[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he recent rumbling within the Nigerian main opposition political party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is sending ripples across the political terrain and even globally.
The recent events show a somewhat sinister plot to ensure the the PDP perishes completely.
After being sworn in as an interim chairman, to finish up the last 3 months of a tenure and being given a clear mandate to organize congresses and a convention, it looks like Ali Modu Sherrif plans to overstay his controversial welcome in the PDP.
There is no doubt that it was the 3 month limit that he was mandated to serve, that placated the agitations of a lot of founding members and elected officials and prevented a full scale escalation of the disagreement at the time of his emergence.
It is therefore not only unthinkable for anyone to even contemplate him returning as chairman of the PDP.
The questions on the lips of many are:
• How did a man who only joined the PDP in 2014, rise to become the chairman?
• How did a man who is currently facing charges of embezzlement and corruption since 2011 emerge as chairman of the PDP?
• How did a man who’s is alleged to have started a dissident group that became what is now known as Boko haram become chairman of the leading opposition party who barely 10 months ago were in power?
Investigations reveal that indeed Ali Modu Sheriff may be part of a sinister plot by the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) to finish off the opposition PDP once and for all.
Historically, Ali Modu Sheriff has always been the darling of the head of state or presidents in Nigeria. First he was Abacha’s man.
When he was in APP/ANPP, he was then PDP’s President Obasanjo’s favourite, when he joined APC he was Jonathan’s ally working against his own party… what then is there to stop us thinking that now that he is in PDP, he is not working for his in-law, President Buhari’s interest. These are questions that must be asked.
Sheriff certainly has serious integrity issues. He assured the party faithful publicly that he would not stay beyond the 3 month period, and it now looks as if he is planning a comeback, hoping to manipulate the party and start a full scale crisis.
Not only is he hoping to become party chairman at the convention, he sees this as his sure route to emerging as presidential flag bearer of the party in 2019.
Sherrif is reported to have promised several factions in the same state, especially those without governors, control of party machinery to determine who emerges as state executives of the party.
He promised Akwa Ibom Governor Emmanuel Udom control of the state machinery at the congresses in exchange for his support in zoning the chairmanship to the North East.
He has also promised several stakeholders the vice presidential slot when he runs as president in 2019, including Gov of Ekiti Ayo Fayose, Nyesom Wike, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and a host of others.
Our sources insist that Sheriff cannot fund the PDP and has only made empty promises. He relied on the vulnerability of the party and deceived the governors that he has the funds available to sustain the party. It is shocking that no one has suspected that he is relying on the usual greed of many in the party to perpetuate himself into power.
Already there are indications that many of the elected officials in the National Assembly have promised a showdown, if Sherriff even dares to contest for the office despite his unequivocal statement that he would only stay for 3 months when he became chairman. There is also a threat that the party would be factionalized if the zoning arrangement which should ordinarily see the chairmanship slot going to the South West or South South since it has already been agreed that the North will produce the presidential candidate come 2019.
Another contentious issue is the deep suspicion that members of the National Working Committee (NWC) plan to also retain their seats. It is believed that it is the pressure from many quarters and public outcry, that led the national publicity secretary Olisa Metuh, to clear the air in a press conference and state that he would not be seeking re-election to any office in the NWC again.
We wait to see how this game of chess will end.
Euphemia Udanoh is an author, scriptwriter, youth activist, and blogger. This article was first published on her eponymous blog. She can be reached by email. Connect with her on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
