Nyerere Dike wrote: Politics is a power-game. However, the high jinks of the nPDP in joining APC are all smoke and mirrors. All but one of these rebel governors is a lame-duck; meaning this is their last term in office. With the sole exception of Abdulfattah Ahmed of Kwara, they have all served two terms as governors and that is the statutory limit. Two of the rebel governors have wisely backtracked. Lame-duck governors have greatly diminished power. Their opponents know they will not have to tolerate them much longer. Lame-duck governors run against the clock. They are soon to be dumped into the dustbin of history. That is the predicament of these loud rebels. What is pathetic about their situation is actually their central demand. President Jonathan is at the height of his powers. He is not a lame-duck. He can run for a second term. That gives him enough time to deal with his opponents. It also tells them that they better make peace with him now, or they will be in the wilderness possibly for the next six years. That is a very long time in politics. By that time, at least six of the rebel PDP governors will be politically dead.These politicians facing a bleak future are now demanding that thePresident relinquish his advantage by making himself a lame-duck like them: declaring that he will not contest for the presidency in 2015. President Jonathan is certainly not a fool; so that is not going to happen. Nor will he do away with tukur who was responsible for breaking the backs of the governors by watering down their influence and stronghold on the party. What you witnessed all this while with the rebels was a reaction to a purge of the party in a view to reposition it for effectiveness in the 2015 race. This is my prediction. The rebel lame-duck governors have had their 15 minutes of fame; thanks to the Nigerian news media that hankers after sensational stories. They have made the noise and grabbed the headlines. That is the end of the road for them.They have to come back to Jonathan cap in hand. I repeat, politics is a game of power and, at the moment, Jonathan is sitting pretty. If these lame-duck governors don’t play ball, they will all be handed over to the EFCC if and when Jonathan is returned as president. I actually believe that is what all this brouhaha is all about. These governors apart from being ambitious want assurances that theywill be left in peace to enjoy their booty after their retirement if their plans fail. I don’t believe that assurance should be given either. They have gone about it the wrong way. They should have gone to the President to plea-bargain rather than all this bluster. As it is, the PDP machinery in their states will be taken away from them and that will be it.Who are the people going to follow? Would they join a man who is going to be out of a job as governor within two years, or will they follow a sitting president who is likely to remain president for another six years? It is a no-brainer: Jonathan has all the cards hands down.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 16:56:59 +0000
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