PDP National Convention: Why Godfathers Should Not Play God, The Father – Barcanista

On May 21, 2016 which is about twelve days time from today(as at when this article was written), members, chieftains and delegates of the PDP will converge in Portharcourt where the party’s delegates are eexpected to elect new officers of the party’s at the National level and would also form members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). Among positions in the NWC are National Chairman and Deputy, National Secretry and deputy, offices of National Youth Leader and Deputy, and National Publicity Secretary and Deputy etc.
It is not a secret that the offices of National Youth Leader was zoned to the South East, Deputy to the North West, while the offices of National Publicity Secretary and Deputy was zoned to the South West and North Central respectively.
CHIEFTAINS ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE THEIR CANDIDATES
While prominent, young and smart party men that believe in democratic values and the values of the party have been coming out to declare interest in offices that are zoned to their geopolitical zones and intensifying campaigns, some group of party “leaders” were busy in the comfort of their luxuries scheming on how to impose their favored candidate(s) on the party.
For instance, while the office of National Publicity Secretary has been zoned to the SW, their have been subtle and direct moves by the Governor of Ekiti state to pave way for his anointed and Special Adviser on New Media and Publicity, Mr Lere Olayinka. This he has been trying to do by scheming for the position to be “further zoned” to Ekiti/Ondo axis of the SW. This is because Mr Lere Olayinka, his godson is the only aspirant from that axis. This is a subtle way to shut out leading contestants, Comrade Babasola Kuti(SK) and Comrade Segun Sowunmi, that are from Lagos a s Ogun states respectively,and force them to drop their ambitions.
In the South East, PDP Chieftains led by Senator Like Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the Senate are trying to shut out prominent party youths like Ezeani Chukwunonso Elvis and Prince Shield Nwazuruahu from the race for National Youth Leader of the party to give easy passage to Sen Ekweremadu’s anointed by “sub-zoning” the slot to Enugu state. Both Shield and Ezeani are from Anambra state.
GODFATHER IS NOT GOD THE FATHER
I believe it is instructive to remind Gov Ayo Fayose and Senator Ike Ekweremadu that the influence of godfathers cannot override the verdict of God the father.
Governor Fayose should cast his mind back to 2007 where he opposed the selection of Chief Segun Oni as PDP Governorship candidate for Ekiti state in that year’s election even when then PDP “lord” and President Olusegun Obasanjo and his garrison commander/National Chairman Col Ahmadu Ali were bent on having Oni fly the party flag and win the poll. Fayose should remember how he was impeached illegally by forces loyal to Obasanjo and Oni to pave way for Oni’s emergence. He should remember that God showed himself that he is not loyal to any man in the PDP Primary by disgracing Oni and put him third behind Chief Yinka Akerele and Prof Segun Ojo, both emerged first and second respectively in the primary. Fayose should recall that despite the defeat of Oni in the primary, Obasanjo and Ali still went ahead to foist Oni as party candidate. As God would have it, Oni was disgraced out of office by the court of Appeal in 2010 and the legitimate candidate/winner Kayode Fayemi was installed. Same Fayemi that Fayose had supported in the general election. Gov Fayose should also recall that even when Chief Obasanjo foisted Oni as PDP National Vice Chairman(SW) in 2012 by forcing other aspirants to step down, God still disgraced Oni out of office in less than two years.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu should not forget so soon how God the father used coalition of patriotic Enugu PDP men to resist then Gov Sullivan Chime when he wanted to impose himself as Ekweremadu successor as the senator representing Enugu West, at the same time denying Ekweremadu the chance to govern Enugu state. If God the father hadn’t intervened, Ekweremadu would not have been Senator by now not to talk of being Senate Deputy President.
Senator Godswill Akpabio should recall how God the father stepped inside the ring to save him when then outgoing Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Chief Oblong Attach was bent on installing his son-inlaw Dr Udoma Ekarika as PDP’s flagbearer in 2007 election. Akpabio should not forget how patriotic Akwa Ibom PDP members stood by him to defeat Attah’s godson at the primary and resisted Attab’s move to upturn the result using BoT machinery.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state should remember that in 2007,God came to his aid when the godfathers thought they have their way. Okowa should remember how the Abuja godfather and party National chairman Col Ahmadu Ali had upturned his primary victory for Delta North Senate in 2007 and handed over same to the wife of Ali. God came to his rescue when he moved to Accord Party and defeated Mrs Ali in the general election.
Gov Segun Mimiko should not forget so soon how God Father came to his aid in 2007 when then President Olusegun Obasanjo was keen on having his godson late Segun Agagu to return for another term as Governor of Ondo state. Even when Mimiko was prevented from participating in the primary, Mimiko went to Labour party and God showed himself.
GODFATHERS SHOULD NOT PLAY GOD IN THE CONVENTION:
While I recognise the right of anybody including Governors and other party Chiefs to support candidates of their choice, it is also incumbent on them to allow other aspirants equal standing and leave the decision to elect winners to the delegates.
History would repeat itself at the convention should any chieftain attempt to muscle out any aspirants from seeking office. All candidates should be given fair chance to compete in the convention. The power of godfather cannot match the power of God the father.
Finally, I commend Senator Buruji Kashamu and other party leaders for insisting that all candidates from the SW are given equal oppirtunity.
Power Must Return To The People!!!
May God Bless Us All and Bless Nigeria