Kashamu: Makarfi’s tenure is a disaster
Introduction
The tenure of the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), Senator Ahmed Makarfi is a disaster and the worst nightmare for our party. Going by the outcome of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, it is clear that Makarfi and his allies have brought ill-luck to the PDP.
Makarfi and his team came as if they were the saviour that PDP was waiting for but they have turned out to be the ones who are killing the party with their illegality, impunity and self-centredness. They believe they can do anything and get away with it. They did it in Anambra where all the popular aspirants were disenfranchised and the ticket was sold against democratic norms. Today, the party is the worse off for the dastardly act of these interim caretakers. It was bad enough that the interim National Secretary, Senator Ben Obi lost his ward; that the constituents were rejoicing over his disgraceful loss is indicative of outright communal irrelevance. This calls for concern from our national leaders that specialise in unreasonable harmonisations and impositions of unpopular candidates over the popular ones.
The Issue
Ahead of the December 9 National Convention, it is regrettable that Makarfi is surprisingly betraying his primordial constituency, the North and reducing the PDP to a Southern or regional party because of his selfish presidential agenda. But, I know that the average Northerner is politically conscious, sagacious and dynamic. Thus, logic is likely to prevail over the thinking that elections at the national convention shall be a bazaar for the highest bidder, irrespective of the likely hazard to the existence of the party, would be averted. This will discourage the misappropriation of state funds for unworthy political misadventures.
At the rate Makarfi and his people are going, anyone who wants to become anything in PDP would have to first go and pay obeisance to a demi-god in Rivers State and his orchestra special assistant from Afao-Ekiti, Ekiti State. One is thus tempted to wonder why Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike wants to become the defacto lord of PDP? And to what advantage would that be to him if the party is dismembered in the process?
Even though I know that our respectable leader and Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike means well for the party, he should endeavor to be a national leader without self-aggrandisement. He should not allow Makarfi and Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose to mislead him and plunge the party further into avoidable crises because of their egocentric agenda.
I reckon that in the build up to the National Convention and the election of national officers for the PDP, Governor Wike has a right like other governors to support whoever he wishes to support. But as a foremost leader of the party, he should show uncommon grace and leadership at this crucial time so that whatever he does would not be misinterpreted to mean riding roughshod over other stakeholders and leaders.
I do not have anything against his support for the two eminently qualified National Chairmanship aspirants from the South-South. They are respectable leaders and party men for whom I have a lot of admiration. But, having sat with all the leaders of the party in Port Harcourt where the National Chairmanship was zoned to the South-West, if our brothers from the South-South now wish that the position be rezoned to them, a meeting should be called where such a position will be canvassed with a view to getting the confidence and support of the South West geo-political zone. That way, the other offices can be appropriately rezoned without any rancor and ill-feelings.
Makarfi is fragmenting and commercializing the party structures in the South West and giving PDP state structures to the weak and highest bidders against democratic ethos. One wonders how the PDP can make any impact in 2019 with the activities of the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee and its backers. If we say we want to bounce back in 2019, is it with this crop of leaders whose stock-in-trade is imposition, lawlessness, impunity and extortions? How can Fayose who is accused of having benefitted from the N15 billion arms deal lead the PDP to face President Buhari? We all know that in spite of whatever anyone may say, the credibility of the President is unquestionable.
Actually, it is unethical and tactless for Makarfi serving as interim National Chairman of PDP to be justifying ongoing corruption cases as being no impediment to leading the new PDP of Nigerians dream and expectations. Makarfi and his cohorts are planning to rig the National Convention in favour of their anointed candidates before the actual event through manipulations, substitution of real delegates and sundry shady preparations. If the convention is rigged, many people are ready to walk away from the party and it will be “to your tents, O Israel!”
Intricacies of 2019 VP candidate
The ongoing egocentric manipulation of agreed zoning arrangement has become a credibility issue of long-standing future implications with Governor Wike sponsoring a South South candidate to challenge a settled South West National Chairmanship and Governor Fayose declaring for President against the also settled Northern presidency; the precedence is unethically laid for disregard to common agreements.
Therefore, it could be expected that the Vice Presidency would become unduly contentious in the South. This is unfortunate for a party that is planning to form government as the credibility quotient is brought to question with this inconsistency and lack of adherence to agreement.
One wonders if the National Chairmanship goes to the South South, would it be possible for the South East to get the Vice-Presidency in 2019. Are they saying the South West can also vie for the Vice-Presidency alongside the South East in 2019? Or does the South East not have interest in any of the topmost positions again? If it does, why not take a stand and make it known to all and sundry? If the Vice Presidency is not rezoned to the South West, the initial zoning arrangement which conceded the National Chairmanship to the South West should be adhered to.
Otherwise, it shall be politically unsustainable for the South East to have a Vice President under a South South National Chairman. If our brothers in the South-South want, they can back any candidate of their choice from the South West. But it should not be done with impunity and utter disregard for the views and feelings of other stakeholders. We in the South West are one and we are united in our quest to produce the National Chairman. Any semblance of disunity should be discountenanced. Eddy Olafeso was never a product of a valid exercise. So, he is not an issue in the South West PDP and can never speak for us.
Conclusion
Without pretences, party unity and desirable progress are achievable only if the national leadership sincerely adheres to due process and rule of law; be transparent and open to all concerned unlike the ongoing opaque party administration that Makarfi and his cohorts are lawlessly and undeservedly putting the party through.
Signed
Senator Buruji Kashamu
Ogun East Senatorial District
19.11.17
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