SINCE 1999 when General Abdusalami Abubakar to the admiration of event watchers in Nigeria handed over the mantle of leadership to a civilian administration, every election year throws up new challenges and intrigues. For the 2019 general elections, the burden to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains intact has become a big challenge.
The burden may be seen by most people as non-issue based on the antecedents of the party to win elections in Delta State. It is a fact that Delta is home of PDP. There is no politician in the state that has not held a position on the party's platform or flirted with the party. But, that is the strongest challenge before the party. This is because such political parties like Justice Party, Accord Party to mention two have won elections in the state. Those who won on those parties' platform felt bad that they lost in the primaries of the PDP and confident of their popularities, moved to other parties' platforms to actualize their ambitions.
Few days to another round of primaries of the PDP in the state, most of those political parties are already waiting to harvest those who will feel disgruntled with the outcome of the PDP primaries. As stated earlier, every election since 1999 has its uniqueness. The good thing about the 2019 general elections is that the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has already secured the ticket of his party and is just waiting for affirmation during the Guber primary.
Former Governors James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan did not have such smooth sail because the PDP was in charge at the federal level and anyone who could pull the necessary strings was in control of the delegates' list. For those who may not be in the know, being in charge of delegates for the primaries gives you leverage over your opponents. Aware of the fact that the current political firmament is different from what was witnessed in the past, Governor Okowa has made it clear that candidates of the PDP for the 2019 general elections must emerge based on their popularity. The import of this is that those who lost at the primaries will automatically know that they will be trounced if they dare to try their luck in other political parties.
The Chairman of the party in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso has also come out to warn that "purchasing nomination form when you know that you cannot win in the primaries is not a guarantee that you will be compensated with political appointments after the re-election of the governor in 2019." No one is in doubt about the re-election of Governor Okowa; the issue at stake is how the PDP can manage its affairs to emerge victorious in all other positions in the election, achieving the slogan, 'PDP - All the way.'
As a tactical politician who has faced different hurdles, speaking politically, Governor Okowa is aware of the challenges ahead and he warmed his way into the hearts of Deltans through the execution of projects, getting the people involved in the act of governance by making himself accessible to all through town hall meetings and the running of an administration based open-door policy.
The governor has also challenged politicians to work in the interest of their people by having regular meetings with the people and executing projects in their domains. Last week, Governor Okowa played host to one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the PDP, Alhaji Ahmed Markafi in Asaba, where he restated his stand on the need for the primaries of the PDP to be free, transparent and acceptable to all levels.
It is a fact that while President Mohammadu Buhari has his shortcomings, he is so far, the only Presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), no one is challenging Buhari who is the incumbent President on the platform of the APC. We cannot forget in a haste the battle former President Olusegun Obasanjo went through to get his party's (PDP) ticket for re-election. His Vice, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar battled with him for the ticket, but, that is the beauty of democracy, giving the political space for all those who feel they are qualified to express their intentions and leaving the electorates with the choice of selecting who will best represent them. Many gladiators have come out to contest for the presidential seat on the platform of the PDP and it is not a surprise that most of them are from the North based on the zoning formula of the party. There is every likelihood that Senate President Bukola Saraki will join the race based on his recent rating as the face of credible opposition and protector of Nigeria's democracy.
No doubt, from the speech delivered by Makarfi when he visited Delta State, there are lots of Nigerians who understand the challenges of the country and what should be done for such challenges to be things of the past. Alhaji Abubakar had visited the state to meet with PDP delegates and reeled out what he will do if he succeeds in emerging as Nigeria's President. But, Governor Okowa did not hide his commitment to a free and fair primary of the PDP at all levels. Governor Okowa, we can vividly recall played important roles to ensure the stability of the party to the extent that he conducted the non-elective convention and few months after, conducted elective convention that gave birth the current leadership of the party. In a way, he is seen as one of the fathers of the party.
As a Nigerian who is committed to the overall growth of the country beyond party lines, the Governor said, during that visit by Alhaji Makarfi that, "going into 2019, it is only God that can decide the best for us as a country, and as a party, the best we can do, is to ensure a free and fair primaries at the national convention." We shout a loud AMEN to the governor's prayer bearing in mind that there are situations when the choice of the people and possibly the best candidates failed to emerge in elections based on 'unforeseen circumstances. '
Definitely, Nigeria's democracy is evolving and if the PDP can provide a presidential candidate that will think Nigeria rather than one who will see his kinsmen as more equal than others, a candidate that will not promote situation where an ethnic group will see Nigeria as a conquered territory, a candidate who will have good relationship with presidents of other countries, a candidate who will ensure obedience to the rule of law and obey the circular nature of the country, then and only then the party will be seen as capable of doing something different and will be embraced by all Nigerians. Nigerians cannot be tired of being Nigerians; God knows why He brought about 200 million people into one entity and it is their desire to enjoy the goodness of God in that country.
As such, members of the PDP should make the burden of next elections easier for the governor by ensuring that the best candidates emerge for all positions in the party. Money politics, politics of endorsement have not achieved many results for the polity; that is why it is heartwarming that most Nigerians are collecting their permanent voters' cards believing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct free, fair and acceptable elections.
To ensure that civil servants have enough time to register for the elections, Governor Okowa on Thursday, declared a two-day public holiday to ensure that citizens get registered and collect their PVCs. We do look forward to 2019 that will bring about the best persons holding political offices in the country, round pegs in round holes, people who will think more about the people than self. God bless Nigeria.
As published on page 10, of The Pointer Newspaper of Sunday, August 19, 2018.
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