SIR: Of the bigwigs in the Nigeria political sphere today, very few could boast of the awesome political credentials Senator Iyorchia Ayu. The distinguished senator, an illustrious son of Gboko in Benue State is a political Icon of repute. Ayu was a towering figure in the political space in 1993 having emerged as senate president.
Even though, his tenure lasted for barely one year, as top brass military bluntly refused to allow a full-blown democracy to reign by allowing Chief MKO Abiola presidency to be, Ayu clearly proved his worth as a patriotic, progressive, astute, shrewd, reliable and consistent politician. A trusted leader in the ensuing struggle for the reign of democracy, he led his colleagues to persistently drum it to the hearing of military chieftains of the need for them to allow the democracy to come alive. Indeed, he presided over one of the best crop of senators this country has ever had. The political foundation laid during his tenure as senate president continues to be beneficial and handy for our country democratic experiment even till date.
It’s against this backdrop that the astute and respected politician is being congratulated for emerging as chairman of PDP during the recently concluded national convention. But, with Ayu impressive and tremendous antecedents as a progressive politician, it’s quite doubtful if he is the right person to superintend over the affairs of PDP. Recall that the senator was a candidate of SDP, the ruling progressive party when Ayu became senate president. Even though, the Gboko born politician has taken over the party, this development would not change the philosophy, ideals, traditions and the totality of what PDP represents.
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Will Ayu’s emergence obliterate the darkness the entire country was plunged during the PDP reign? Will it change anything with the mindless looting of the nation treasury, with the most tragic being the sharing of $2.1billion meant to purchase arms for our soldiers? Will the people of this nation ever forget and forgive Minister Diezani Madueke for not only squandering billions on frivolities, but also flaunting on their faces the looted funds with uncanny arrogance and impunity? Will Nigeria forget easily the sleaze that became of Malabu oil deal? And what of the regime of high-octane corruption in oil subsidy running into billions of Naira that pervaded the entire land in their time?
Although Ayu has assumed the role of PDP chairman, he can’t unilaterally change the orientation and political beliefs of PDP members across the nation. He can’t be bigger than the party. The party hierarchy have their entrenched political philosophy. In-fact, if it ever happens that they stage a comeback, it would be devastating and calamitous for the country. Theirs would be the case of horse accustomed to stay permanently on the bank of a river and that horse is suddenly taken away and it’s now returned back to the spot; Its second coming would be rapacious.
Suffice to submit that, the former senate president’s emergence would not change anything. The aristocrats in PDP knew why they identify him to lead the party and they might have agreed with him the areas of limitations that he shouldn’t venture till his tenure lasts. Indeed, they’ve started by mandating him to throw the presidency open to all the zones when the time comes, not minding the fact that the presidency should ordinarily go to the south for equity, fairness and orderliness to prevail.
The PDP hierarchy know why they are so desperate to return to power and authority. The 16 years they were in charge were period of locust and cankerworms ever witnessed in this country. One expects them to take a deep reflection on their tenure in those years with the aims of correcting those fatal mistakes and misadventures, have a strategic and tactical framework, say 10 years minimum of planning a comeback when they might have sufficiently put their house in order and have in their ranks, new set of politicians sufficiently schooled and orientated in contemporary governance.
Coming back to power so soon would simply be a tale of old wine in old bottle.
- Kola Amzat (FCA,FCIB,ACS,CTP)
Lagos.