Against the backdrop of the APC led federal government indifference and cluelessness plagued by inefficiency and poor delivery of democratic dividends, the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party is highly unfortunate and most unwelcome. It is unfortunate because PDP offers ray of hope and optimism for Nigerians so as to change the political narrative for good. That is the most plausible reason the bigwigs and chieftains of the PDP should put the crisis behind and look at the bigger picture of rescuing the country from the nadir of poverty and despondence.
At the core of the crisis are power rotation and the positions of the national chairman of the party and its presidential candidate domicile in the north. Dr Iyorchia Ayu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar are from the north. The argument of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the arrowhead pushing for the removal of Ayu is that the southerners should not be regarded as postscripts in the Nigerian federation. This argument is very valid and those on the other side of the divide agree with Wike. The Pond News believes that in the Nigerian federation, no Nigerian should be regarded as subjects while others are citizens entitled to run for the highest office of the land.
At stake in the PDP crisis is the constitution of the party, the rotation of power between the north and south and that of political integrity. It is on record that Ayu promised to leave the chairmanship position if the presidential candidate emerges from the north. It is only natural and reasonable that Ayu should be a man of his words. Nigerians are of the opinions that if a party cannot operate on the integrity level, how can such a party deliver on its electoral promises. This is the kernel of the argument and the task before the PDP presidential hopeful.
Be that as it may, we of this newspaper believe that the time is too short for the change of chairman and PDP should not be a party notorious for hounding its chairmen out of office. History is replete of carcasses of national party chairmen that were thrown out of office because of one flimsy excuse or another.
Wike has made his point in eloquent and equivocal manner. Now is the time to sheathe the sword and work for the interest of the party. We salute the stoic and dignified silence of Atiku Abubakar. We also appeal to the various spokesmen of the party to buckle their emotions and speeches within the belt of reason. Nigerians need a viable opposition party scout ready to take over the reins of governance.
