The last time I checked, ever since the
acclaimed Africa’s largest political party – the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) relinquished power to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2015, it
had remained unsteady, thereby making the onlookers be of the notion that it’s
being manipulated by a certain cabal solely interested in the party’s
extinction.
The worst of all remains that, rather than
being deeply concerned about how to make amends where necessary, the party has
chosen to indulge itself in an endless ‘Makosa dance’ whose drumbeat is seemingly
fabricated by the judiciary. Dancing to the tune of such uncalled music has
ended up showcasing revelry of shame in the entire Nigerian polity.
It would
be recalled that the party in question was meant to have its elective National
Convention, expected to produce its next substantive leadership, last two weeks,
precisely on Wednesday 17th August 2016. Pathetically, the venue for
the said event scheduled to hold in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital was
barricaded by a group of well-armed security personnel in accordance with the
order issued to them by the Federal High Court of Abuja Division.
It’s
worth noting that Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Federal High Court of
Port-Harcourt Division had earlier ruled that the proposed convention being
organized by the Ahmed Makarfi – led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) should
go on as planned, thus ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the police to
provide legal backing as well as maximum security for the exercise.
Subsequently, as if Nigerian courts of law are now rivals to each other, that
of Abuja Division presided over by Justice Okon Abang barred the convention
from holding as requested by the Modu Sheriff – led National Executive
Committee (NEC) of the party that claims it remains the party’s leader till
2018. This obviously smacks of mischief. Owing to the contradictory ruling of
the latter, all efforts put in place towards ensuring a successful convention
proved abortive.
Indeed, the PDP had become so polarized
following the May 21, 2016 National Convention of the party held in Port-Harcourt,
which sacked the Sheriff–led NEC and consequently replaced it with the 7-man
Makarfi–led caretaker committee with a mandate to organize another convention
within 90 days. But, both parallel camps thereafter instituted a litany of
suits at the Federal High Court, hence creating the ongoing nauseous scenario
that had ridiculed the judiciary.
It’s unarguably mind-boggling that having
ruled over a certain case, another law court of equal jurisdiction would accept
to entertain the same subject matter brought before it. Suchlike attitude isn’t
unlike, to say the least, a betrayal and sabotage not just to the judiciary but
the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended. If any Federal High Court,
irrespective of its division, rules over a case, the only thing the aggrieved
party is expected to do is to take the case to an appellant court. Even if the
case is yet to be ruled; provided it is lying on the desk of a certain law
court, no other court of coordinate (equal) jurisdiction has the constitutional
right to entertain same subject matter if eventually brought before it by a
different plaintiff.
The judicial custodians in the country are
apparently taking the country’s judiciary to the mould, thus making its status
seem laughable. The Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) need not be told that it’s
time it woke from its slumber and act as expected, because it’s obvious that a
lot is getting out of hand. It might interest, perhaps shock you to note that, currently,
scores of suits filed by various members of the PDP are reportedly lying in
several courts across the federation. The court cases instituted by the
factional national leaders of the party could be described as minor,
considering the enormity of cases filed by their counterparts at the various
state levels.
We can’t continue to make mockery of the
judiciary that’s seen as the ‘last hope’ of the citizenry. The lingering Makosa
dance abruptly embarked upon by the PDP alongside the judiciary has gotten to
its climax that it requires the candid intervention of all concerned, particularly
the overall founding members of the party. It’s even more pitiable and
worrisome to acknowledge that some of these founding members have graciously
taken their leave, or defected to the APC
Anyone
who truly loves Nigeria ought to come to the rescue of the PDP before it goes
into extinction, because the country is seriously in need of a viable
opposition and such cannot be guaranteed if the embattled party isn’t
resuscitated. Initially, most analysts cum commentators were of the view that
the ongoing disagreement among the PDP members was for the party’s good; but,
it’s conspicuous that the ostensibly welcomed melodrama has suddenly
metamorphosed into an unforeseen Makosa dance, which is an aberration.
At
this point, I suggest the PDP should go back to the drawing board. The most apt
thing to do now is to retrace its steps to the genesis. No right thinking
Nigerian, or anyone who understands the essence of a proactive opposition,
especially at this critical moment, would love to see the party fade away like
mere smoke, thus let’s in our respective capacities endeavour to call the
warring factions to order in the best interest of the country at large.
It’s
time to say goodbye to retrogressive issues. The bone of contention remains
that Nigeria is yearning for a healthy opposition, and the PDP, being one of
the major political parties in the country, cannot afford to fail her. Think
about it!
Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
(TheMediaAmbassador)-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-
Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: @mediambassador 
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