Drawing on a conceptual distinction between Nigeria's ruling party - the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the leading opposition party - the People's Democratic Party (PDP). This article is not about whether PDP years of leadership were fruitful or not, but to examines the performance and contributions of the latter toward making a vibrant democracy. The central point of argument is however focused on the short duration of time the PDP has so far spent in the opposition, it's therefore imperative to address some disturbing questions like; have the PDP shown enough courage to play the role of a responsible opposition? How well is the party playing its cards in the game of opposition politics?
The role of a viable and formidable opposition in any democratic government cannot be overembellished, it is perhaps one of the strongest component of democracy and there cannot be anything near democracy where one-party system exist but in a pitiful situation where opposition is absent, then totalitarian and anarchy will rule the land.
Also in a rather situation like ours where opposition is present but lacks focus and determination, then the opposition party most performs the role of a clueless malingerer to the ruling party and become as useless as the last three letters in 'queue' without presenting any strong challenge to the ruling party, thus scrutinizing every personal moves made by the ruling class while failing to direct their critique on importance national issues.
In the last 16 years, the People's Democratic Party and it unique strengths of manipulation has been the substratum behind the its success in previous elections since the return of democracy in 1999, though the party has enjoyed 16 uninterrupted years on the mantle of national leadership but some significant structural weaknesses inherent in the party's formation present numerous insurmountable problems that made it long-term reign in government a total failure which equally influenced the party's tremendous defeat in the just concluded general election and perhaps, diminishes it chances of a possible political relevance in the near future.
Any smart bystander that's conversant with Nigerian politics should be able to recognize that there is a serious absence or defalcation of political marketing from the opposition party and other opposition movements in the country. As a matter of fact, the weaknesses of the PDP are the grounds on which the opposition builds its confidence but to everyone dismay, the PDP has failed to even identify those weaknesses of the ruling party not to talk of capitalizing on them but instead, they are busy scanning people's body and estimating the cost of their wrist-watches.
In an article i wrote shortly after the 2011 general elections titled 'The Ills Of One-Party System In Nigeria', I made mentioned that "the biggest calamity to have ever betides Nigeria is having PDP on the mantle of leadership and the greatest threat to the sustainability of a long lasting democracy is when PDP become an opposition party." As forecasted, my fears are now gradually coming to light; with the level of impunity, mismanagement, corruption, gross irresponsibility and dereliction to duty put in display during the last 16-years of PDP's mischief, i seriously doubt if it can present a vibrant and responsible opposition that will force the ruling party to stand on its toes.
Since the unprecedented electoral misfortune it suffered in the just concluded general elections of March 28 and April 11 respectively, the PDP have been struggling to live with the reality of loosing power and adjust to life in the opposition which most of the party members had never tasted before. Apart from losing the presidency, the party also lost its majority in the National Assembly both in the upper and lower chamber which automatically transformed it from the biggest political party in Africa to the biggest opposition party in line with the party's transformation agenda. The PDP also failed to take control in states leadership as they only won in 10 states out of the 29 states where gubernatorial elections were held, thus losing all its strongholds especially in the North-west and North-central. And as such, the PDP as a political party became totally displaced and as usual, accusations and counter accusations of what and who is responsible for the failures at the general polls began making daily headlines. While the party was battling to reconcile its in-fighting crisis, intrigue and wrangling, then come a mass exodus of party members to other political platforms coupled with blame-game and name-calling among party chieftains, to an extent the National Chairman of the party alongside his counterpart in the Board Of Trustees and several leaders of the party resigned their positions while many aggrieved members including some state governors went out strategizing and working on plans to float a new party. This prompted Nigerians to wonder if at all the PDP can solve its internal crisis and be able to present a responsible and a tougher opposition.
In many countries, however, political parties fail to respond to citizens’ concerns and are widely distrusted by the public just as in the case of Nigeria. When public confidence in political party became compromised, the entire democratic process suffers. In all sustainable democracies, the party system must be deeply engaged in changing the socioeconomic situation of a particular environment toward improving the well-being of the common masses in accomplishment of a common goal.
Wherever you have an unfocused and clueless opposition; baseless arguments, cheap blackmails and character assassination targeted at individuals replace issue based campaigns in line with national interest and generates unnecessary hot debates, similar to what we witnessed few weeks ago when President Buhari was pictured standing alone at the gate of No:10 Downing street in United Kingdom. Another disgusting development buttressing the fact that PDP is far away from being a responsible opposition was the unnecessary arguments over the price of a Cartier Baignoire Folle wrist-watch which Aisha Buhari (wife of the president) wore to her husband's inauguration event. This irritating blazon of opposition isn't only portraying the PDP as a confused opposition party but also not ready to give APC (the ruling party) anything near a strong opposition, and if things should continue on this path, one shouldn't be astonished if along the way PDP began challenging President Buhari for being taller than all previous Presidents.
I watched with adore the drama of Tuesday, June 8, 2015 at the National Assembly and the plethora of confusion emanating from it during the inauguration of the 8th Assembly, with the election of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President, and Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the PDP and some of its supporters confusedly claimed victory because the opposition lawmakers immensely contributed in defeating Dr. Ahmed Lawan and Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila whom were surmised to be chosen by the ruling party over Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara. Much as i align myself with the fact that our democracy is the chief beneficiary of the whole brouhaha, it's also a sort of defiance against meddlesome intercession by some party leaders and nothing victorious on the side of the opposition. I must go forth to remind my brothers and friends that the role played by PDP lawmakers which saw the emergence of Saraki and Dogara as senate president and speaker of the house of representatives respectively isn't a victory in their favour as earlier believed but rather another unforced error (as we say in tennis) from the opposition; the two contestants only capitalized on the gullibility of the PDP lawmakers and used them to achieved a desired mission just to pleased their self interest not the interest of the PDP. To be frank, if what transpired at the National Assembly on Tuesday is what the PDP called opposition, i am sorry but we are not there yet, not even on the right path.
I must say with all sense of fairness that the category of individuals within the PDP are habitual of eating free yam than going to the farm to plant or harvest yam, and now that the yam have been shifted to another delicatessen, do you expects such people to play the game of opposition against the custodian of the new delicatessen where the yam was transferred to? No, they will all pledge solidarity and allegiance to the custodian of the new delicatessen.
In developed democracies, the end product of the significant actions of the opposition made it the ray of hope for the citizens who desire a positive change to the way they are being govern especially in a scenario where the ruling failed to improve on the socioeconomic condition of that particular environment, as the people were often offered the unique avenue of making a choice of leadership. In the course of electing choice leaders, the electorate either vote out a failed government and hand over the keys to the opposition or give green light for the incumbent to continue on power where the incumbent party put on an overwhelming performance, but however, it wasn't so in Nigeria before now.
The main issue is that the PDP have, so far, failed to communicate any plausible programmes that persuade people to either follow or support the party except promoting ethnic and religious differences which divides the electorate to the party's uttermost advantage; the reason is that PDP keep repeating the same messages of blackmail and cheap allegations to their audiences without being able to play a real issue based politics in the nation's interest.
As such, Nigerians became bored and lost faith in the party since it cannot focused on issues that will bring fundamental changes to the political system, society and the economy which will positively make impacts on the lives and well-being of the citizenry. This is probably the main root of PDP's leadership and opposition failure.
In the interim, the future appears very bleak for the PDP and it is clear that a heavy commotion awaits the party in the coming years, it is therefore of paramount importance for the PDP to re-strategize it approach in the best interest of Nigeria and for a sustainable democracy by offering credible opposition to put the ruling party on its toes; there's the need for the PDP - being a political party hit by mass exodus of members - to consider mergers with other smaller parties of same ideology to regain its lost values in order to strengthen the party.
They should also develop a very realistic communication strategy directed at their audiences because the PDP isn't sending the correct message to the larger population and rely on reasonable programs of political, social and economical relevance within the country’s democratic context.
Furthermore, a gradual approach is needed from the PDP to convince all and sundry that the party wants to establish a sustainable democratic process and a shift in direction from the usual politics of bitterness must be adopted as at this moment: because PDP opposition strategy only depends on either sending false fabrication/cheap blackmail that everybody already knows to be false or character assassination targeted at the government and the ruling party members.
However, this does not mean that the government shouldn't be criticized where it goes contrary to the rules of engagement or performed poorly but unrealistic claims and campaign of calumny must be left aside with all sense of urgency, as well as deliberately making negative judgment on each governmental action just to deceive the electorate.
Interestingly, the twists and turns making headlines in recent days regarding our political development will surely determine where our democracy will be in the nearest future with 'Change Agents' on the pilot seat.
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