NIGERIA 2011 ELECTION, IF ONLY PDP IS SMART ENOUGH?

Now that Mr. Fix-it has fixed it, both at the PDP and the High Court, and Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is the official PDP gubernatorial candidate for Anambra State, Icheoku says, may all Anambra PDP members now kow-tow and work for their candidate's success at the February 2010 polls. It is better to be counted in now than to wait on the sidelines or outside disgruntled, since the same forces that imposed him on the state will surely see him sworn in as the next governor of Anambra State?

Joining team-Soludo now is the only thing that makes sense under the circumstance; as any other thing is tantamount to becoming part of the losing side in the PDP or at worst, the PDP losing Anambra State to the opposition, which is highly improbable judging from what is being mustered to see Soludo through? As for us at Icheoku.com, whatever beef we had with the manner Soludo was foisted on the party in Anambra state is now rested, as we cannot continue to be seen as more catholic than the Pope or appear to cry more than the bereaved. The issue was PDP's and they have settled it their usual PDP fashion, case closed. Therefore Icheoku, on behalf of our staff and contributors, cease this opportunity to wish Professor Chukwuma Soludo well and a good outing come February 2010. Now we pivot to the intended discussion piece, - what PDP must and ought to do to maintain peace in Nigeria 2011 elections? If what went down in Anambra State this period is any indication of what awaits Nigeria in 2011, then there is trouble in the land; and Nigerians must run to the hills for their safety. Imagine 48 candidates picking up 5.25 million naira non refundable nomination forms for just one governorship nomination slot; which was followed by the sudden springing and imposition of one of them as the candidate on the rest of the other candidates, without due consultations or any convincing primaries? But that is the way of Nigerian politics where the cabals always have their way, irrespective of whether anyone likes it or not; otherwise who nominated President Umaru Yar'Adua or voted for him for the presidency yet he been in Aso Rock since May 2007?

But back to Anambra State, where one of the disenfranchised governorship candidates took the matter to the court in his futile attempt to stop Professor Soludo governorship crown? But unbeknownst to him, the Nigerian cabal have already signed-off on Soludo's candidacy and that is all that mattered; as their long arms have also since reached the courts and the rest is now history. The court dismissed the suit challenging Soludo's emergence as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, alleluia! The court not only dismissed the said suit, but went further and vacated its earlier order of October 23, 2009 in which it had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing Soludo as the Anambra State PDP governorship candidate. In his ruling, Justice Danlami Senchi said, the Abuja High court lacked jurisdiction over an Anambra State matter? Icheoku says, really and when did this honorable justice realise that? Once again, a proven testimony that what Anenih wants, Anenih gets; himself being one of the men of power in Nigeria whose reaches are beyond every imagination? He had previously promised the outcome of Andy Ubah at the court of appeals and it came to pass. Any Nigerian politician who pitches battle or choses to ignore this Edo State Anenih now turned Anambra State Anene because of Soludo, does so at his own peril. But it is not yet Uhuru in Anambra State or Nigeria or even for the PDP as we shall see if the much touted and hyped 'Soludo Solutions' will work miracle in Anambra State, post February 2010?

Icheoku says, if the PDP is smart they will win or rather hijack the upcoming 2011 elections in Nigeria convincingly and without unduely raising much eyebrows or unreasonably heightening tensions in Nigeria. What the PDP needs to do is to pretend to be fair in the states they take during the election; while respecting the right and pride of some of the doyens of the opposition' political parties and in their respective home states? The PDP must allow these opposition chiefftains to at least win a consolatory, complimentary state they can still proudly call their turfs. But the problem with Nigeria, greed might once again provide the proverbial banana peel, which might spell doom for Nigerian democracy? The problem in Nigerian politics as witnessed in 1983 NPN days, was the penchant by the ruling political party to try to suffocate the little opposition parties and usurp all elected offices in the land, without letting the opposition win any consolatory prize whatsoever. That was what suffered NPN greatly and which ultimately ended democracy in the second republic? The then NPN wanted it all in September 1983, when they "won" Nnamdi Azikwe home state of Anambra beyond every polls or imaginations; Obafemi Awolowo Oyo State and attempted same in Ondo State before Omoboriowo was chased out in a people's revolt that saw so many maimed and killed; PRP's Kano home state and somewhat in Kaduna? What happened thereafter is now mere historical facts as the opposition ganged up with their ear-shattering complaints which Buhari' and his gang of military marauders cashed in on and overthrew the Shagari government. Now, any analytical observer of the political development in Nigeria so far under the ruling PDP, will agree with Icheoku that the present PDP is headed in the same direction as did NPN in 1983; and as they dry their gun-powder towards achieving their puerile 60 years-in-power political game-plan, what faith awaits the opposition? Are they going to swallow them or kill them all off?

A political party with some good brains running things therein, would have deliberately conceded some states to the oppositions especially where vociferous ones exist; and queitly take others and still remain atop and in power? For example, in the South East, they can take three out of the five Igbo states; - leaving Anambra State for Ojukwu and Abia State for Orji Uzor-Kalu? In the South South, they can take it all i they so desires since there is no credible vocie of opposition therein? In the South West they can leave Lagos State for Bolaji Tinubu and take the rest? In North East, they could concede Adamawa State to Atiku's political bloc and appropriate the rest for themselves; and same goes for the North West except for Daura which they can leave for Buhari; they can usurp the entire North central for all anybody cares? In this way the PDP can still be in power and in control of 26 out of 36 states; and enjoying a spread that is truly reflective of all the geographical demarcations in Nigeria; and appearing truly reflective of the entire Nigeria making it a truly national political party. Unfortunately, this is not the case as the PDP is headed on the same road trabelled by the 1983 NPN, - a wrong road to perdition; and we pray that they realise their foolish enterprise early enough before they lose it all. Icheoku says, a vaunted 60 years uninterrupted hold unto power can only be realised in a peaceful political environment where the people feel that their voices are heard and respected. Icheoku says, the choice is the PDP's to make; but it sure seem that Nigerians will not let them get away unscathed the next time around there is another wholesale hijack of elections in Nigeria, especially come 2011? The PDP should also realise that there is no way in hell everybody in Nigeria will belong to the same political party; and therefore must allow opposition to thrive. Nigeria is afterall an amalgamation of different peoples of different nations with different backgrounds, thought and aspirations; therefore it is pendatic to expect all of them to melt into one political party with one ideology and philosophy.

Such thought is not only very stupid but the trappings of an unthinking mind; it is simply utopia! Therefore Icheoku calls on the PDP to let Nigerians disagree to agree, in a peaceful political atmosphere where there are more political parties serving as outlets, than just one; and where the PDP becomes mindful of her other competitions reflective of other political parties which by necessary implication will serve as a boost for democracy. It is all about choices and the PDP must not stifle this God's given right and which democracy protects. Icheoku says, this is the panacea which a smart PDP should endeavor to nurture in Nigeria and dispense same in 2011; in order for it to survive! Anything short of a peaceful and respectable accommodation of the opposition and in a meaningful way, will spell doom for the young fledgling democracy that is Nigeria, come 2011. No rational person or body or political party would want such a scenario? So be very mindful of the consequences of your actions and utterances, PDP!