2027: PDP not ready for redemption, by Ismail Omipidan
When I first heard that former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, were being considered to lead the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I said to myself, “the PDP is indeed ready to redeem itself.”
These two men are well known to me, and I am familiar with their political antecedents. They are leaders with proven pedigree and will command the respect of many Nigerians. In fact, I dare say that their emergence could signal the return of prominent figures such as Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi, and several others who had left the party.
I was, however, shocked when news filtered in that a certain former minister in the Jonathan’s administration, who is being accused of rape, is the North’s consensus candidate for the position of the PDP National chairman. What an effontry!
To make matters worse, the only PDP governor in the entire North-West was not even part of the decision. They claimed to have micro-zoned the position to the North-West, yet it was a governor from the North-East, the chairman of the convention planning committee, who made the announcement. I understand that stakeholders from the North-West are already pushing back. However, the implication of that earlier announcement is clear: the outcome of the convention appears to have been predetermined. Those kicking may simply be wasting their time.
For me, the only logical conclusion is that the PDP is not yet ready for redemption. Nigerians, therefore, may need to look elsewhere for an alternative capable of providing a strong opposition to the ruling APC. It is a pity that the PDP seems to have learnt nothing from its past mistakes. O ma se o!
