NEW PDP CHAIRMAN : REASSERTING THE POWERS OF GOVERNORS IN NIGERIAN POLITICS
NEW PDP CHAIRMAN : REASSERTING THE POWERS OF GOVERNORS IN NIGERIAN POLITICS
By: Nurudeen Dauda
December 10, 2017 nurudeendauda24@gmail.com
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Few hours before the PDP's convention, it was crystal clear to many political observers that the "election"was going to be between Professor Tunde Adeniran who was alleged to be supported by former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Prince Uche Secondus who was alleged to be backed by Governors Wike , Fayose and others.
With Prince Uche Secondus's victory, it seems like"the coast is now clear" for the governors who perfected the plans. Moreover, the presidential ticket for senator Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi "is in the offing" barring last minute changes. It is equally clear to some of us that the Vice Presidential ticket of the PDP will likely go to south- west rather than south east looking at the brain behind the game plans.
Permit me to go back memory lane on the roles played by governors in Nigeria politics. It was alleged that majority of the then serving PDP governors in 2003 were in support of Atiku's candidacy as against President Obasanjo. It was further alleged that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo because of Atiku's preference by the governors had to "kneel down" and "begged" former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to "drop" his presidential ambition in 2003 in order to support him before securing the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003.
With the exception of the 1999 primary election under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was, essentially; determined by the "Powerful Generals" from 2003 to date all primary elections in the then ruling party were decided by the Governors. This is more so, because of their control for state resources and party delegates. By the constitutions of our major political parties, governors are the party leaders of their respective political parties in their states.
In my observation, Third Term Agenda essentially failed because: (1) Some governors were interested in succeeding President Obasanjo and (2) President Obasanjo could not come out directly to secure the commitment of the governors who could have influenced the National Assembly. In view of that, the Third Term Agenda failed through the Governors efforts in collaboration with their National Assembly members who finally killed it. Former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu; late former governor of Niger state, Engineer Abdullahi Kure, Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State; Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu; Governor Donald Duke of Cross Rivers and Governor of Lagos state, Senator Ahmadu Bola Tinubu were among the governors that fought it vigorously.
It was alleged that , President Obasanjo having failed the "Third Term", was determined to "stop" or "block" those politicians and governors who fought and defeated the "Third Term" simply because they too wanted to succeed him. He got to realize that the only way to "stop"those people was to support one of the sitting governors. Late President Yar'adu who was neither among the governors with Presidential ambition nor did he canvass for it was drafted for the Job. Had President Obasanjo opted for someone not a governor he would probably have failed.
Governors under the Nigerian Governors forum were highly instrumental in given the go ahead and support to the National Assembly in the declaration of the "Doctrine of Necessity " which empowered the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to become the anting President with full executive powers.
Ahead of the 2011 Presidential Elections there was zoning controversy in the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). Northern Governors under PDP were highly instrumental in the primary elections that saw President Jonathan emerged as the party's flag bearer. It was alleged that President Jonathan had to strike a deal with the then Northern governors under PDP with the "agreement" that he would support one of them to succeed him in 2015. It was alleged that the G-7 governors who rebelled against President Jonathan accused him of reneging on his earlier commitment.
Governors will continue to be very powerful and relevant as far as conventions, primary elections etc., are concerned as long as party activities are being financed by them. Our political parties "finance model" needed much to be desired. In Nigeria, political parties are single handedly being financed by the governors from the state resources. This must be changed. He who pays the piper dictates the tune!
In my view, if we must get it right, we must not leave political party finance to state governors. All stakeholders should or must be involved in party finance or forget about it. We must device a means where all and sundry will contribute to its finance through regular payment of membership dues. Moreover, political parties in the Western World generate a lot of revenue through businesses . In our own case, we rely on governments resources.
Will the just concluded PDP's National Convention makes it stronger or weaker ? Only time shall tell!
May God bless Nigeria!