The polity had been noisy since the time the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave the nod for parties to shop for candidates to run in 2015. As usual, our politicians jumped into the arena, some without thorough consultation with their constituencies. Some swore that God visited their bedrooms and instructed them to run, while others were plain gamblers. And now, the primaries are over and a substantial number of candidates have emerged. A few are going to the courts, which means that some new names could come up later. In all, some good lessons have manifested and we hope politicians will learn and do things better next time. The presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was bereft of the usual zest and colour. The show did not compel the same breathtaking anxiety like that of 2011, when prominent northern elders in the party rallied behind one aspirant, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, to fight incumbent President Jonathan. At that time, Jonathan enjoyed the sympathy of many, including governors of his party, who ensured that he survived. In 2011, there was stiff competition and a game to watch. But in 2014, there was no contest at all. All they did was to ratify the candidacy of Jonathan after the party had reserved the ticket for him. Two interlopers who tried to smuggle themselves into the race were effectively barred. It is not as if reserving a ticket for an incumbent is not to be found in some democratic traditions. Whenever an incumbent desires to run for another term (not third term please), his political party could decide to give him what they term right of first refusal. It is not out of place to show an incumbent some respect and ensure that the party goes into election without much fuss. To challenge an incumbent in such brazen manner could be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the ruling party from within. But the problem with the PDP is that it does not have much integrity. What ordinarily should have passed as normal has turned out to be an aberration. And that is why the opposition refers to the PDP primary as a ‘coronation’. The PDP ticket had been controversial since 2011 when Jonathan, who was vice president, took over after the death of Umaru Yar’Adua. Segments in the north felt strongly that the slot for Yar’Adua belonged to the north and should be reserved for the north. But many, including northern PDP governors, supported Jonathan and were to tell Nigerians later that they did so based on the agreement that Jonathan would run for only one term. As 2015 unfolded and Jonathan’s body language did not betray that of a man content with only one term, northern PDP governors and others began to kick seriously. That was what precipitated the crisis and eventual exit of Rabiu Kwankwaso, Murtala Nyako, Atiku Abubakar and others at the mini convention of the party in August 2013. Those who stayed back, like Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliu could not aspire to contest the party ticket with Jonathan. The President was thus left alone, with his vice, Namadi Sambo to entertain party members to a somber outing that was purged of the spirit of competition and grit. I doubt if that spectacle translated to a good entertainment for millions of Nigerians. READ: PDP Vs. APC: Check Out The 2015 Governorship Candidates Of The 2 Main Parties In Each State Conversely, the All Progressives Congress (APC) treated Nigerians to a good session of brinkmanship. Nobody thought the party could pull through that level of competition, given their tradition of imposition of candidates. All the legacy parties in the APC had not staged a good pre-election primary since 1999. As a matter of fact, it is the PDP that used to be consistent with the staging of good primaries and having a higher level of internal democracy. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who emerged flag bearer of the APC was never used to competitive primaries. In 2003 and 2007, while he was in All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), other aspirants, particularly from the north were usually brainwashed to step down for him. In 2011, he did not need anybody to contest with him because he owned the platform – the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which couldn’t take him far enough. Now in the APC, Buhari has seen the sense in reaching out and forming broad coalitions. Without the other partners, he could not have pulled the feat of last week. And we saw a humbled winner and a realist, who knew the tricks and intrigues that fetched him victory. We are seeing more of history repeating itself nearly 15 years after, with some lessons being learned, hopefully. Remember the coalition of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All Peoples Party (APP) in 1999? Those two parties conspired to fight the PDP, but the merger that threw up former Secretary, Government of the Federation (SGF) Olu Falae as presidential candidate was not very competitive. It was the bad blood it drew between the late Cicero, Bola Ige and some leaders of the AD that quickened the asphyxiation of the party by the PDP. After that, it did not take the PDP much effort to cripple what later became the ANPP. PDP drained life out of the two parties to crown itself Africa’s largest party. The easiest way to snuff life out of any party is to ensnare its hungry members with juicy appointments; just the same way the lion goes after the jugular of its prey. It was heartwarming to see that the APC stakeholders are willing to surrender their individual interests for the sake of the party. It was a commendable feat on the part of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar to admit defeat in the face of an obvious ganging up against him. Atiku was clearly the most experienced in terms of democratic governance. He had the best campaign team and a robust media outfit. His outreach and legwork was superb, just as he also presented the most credible articulation of the problems facing the country. But those who conspired against him did not do so to spite him. They did so for the sake of the party and the elections ahead. They looked for the best man to demonstrate to the PDP that the party is about to be over. Kwankwaso must be commended for not being a pushover. He must have been prevailed upon to step down, but he doggedly refused, unlike an Aminu Tambuwal, who was misled into picking the nomination form, but later chickened out. The APC was again smart to know that a Kwankwaso, though brilliant and fearless, is not exactly an ace in these tempestuous times. In addition to the capacity to win votes, what we need now is more of restraint and less of vitriol. The other spirants were simply jolly good guys. When Sam Nda-Isaiah visited The Guardian in one of his early outreaches, we sought to know what he was bringing to the APC table. He seemed not to understand, but I think he got the message clearer now. But we must salute his courage, which, to me, is close to that of a man who dared a lion with bare hands. Rochas Okorocha reminds one too well of the politics of Ibrahim Waziri, the leader and presidential candidate of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) of the Second Republic. Waziri thought us to play politics without bitterness and Okorocha comes close to doing that. The man is full of theatrics and his presence neutralises the tensed atmosphere we see all around. Now that he has gone back to try his hands on a second term in Imo State, let’s pray he does not lose his calm, because the PDP is waiting for him. Should the APC continue to celebrate no holds barred? What the party achieved last week is worth celebrating, no doubt. This is the first time the main opposition has managed to put one good roof over its head since 1999. On the face value, the organisation of the primary was well above average. There were no physical bruises and nobody was teargased. But the leaders know what went on in the inner recesses to procure that outing. There were gaping emotional bruises and good money was spent to purchase all that appearances. The APC knows that in terms of campaign expenses, the Electoral Act has recommended a threshold, within which parties must remain. They haven’t been very transparent in that regard. We are told that in spite of the poor outing of the Naira in recent times, scarce foreign exchange was the legal tender that was used to lure delegates. All that is fine and good. What they should know is that it will cost the party more to sustain this rhythm well into 2015. All eyes must be on the ball and nothing should be taken for granted. That means that the APC should not flaunt the credential of last week too noisily. This is the time to take the game to the PDP, through careful articulation of the party’s plan for Nigeria. Nigerians have been bruised by democracy since 1999 and the people deserve and demand better deal now.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:28:49 +0000
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