickly said that ideology needs not be a wholesale import from foreign lands. A Nigerian political party must develop a homegrown ideology that is sensitive to its environment.
Against the backdrop of its travails, two questions arise. First, what is the ideology of PDP? For it would be reasonable to say that if the party was founded on ideological principles shared by committed members, only few fair-weather ones would leave so soon to hurt the group and its cause. The 2012 Constitution of the party (as amended) does not spell out its ideology. However, a combined reading of its motto, character and ethics, and aims and objectives gives a wide room to ideological interpretations. In sum, it would seem that the PDP seeks to be all things to all people, genuine democrats, patriots, autocrats, political entrepreneurs, aspiring and active prebendalists. This must explain why on the one hand, it was, right from formation, a motley group of politicians of every hue; and on the other, why, at the drop of a hat, its mostly fair-weather members feel no compunction in migrating to the ruling party. This, of course is the story of the other parties, including the current ruling one.
Internal democracy is central to the capacity and capability of a political party to successfully operate a democratic government. The PDP has not exhibited this. One consequence of this–and to the damage of Nigeria’s reputation–is the very low rating of even the elections’ conducted while in government.
Nigeria’s democracy certainly needs a credible opposition to grow. But can PDP serve Nigeria creditably in the role of an opposition party? This is a question that is both important and urgent. It is important because, the party in government must be constantly made aware that the electorate not only has a choice but a better alternative to a non-performing government. The question is urgent because even in the more experienced democratic countries, there is, as there should be, at all times a philosophically integrated, ideologically cohesive and credible political party outside which, without being flippant, scrutinises and challenges the policies and actions of a sitting government vis-à-vis the greatest good of the greatest number.
The PDP must examine itself and decide how it can answer these questions.
It bears repeating: Nigeria’s democracy needs a strong, articulate and credible opposition. Despite its present state, the PDP has the experience in government, the size and the breadth to patriotically serve Nigeria by constantly reminding the incumbent APC government to govern well or risk replacement by a better alternative. But no one can give what he does not have. If it is to play this leadership role, PDP must first re-invent and re-equip itself–values, principles, quality and integrity of leadership, methods, and more. Is this party willing, able and ready? Only PDP can say. It must speak up now, by word and action. Or let another take its place.
– The Guardian
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