Rumors have been doing the rounds in the social media and other media outlets that the PDP nomination for the Presidential election next year has been narrowed to a few money bags, the National Assembly and Governors Caucuses to the detriment of other aspirants who don't belong to any of these groups. I can't say authoritatively that this political miscalculation is the case, if it is, the PDP has not learned anything from its past indiscretions, therefore doomed forever.
Unless we are suffering from amnesia, our memories should be our ultimate guide that not too long ago these same groups in the party gave the party Ali Modu Sheriff, a colossal failure in judgement and fatal mistake that almost led to the total annihilation and collapse of the party except for a few party leaders and members who stepped in, stepped up and ended the drift to that self-inflicted calamity.
The drum of self-destruction has started to sound again. PDP leaders will be ill-advised to take the bait by following and dancing to such tune.
If the party is to succeed, its leaders must listen to the voice of the people which in fact and divinely is the voice of God. The party must show and prove that it learned from the lessons of the past few years by jettisoning the pre-2015 mindset and practices. The persistence of such mindset and practices will lead to miscalculation of catastrophic and disastrous outcome.
This battle must be fought and won in Mohammadu Buhari's own backyard, so to triumph, the PDP must take the battle to Mohammadu Buhari's backyard.
The major opposition party will be delusional to assume President Buhari will be defeated on issues of bad economy, insecurity and other obvious failures of the administration. President Buhari still remains very popular amongst his base in the north of Nigeria and his supporters continue to back him in those areas and make up excuses for him even in the face of these obvious and colossal failures of his government.
To break the bond between the president and these his supporters, the PDP must provide these people with a credible alternative to the president. The president enjoys this massive support from his base because of the unfounded and misguided belief that he's incorruptible, he has integrity and he's not an elitist. Fortunately and thankfully, such person(s) with same attributes perceived to be inherent in the president exist in the ranks of the current PDP aspirants, and party members know such people.
It is therefore Paramount the party takes its time and organize a free, fair and transparent national convention devoid of delegate buying, arm twisting and imposition. In a free, fair and transparent primary, the right candidate who represents the will and mandate of generality of party members will not only emerge but will defeat President Buhari next year. Anything short, the PDP would not only repeat the mistakes of the past but it will be eternally doomed.
Capt Bishop C. Johnson ( US Army Rtd) is a National Defense and Military Strategist, National Political Commentator and a Democracy Advocate
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