Alignment towards the 2015 general election in Nigeria
is already on top gear. Politicians and political parties are also meeting to strategize
on what may turn out to be most fierce fought election in the history of the
country.
While the opposition parties (who may have learnt their
lessons from the last election) may have been putting heads together, the
ruling party that prides itself as the biggest party in Africa may become the
greatest loser in the unfolding drama which may make or mar its landslide
victories across the country if it does not nip in the bud the internal
wrangling which has eaten deep into the fabrics of its foundation.
The greatest threat will be the new political party
being floated by two of the strongest founders of the party and former Heads of
States, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
According to some reliable sources in the inner caucus
of the party, the threat is real and recruitment of foot soldiers on top gear.
Several instances can be deduced from this, if recent
activities of the duo are anything to go by.
First was the “voluntary” resignation of Olusegun Obasanjo
as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of PDP.
That was followed by the recent state of the Nation
address by the duo in which they expressed their apprehension over the state of
affairs in the country especially security.
They also tested the waters with the leaked media release
of the endorsement of the Governor Sule Lamido and Chibuike Amaechi as
Presidential candidates for the 2015 election.
According to an insider source who spoke with CKN Nigeria
in Abuja during the week ,not minding the denials in the camp of both elder statesmen,
the report is absolutely true.
Trouble started for the PDP with the said imposition of
the current Chairman, Secretary and some other executives of the party by
President Goodluck Jonathan against the will of some top members of the PDP.
Though it was revealed that the current National
Secretary ,former governor of osun State
Olagunsoye Oyinlola was a candidate of Obasanjo, who pulled the rug off the
feet of Goodluck’s preferred candidate and former Transport Minister, Ebenezer
Babatope..No love is lost between Obasanjo and his self-imposed godson
Goodluck.
Governor Amaechi the governor of Rivers State and current Chairman
of governors forum who has been at loggerhead with Olusegun Obasanjo since he
was denied the governorship ticket in 2007 recently reconciled with the Otta
farmer .
His first test of loyalty was for him to use his clout
in the governors’ forum to install Oyinlola as the National Secretary which he
delivered in records time.
Olusegun Obasanjo was also said not to be happy with
the roles played by Goodluck Jonathan during the last general election which
not only witnessed the former army general not being able to deliver a Senate
ticket for his daughter Iyabo but also saw the woeful performance not only in Ogun State but the whole of the South West
with the exception of Ondo State where the Action Congress of Nigeria had a
clean sweep of the election.
Babangida on his part has his case against the
President and party. He has not forgiven the party for the humiliationhe
experienced during his last attempt at the presidency.
Just as they said in politics, there are no permanent enemies
but foes, the two generals who have not been in the best of terms for some time
now as seen with the verbal exchanges between them during IBB’s 70th
birthday last year seems to have found a common enemy in Goodluck Jonathan.
They agreed to join resources together to fight the
common enemy the PDP.
Arrangement has been concluded tofloat a party that
will rival the party come 2012.
Many foot soldiers have been recruited. Some serving
governors have also joined the train.
The Presidency is in total jittery. The initial plan is
to recruit atleast ten serving governors of the party to endorse the party, so
far that have been achieved.
This new development according to our investigation is
the reason for a total lull in the activities of the party since the election
of the present executive.
The only visible programme achieved by the executive
since its election was the recent retreat held in Calabar.
The Presidency is presently not only battling to keep
the ship of governance in place but also to prevent the PDP from total
disintegration.
All emissaries sent to the two former head of states to
shield their sword and return to the Party have been rebuffed.
Its yet to be seen when the Party will be formally
presented to INEC but from what we have seen, the PDP is in a one in a lifetime
battle for its soul.
How the PDP will be to check this hurricane is yet to be
seen but only time can tell ..CKN