The reports of bitter quarrels among the top contenders for the PDP’s Presidential tickets are scaring the Nigerian people. If these quarrels are limited to issues relating to the records and credentials of the contenders, which is an integral part of the political system, the nation will not worry. But Nigerians are being treated to statements and postures which frighten them, from leaders and politicians who should give them assurances that the 2011 elections will not be an event that will threaten our peace and national security.
On Thursday, 16th of December, President Jonathan threatened his co-aspirant for the PDP’s ticket, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar with the full weight of the law if he continues to make what he described as treasonable statements that threaten the sovereignty and security of the Nigerian nation. The State Security Service also expressed its concern over what it described as reckless utterances by politicians, and warned that the nation’s security should not be sacrificed on the alter of political ambitions of politicians.
The trigger to this latest round of quarrels was the statement made a few days ago by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, quoting the late Frantz Fanon to the effect that those who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar made the statement during the meeting organized by the Northern Political Elders Forum with the Igbo Political Forum, South South Unity Forum and the Yoruba Redemption Group in Abuja on Wednesday December 15th.
On Thursday 16th of December, 2010, President Jonathan threatened that when he moves against people making treasonable statements such as Atiku Abubakar’s, no one should complain that he is being persecuted because of politics. The President warned further that members of the PDP should not destroy their own platforms, and advised the Party Chairman to design a Code of Conduct for all of the Party’s aspirants.
In response to the President’s threats, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said he is ready to be arrested over what he said. He defended his statement as a quote, and his spokesman also said that Atiku Abubakar’s record as democrat who is committed to the path of constitutionalism is inconsistent with recommending a path at variance with his long commitment to democracy in Nigeria. He further said that even at the Forum where he made the statement with the quotation, he had said that violent change is not what is needed in Nigeria. Atiku Abubakar also said that no Nigerian leader in recent memory has caused so much bitterness, division, suspicion and animosity among Nigerian people like President Goodluck Jonathan because of his ambition to run in 2011. He accused President Jonathan of being instrumental to the crisis in the PDP, and wondered how a President that tore the PDP apart and caused so much bitterness within his own ruling party because of his ill-advised ambition, could turn around and accuse anyone else of causing tension.
These heated exchanges are bound to leave their impressions on the minds of the Nigerian public over the manner the PDP is conducting its affairs. As a ruling party with overwhelming majority in all elective offices at all levels of the Federation, the PDP appears to be nursing a dangerous deathwish. Its key aspirants are fighting a most undignifying battle that threatens to cost it its position as the leading party. Its Governors are involved in a series of battles with the PDP legislators in the National Assembly. The party is still attempting to knock together an Electoral Act that is likely to mirror only the ambition and schemings of its leaders and members. It is behaving as if it has no opposition which can capitalize on its monumental weaknesses, or it is assuming that whatever its weaknesses, it will capture power in 2011.
These problems in the PDP do not speak well of a party which claims to be the largest in Africa. If it is satisfied with size alone, it needs to be reminded that many of its loyal supporters want it to win the next elections and win it freely and fairly, not self-destruct in the run-up to the elections. Other Nigerians just want to be assured that our leaders will not put the nation at risk of a major breakdown of law and order over their ambitions. Not all Nigerians have the means to leave the country for safer climes when we have a crisis, or lock ourselves up behind expensive personal security when politics degenerates into a major crisis.
It is time that our leaders and politicians find a Forum for a meeting to lay some basic ground rules for their conduct. Since the PDP has proved spectacularly unable to exercise restraint over its aspirants and other leaders to operate with decorum and sensitivity to national unity and security, it may be necessary for other Party Leaders and Elder Statesme to insist on a Political Summit on the 2011 elections. The PDP should be invited to the Summit. If it attends, it would have shown that it is a responsible party which respects the Nigerian people. If it refuses to attend, the nation will know which party is threatening our collective security and well-being, and will deal with it in the context of the democratic choices available to us.
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