THE DECAPITATION OF PDP AND THE DECIMATION OF THE OPPOSITION IN NIGERIA

 It is a general understanding that any democratic government without credible opposition is open to dictatorship and abuse of power. Recently, there was an array of hope for Nigeria.  Nigerians witnessed a formidable opposition activity pre-2015 elections through the All Progressive Congress - APC. But that is no longer the case.

The current main opposition party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party - PDP is being decapitated gradually. So far, President Muhammadu Buhari seem to be doing a commendable job hounding down the corrupt PDP henchmen one after the other, while others are jumping ship. This has resulted in the gradual decimation of the party, making it challenging to perform the role of a viable opposition party.

Although some party faithful believe that the party will be able to usher in some credible leadership in the forthcoming party congresses and convention, because the party still boasts of a good number of fairly untainted figures, but whether they are ready to save the party is another matter.

This whole picture indicates a disquieting future for Nigerian democracy. The danger now is that the public image of the party is at such low ebb that it cannot successfully play the role of a viable and credible opposition. In-fighting that caused it the election is still denying it cohesion. In fact, the PDP brand is becoming dangerously untrustworthy.

The party now needs men and women who are ready and capable of making sacrifices. Men and women who are ready for self-denial for the good of the party and the nation. But it is not a job for PDP members alone.

The present void that is emerging about an opposition party is a call for patriotic minds within the different opposition camps to unite towards the path to a true democratic culture. Instead of the maddening rush to the ruling party, it is time to explore the building of a new opposition party that can stand and viably expose the weaknesses of the APC central government and credible enough to offer alternative solutions.