Time is ticking for the upcoming general elections in the country as all political parties are preparing for the formal kick-off of campaigns this week. However, one cannot rule out some mosquito campaigns going on quietly across the country as politicians are not leaving anything to chance to capture power at various levels.
This perhaps is the reason why the Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel lost control of his lips and went berserk when put on the hot seat by a brilliant Journalist, Eric Dumo of the PUNCH newspaper who asked him very clear questions on the preparedness of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the 2019 polls.
Instead of providing a realistic answer, Udom preferred to go gaga as he said his PDP will unseat President Muhammadu Buhari come 2019. When pointedly asked to explain what gave him the confidence, Udom responded this way: “The level of confidence has no probability; it is as constant as the North Pole. It is not even a probability, I am certain it is the PDP or no other party.”
Everyone knows that Emmanuel Udom’s boast is an empty one as the PDP is as confused and mired with internal squabbles as ever. Since the emergence of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential candidate of the party, all former aspirants to the presidential candidature have obviously developed cold feet towards the affairs of the party. Nobody hears of Kwankwansiya or Tambuwal anymore. The Head of the Presidential campaign of Atiku, Bukola Saraki is more interested in making all the laws he couldn’t make in the past eight years than campaigning for one Atiku Abubakar. That is the reality on the ground.
Udom’s gaffe is quite understandable for the obvious reasons. Since President Muhammadu Buhari declared his intention to seek re-election, the Peoples Democratic Party, members have known no sleep. They cashed on it to make reckless and unguarded comments about the person of Mr. President. Like in previous elections, they are boasting around that they will win the upcoming general elections in 2019 and go ahead to put a PDP government in place again. These are empty boasts, because in Adamawa State where Atiku Abubakar comes from, Buhari will beat him hands down.
The PDP boasts also stems from the support they enjoy from former President Olusegun Obasanjo who openly resigned from the party and tore his membership card in the public few days before the 2015 general elections and described the party that made him President for eight years in all sorts of unprintable words. One would have expected that Obasanjo would never have anything to do with the PDP again. But surprisingly he has returned to his vomits.
Nigerians are aware that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been making some unguarded statements suggestive of his hatred for President Buhari. Just like Udom, he has been strident in condemning the APC-led federal government and Nigerians are wondering who really Obasanjo is to condemn a sitting President when he came up with an agenda to have a third term for himself. He planned to alter the nation’s constitution to make himself a life president just like the Cameroonian Paul Biya and Ugandan’s Museveni. He made every effort to upturn the constitution of the country to remain perpetually in power and bring all Nigerians under his jackboot. Having failed in that bid he has chosen to disrespect and humiliate any President in power. He did it to former President Goodluck Jonathan. He is doing it to President Buhari and even when Atiku emerges as President, Obasanjo will attack him also.
Having failed in the bid for self-perpetuation, it is on record that Obasanjo masterminded and orchestrated the foisting of a sick man, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua on the nation as our president. Not because he loved him so much or he loved the north or the nation so much, put for him to be his puppet that will be under his control 24/7. Even though it was obvious the man had serious health challenges, Obasanjo imposed him on Nigerians through all crooked means. So today he is leading some political groups to wrest power from the APC. It is obvious that the man is always in need of his puppets in Aso Rock. He supported Goodluck Jonathan to climb to power in the hope and belief that Jonathan will stay all his day in power serving him and not the nation. When his expectations were not met by Jonathan he decided to write him a letter. The rest is history but the long and short of the continued tirade and attack on the Jonathan administration by Obasanjo led to Jonathan’s failure at the 2015 polls.
Perhaps that explains why even Obasanjo’s children are up in arms against him because, as Americans would say, whatever goes around, comes around. That remains his nemesis and instead of him to face it with the equanimity that it deserves, Obasanjo choses to vent his spleen on sitting Presidents.
I do not know how prepared they are, but from all indications they are all jesters. The whole country can easily recall how the APC formed a formidable alliance that dislodged the PDP. We were clear- headed from day one what we wanted, and Nigerians were with us. We moved from state to state and local government to local government mobilizing and conscientizing Nigerians. The PDP, like Thomas, doubted our moves all the way. But, like the hawk we were very focused with the APC project.
The APC remains the party that mean well for Nigerians. In fact, the APC will need to consolidate on the gains already achieved. It is obvious that all those gathering in different groups and camps under any guise would be disappointed with the outcome of their efforts come 2019. One thing is sure; the PDP is a party laden with confused individuals who are daily suspicious of one another and ultimately have nothing to offer Nigerians. The APC remains the party to beat come 2019. In fact, the APC is unbeatable. Nobody should contemplate it and I am not mincing words.
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Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Edo State.
