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MDD, PDP, Political Parties: Thieves Like Them By Prince Charles Dickson Jos, Plateau Nigeria
Nigerians can be so like anything new, we are a nation that derives joy in the rave of the moment syndrome, is it new, and anyhow, anyway, Nigerians would fall over themselves to get part of the pie. However in reality it is the same old story, same wine different bottle, and a form of repackaging.
Last Monday some idle Nigerians claiming to be leaders with the tag politicians held a meeting somewhere in Lagos to show their grievances, a bunch of the number that attended the meeting is a picture of people who have been overshadowed in the current power game.
The need to fight the neglect of the PDP gave birth to the MDD, although I would leave that for now as we do not know whether they would survive it. The MDD, Movement for the Defence of Democracy was the adopted name in the interim, a name that sounds like movement of defeated democrats or de-pdpified democrats as the days go by we would find a most suitable name for them.
The first fundamental problem with the MDD as a solution to another problem is that it is a gathe ring of undesirable elements, with persons of different drives and passion, not different from the bunch that started the PDP. It may still serve the purpose of a strong opposition which the likes of ANPP, AD and over 20 others have failed. If and only if they were to rest power from the PDP come 2007, that is on the premise of an election holding. The fact that the MDD as it is composed for now is a gathering of men and women who have fallen out either in recent times with the maladministration of the PDP is a bad omen, this time we have been spared the agony of a G-something. it appears that its first mission statement is to protect the constitution and curb democratic dictatorship or guided democracy . The essence of this group is not different from what gave birth to PDP itself and the likes of NADECO, I even recall Obasanjo’s mirage then called Association for the Development of Good Governance ADGGN in the early 90’s
My fear or is it question any which one, is that this new movement- what difference is it really aiming to achieve, when in real terms and sense the fight is inspired by the fact that most of them were shut out of the PDP, or left and miscalculated, or those who simply have sat and watched the carpet pulled off their feet.
The story of the new movement is like that of the brothers who contributed money in different amounts for the sole purpose of building a house, after the house had been completed, some connived and aided by some new kids on the block have taken the property over and reduced some brothers into destitutes.
The common denominator is shared grief at being left out of reckoning or just having lost relevance, not partaking in the chopping galore, sharing of oil bloc and wells. Failing in the battle of relevance called revalidation and re-registration.
In an immediate response the PDP Publicist simply told them, not to use PDP as a platform besides the Umbrella was big enough for everyone. it is painful t hat again a bunch of confused people are coming together without focus, no united ideology, principle or philosophy other than cashing in on the poor and low public rating and image which the present dictatorial PDP led maladministration has. It is just exploiting public disapproval and disenchantment…does it have anything to offer? Although another look at the list of those involved shows a cut across geographic and ethnic cleavages, the truth remains that like its precursor the PDP, it is another arrangement or a collection of strange bed fellows, a bed of adultery. Running from PDP in a PDP like manner solves no problem rather it creates more.
Forming another party is one more opposition too many, Nigeria is indeed a funny pl ace, the MDD is the same people who were the backbone of the PDP at one time, some are still practicing PDP members and chieftains who are taking out time to worship at PDP because they have fallen out with the chief Archbishop Obasanjo and his catechist Reverend Father Tony Anenih. The essence of the just concluded PDP marketplace hassles according to the President was to weed the party of unwanted elements…the results then is fast showing as the new group might as well be seen as a collection of non-commercial value in the political mines field of Naija. Our sorry tale of governance continues.
Already the misruling PDP is firing at full arsenals that those involved in this coup would be dealt with. How only Jah knows, Tony Anenih i n his usual brash arrogance has stated the MDD is a bunch of political noisemakers who cannot win elections in their respective wards, other MDD meeting attendees are being threatened with loosing their seats on the PDP Board of Trustees. There must be something about the PDP that these men just have not told us, because if not then I ask who is afraid of the PDP. The MDD circus of Audu Ogbeh, Yahaya Kwande, Isa Yuguda, Ikimi, Nwobodo, the PDM and all involved must do more than bark.
The MDD is the picture of the old, young, naïve, experienced, recognized thieves and strangely some disciplined patriots, how they mange is where the problem lies, imagine the relationship that has Ikimi-Audu Ogbeh-Kwande and Jim Nwobodo.
Whatever one thinks, it is still a fact that because we as Nigerians love new things in whatever shade. The MDD if it does not change name, if it becomes a full fledged political party, if it is registered, if it can battle the federal might and fiat that PDP is. The MDD though underscores the fact that everyone is tired of the PDP, from its one week, one crisis to its recent de-atikulization. The battle field of and for the soul of Nigeria is one full of magic, all these intrigues has the unseen hand of Atiku, Tinubu and the association of ‘Lets deal with Obasanjo’ although most members of this new club called MDD maybe morally and financially bankrupt I support anything that would remove this thing called Obasanjo no matter how bad...because I doubt anything could be as bad as Obj. Abacha must be smiling now saying…”se we wanted democracy oya ‘gashi’ take am”.
Nigerian politicians are like the Voice of America weather forecasts for Africa, it is always scattered rain fall and showers here and there. Alliances are formed and broken at the Motor GP racing speed. A Nigerian politician changes party affiliations and ideologies like he changes agbada, as occasion arises. Today it’s PDP, tomorrow ANPP, the next PDP, then MDD again. I am sure even a prostitute has a better pride to protect.
In our democracy you imagine a Governor opening his large mouth to say that he will be the one to pick his successor. The electorates be damned, everywhere there is a fight it is PDP. The government and governance has been reduced to PDP. PHCN is PDP, NTA is PDP, Police is PDP, NPA is PDP, and the air we breathe is PDP. We cannot continue to sit and watch whether they be PDP, MDD, or any kind of alphabet, thieves like them that they are should be chased out. Nigerians should revolt against this misrule. May Almighty Allah help us.
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