APC Against PDP: A Populace Clamouring Against Peoples Democratic Perdition By M.B.O Owolowo

Within every social stratum in society
there are lamentations about the
political spectrum, leadership
ineptitude and challenges we
collectively face as a nation. The
battle for 2015 has heated up the
polity, and the political juggernauts
and serial electoral marauders are
gearing up for what seems to be the
most contentious battle in not only the
history of our nation, but a battle for
its subsistence.
Unfortunately, what is at stake
transgresses not just the socio-
political but the ethno-religious, as
most of the populace are clamouring in
unison on one mater- the urgent need
for change. Between now and 2015 we
are going to witness deft political
manoeuvrings and gerrymandering, as
some of us pray the diabolical game of
innocent bloodshed would cease.
Sentiments aside, if elections were
held at this very moment, the PDP
would win based on its national spread
and ‘covert’ electoral tendencies, but
the emergence of APC- a worthy
opposition with a substantial national
outreach, changes the political
dynamics. These calculated political
machinations have gradually
metamorphosed into a political duopoly
that will definitely challenge the
electoral monopoly of the incumbent
PDP.
In all honesty, I resented the PDP
based on antecedents, but later I
realised it wasn’t about the party
itself but its composition. But, as long
as the nation remains in a state of
torpidity under its stewardship,
majority of the citizenry would remain
critical of the PDP.
The PDP has been ruling since 1999, a
period long enough to initiate the
foundation of solid economic policies
that ideally should have propelled
Nigeria into the league of developed
nations. But, what the ruling party
has had as its major priority is power
elongation and resource squandering,
rather than facing the real task of
governance.
This power thirst and drunkenness can
be traced back to Obasanjo- a figure
loathed more than loved, especially by
his own ethnic folk, as the South West
refused to vote for him in the 1999
elections. Obasanjo is also seen as an
ingrate in certain quarters,
considering he didn’t duly
acknowledge the main political figure,
M.K.O Abiola, who paid the ultimate
price for him to be considered and
eventually emerge as the ‘selected’
candidate by his political benefactors.
These same benefactors were oblivious
of his yearning quest for political
relevance and prominence and
misconstrued his supposed loyalty-
because he dramatically refused to
reciprocate political gestures and
overtures on tasting the realms of
power again.
Obasanjo still has his loyalists, but is
considered a failure in some quarters;
the unsavory circumstances of his
failed third term bid and the
privileged opportunity to serve as
president thrice, without the
envisaged impact aren’t exactly
positives.
He has succeeded in imposing himself
a supposed kingmaker and foisted an
incompetent leadership on the nation,
a ‘selection’ feat he is determined to
repeat for the 2015 elections.
As you rummage through the PDP
ranks for positives, a depressing
culmination ensues in Goodluck
Jonathan’s string of executive gaffes,
and the need to define the
constitutional role of the ‘First
Lady’.
I wouldn’t overstate the obvious, but
would warn of the imminent dangers
of this regime continuing governance
in such a manner – those that would
suffer the consequences aren’t even
born yet, but those of us still around
in future may regret being in
existence- as our patriotism in the
midst of perpetuated squalor would
definitely be questioned.
Hitherto, some PDP apologists touted
the political potentials of Rivers State
Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. However,
the battle between Amaechi and the
incumbent has taken a Nollywood
dimension. The latest being the Rivers
State impeachment fiasco: deadly
fight scenes including the ‘mace’
armament crescendo, fast moving
vehicles and gun trotting operatives,
all that was missing were the film
production credits. We mustn’t forget
the discontented Northern Governors
and the Port Harcourt airport ambush.
On a lighter note, the saga of NGF
election even added a new word to our
socio-political lexicon: ‘Janging’.
Evidently, the on-going power tussles
and imbroglios within the PDP may
eventually be its Achilles heel.
As for the APC, congratulations on
scaling through the obstacles
supposedly laid by obvious detractors;
from the faction saga of one of the
parties involved, to the acronym
fiasco at INEC, from the challenges
of the respective party conventions,
to the manifesto alignment and
eventual birth, you have overcome.
Please do not celebrate yet, because
the arduous journey of saving the
nation from the clutches of its
desperate stranglers has officially
begun.
It would be wise to be aware of
certain shadowy characters ready to
align or dine with any political
association for the purposes of
prolonging their looting culture. They
will infiltrate your ranks in an
attempt to scuttle your success-
remaining within your fold to spread
their cancer.
APC critics say they are dead on
arrival and have been accused of
being a congregation of strange
bedfellows or disgruntled elements,
whatever they are, I believe they are
aware of the enormity of the task
ahead of not just them but the
nation.
The general public sentiment is to
make do with APC as an alternative
and be relieved there is going to be a
semblance of a real and hopefully
formidable opposition, one capable of
giving the PDP a good democratic
fight at the polls.
Honestly, there are certain elements
within APC I can’t stand, as there are
characters of questionable morals
within the fold. I am however consoled
by the performances of a few within
the party, Governor of Lagos State;
Babatunde Fashola is a good example.
At this juncture, one cannot but
reminisce on the intrigues of the
proposed 2011 merger and if it had
succeeded. When discussions were
initiated on the ACN -CPC merger,
many termed it a “slam dunk”. The
merger was meant to capitalise on the
growing discontent within and without
the PDP, take advantage of the
popularity of the incorruptible
Muhammadu Buhari amongst the
masses, and secure the automatic
block vote of the ACN dominated
states. Mathematically it seemed
possible and people actually
conceptualized possibilities of an
actual ‘breath of fresh air’.
On that note, I seriously hope the
protagonists of that failed merger
have learnt from their previous
mistakes, as they have another
opportunity with APC. However, they
should not make the mistake of
believing they can take over the helm
of affairs to perpetuate the impunity
and impudence characteristic of those
running the show at the moment.
I hope the APC leadership take heed
to the warning from the Nigerian
masses, youth especially- if for any
reason whatsoever the lot of you
don’t swallow your pride, pocket your
egos and put national interest over
personal interests or ambitions for
this merger to succeed – posterity will
judge you all and will not forgive you
for not halting the protracted inertia
initiated by the PDP in modern times.
The birth of APC is healthy for our
political landscape and democratic
process, but those involved must
realise this is bigger than their
concerted apparatchiks- it is the
battle for not just the soul, but the
future and ultimate salvation of a
nation in declivity.

m.b.o.owolowo@gmail.com
-M.B.O 2013©