A very vibrant and young articulate political analyst and public communicator, Engr. Dr. Mike O. Enahoro in his usual detailed analytical style has asked party leaders to drop their selfish interests and allowed the Governor to govern the State in peace.
In the article titled *” Edo PDP Impasse, The Riskiness In the Ill Thought Dissolution And The Only Way Forward”* Dr. Mike ex rayed the issues in the ground, advised against the dissolution of the existing party structure, and suggested eight (8) workable line of action the Governor of Edo State, H.E. Mr. Godwin Obaseki could take to resolve the ongoing crisis with ease while asking party leaders to give the Governor a free hand to operate. He noted that the selfishness on the part of some legacy party leaders and those who joined the People’s Democratic Party with the Governor is amongst the reasons for the delay in setting up his team which also informed the ongoing crisis. He stressed that the solution is not beyond the Governor who must not allow politicians to use their selfish interests to create barrier between him and the electorates.
*Edo PDP Impasse, The Riskiness In the Ill Thought Dissolution And The Only Way Forward* by Comrade Mike O. Enahoro
As a party member, I have closely followed the ongoing dilemma at the state level of our party, I have considered remaining silent for the last few days but, it is becoming clearer to me that, members of our party for whatever reason known to them are not ready to speak the truth but to toe the line of their respective interests. As a democrat and an ideological party man, as one who believes in trusting people, seeking unity, peace, and coexistence, and having understood that, we will be better remaining together, I have decided to dare all and speak the truth in pushing the way forward for a better and formidable party at the State level.
*Where We Are Coming From And The Issues*
Even though there were negligible pockets of issues in the pre, during and after the Congresses in the Edo State PDP, the current crisis cannot be unlinked with the process of the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s realignment with PDP when his former party the APC became overbearing to our available Governor. Our party showed undeniable love to our Governor and without allowing the existence of any barrier, the Governor became the party flag bearer in the last Edo State election that took place in September 20, 2020. And to God be the Glory, the party’s victory was overwhelming.
There is a saying in my local parlance; *it is not the eyes used to eat pounded yam that is used to share meat.* This best explained why today crisis is now giving room for unnecessary interests while also attracting opportunity to vent the pockets of negligible matters around the conduct of the Congresses that ushered the leaderships that created easy platforms and strategies that made the Governor’s joining our party very smooth even without conditioning him to implement excusing his Deputy and Secretary to the State Government positions.
It is also not untrue that, at the moment, the majority of officers of the Governor’s former political party have claimed to have joined the PDP. This was however not before the victory of the September 2020 Edo election. Having resigned their positions as a result of impositions of interim government by powers that be in their former party, there is the belief that, they have supported and remained committed to the aspiration of the Governor while in the former party and that, now should have a space in the new party scheme of things.
In the last six months, negotiations have been ongoing. The English word cum * harmonization* became very loud. As if that was not enough, it was backed with *integration.* All attempts to execute these words have rejected sincerity from all sides. There seems to be visible greed as it has attracted political that is interest-based. The game of 2023 and 2024 political years are also being skimmed into the entire process *while forgetting where we are coming from.*
Unfortunately, the interests of a few are now misleading the overall interest of the people and the supreme party whose umbrella is providing the shade for all. The political scheming has resulted to ambush that has created distrust such that, exchange of correspondences became inevitable thereby drawing public attention. Also unfortunate was granting of the interview where it was also exposed that, another letter has found its way out from the State. Permit and excuse me of the contents of these letters but two questions with answers that will be very key in deciding our opinions are, who has the right to write a letter of request such as those issued out? In what capacity are you writing such a letter? Please, do not get me wrong. I do not mean, any other letters such as a letter of complaint, petition, etc.
The case in our hand is getting unnecessary escalation. Interests are misadvising their respective champions for their selfishness. Edo people and our party are at the disadvantage yet, the players are busy holding on to their selves. Leaders who aren’t taking sides are mute. Loyalties are being betrayed. Unity and peaceful coexistence are at threat. Of course, players forgot that, *they can determine the meaning of the fight but cannot determine how it will end* yet, the Constitution is clear and Supreme. Of course, they are refusing to sincerely tap the political machinations in resolving the unnecessary internal crisis.
*The Riskiness In Dissolution and why the Governor must not risk it.*
Now, who are those insisting that the existing state party structure be dissolved? What are their grievances? What is the need? Apart from those who joined the party with the Governor who has no local standi to say so, they are congress losers. Their reasons are not just for selfish purposes even as they advocate that the Congress were not properly conducted and did meet with the Constitutional provisions of the party. And the need is therefore to satisfy themselves both. Who will be the biggest loser? The Governor and the Deputy of course. If the existing EXCO faces dissolution, there are court matters already being managed that, these teams at all levels were not properly constituted through proper Congresses. Yet, the structures voted for the nomination of Governor Godwin Obaseki as PDP candidate for the last election. Has it come to the mind of anyone that, some people in APC can be funding the feud of dissolution which may come through the grievances of these few legacy PDP members? Has it also come to mind that, we in Nigeria do not like to fall alone? That is to say, if you insist I must fall, every person must fall. In my opinion, therefore, the Governor should jettison the issue of dissolution of the existing party structure with whatever disguise and incentive that followed. Mr. Governor, do not take any chance for granted please no matter how well polished it may be. Don’t trust any intent on this in your own interest. You know where the battle will start but don’t know where it will end.
*Way forward and the only way forward*
As one who has been in PDP since 1999 without changing ideology and having followed the party for 21 years, considering amicable and lasting resolutions crisis in the party in all part of the country, and having studied the body language of the majority of top power brokers of the party, it is very clear that *dissolution of existing party structure will be out of it.* In this case, we must stop deceiving ourselves as even if such happened through oppression, the party at the state level is going to face an unimaginable crisis which the party National leadership will not want to entertain.
This crisis does not really need scientific or political resolutions but simply carrying on normal governance and with time, everything will naturally take in place by doing the simple following actions/steps without fear or favour;
1-The Governor joined the party with his Deputy, SSG, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, and all others as no one requested that any of the above be dropped in the few months before the election.
2-The party accepted and again presented the Governor and the same Deputy for the last election, supported same, and won overwhelmingly.
3-The Governor instantaneously reappointed an SSG that came with him, an action that raised some dust but the intervention of most party members including our very selves by our coming out to openly support the action without fear or favour. I do not think, anyone can undermine the opinion of free opinion makers in our party. That was what helped to douse the temple.
4-Even as the Chief of Staff remains the prerogative of the Governor, it will be unheard to hear that up till now, there are no one our amiable Governor can entrust in the positions of the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary amongst the legacy PDP members without anyone interfering. Any attempt to do otherwise will further widen the scope of distrust.
5-The Governor should go ahead and chose his cabinet amongst both legacy and members who joined the party along with him in whatever percentage he so wished. His action will naturally determine what happens during the two years reaffirmation of the existing party structure. This means the word harmonization or integration starts with the action of the Governor.
6-In the existing structure, I can assure us, vacancies are already available. The Governor also has the capacity to create more vacancies by his deliberate actions in creating opportunities in government through political appointments.
7-Fortunately, Edo State Government is massively doing recruitment into the Edo State Civil Service, I can assure us that, most people are in politics because the labour market has turned them into professional politicians. There are competent hands that can be redirected into career work in civil service when there are available opportunities. This too can help decongest the political space and the many political office seekers will be reduced drastically. If the Governor knows the number of qualified Edo sons and daughters that can fit into the civil service yet, all waiting to be appointed, he will know that there is no need to battle for the political structure after all, we are all Edo sons and daughters. And the Governor is the father of everybody.
8-It will be natural that, when vacancies are created the party structure using above 7 and 8, during the reaffirmation, the direction of who fill what will be clear. And the percentage will depend on the vacancies deliberately created.
9-And finally, who say, anyone in the existing structure is not loyal to the Governor? I can assure the Governor, except there are further distrust, no person to the state in the existing structure is not ready to take instruction from the Governor. All the Governor need is the State Chairman. That is all.
I want to plead with our party leaders to give the Governor a free hand to operate. The Governor is not likely to contest election that will required just Edo people to decide hence, the insistence on the structure becomes unnecessary. I also believe strongly, the existing structure is not taller than the Governor. It is clear that, the selfishness on the part of some legacy party leaders and those who joined the People’s Democratic Party with the Governor is amongst the reasons for the delay in setting up his team which also informed the ongoing crisis. I want to stress that the solution is not beyond the Governor who must not allow politicians to use their interests to be a clog in the will of progress.
So, it is given by the above I want to deposit as always, we must stop being part of the problem rather be part of the solution. I will continue to be part of the solution.