These are interesting times, for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Move over, Chief Tony Anenih, Chairman, Board of Trustees, the PDP, from your exalted position as Mr. Fix-it, of the usual viruses, that spew from the divergent parts of that self acclaimed biggest party in Africa. Move in, the first lady, Mama Peace, Her Excellency, Dame (Dr.) Patience Jonathan, recently retired Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa state. With her motherly touch, Dame Jonathan, the most politically active first lady, in the checkered history of our dear country, is moving around the states, smothering the many fires, over who gets what, that is threatening to consume the PDP, and torpedo our democracy.
But for her physical presence, who would have given the soft spoken first lady, any chance of success, as a multi-talented advocate of a peculiar equitable standard, for sharing of political offices, amongst the thousands of aspirants on the platform of that behemoth, the PDP. To douse the crisis across the states, which critics call chop-make-I-chop, that is gnawing at the party’s foundation in Oyo, Enugu, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Benue, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, you name it, Mama Peace, in her mild mannered feminine way, is moving around with her gaily long train, one place at a time, settling the ill-mannered men, who are finding it difficult, to agree on how to share the spoils, from a conquered Nigeria.
The Enugu state détente is particularly of interest, with the infusion of spiritualism, into the combustible ogre. Her Excellency, the first Lady, recently, was the special guest of honour, at the harvest and bazaar thanksgiving of the Adoration Ministry, presided over by Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, the spiritual enfant terrible, who stared down the dreaded former Governor of Enugu state, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, during his reign. Chaperoned, or do I rather say, escorted, by no less a personality, than His Excellency, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, the first lady reportedly read the first reading at the church service, while the deputy senate president, read the second.
In his sermon, I gathered that the fearless Fr. Mbaka, prayed for the success of the political ambition of Senator Ekweremadu, arguing that with his success as a faithful family man, married to one wife, despite many years of political exposure, he deserves success in his senatorial ambition, more than any other person. With thousands of followers, not to talk of his famed spirituality, Father Mbaka’s endorsement of Ekweremadu, has its significance. Indeed it appears that the senator whose reelection is under threat, from Governor Sullivan Chime, has resorted to spiritual pilgrimages, following the alleged ban placed on traditional rulers by the state government, from organizing ceremonies, were the likes of Ekweremadu could gain one bogus title or another, to foster their political interests.
From the clips shown on television, of the first lady’s visit to the Adoration Ministry, the Governor and senatorial contender did not attend the bazaar ceremony. Despite efforts, I have not been able to confirm, whether Governor Chime was banned from the ceremony, because he has married more than once, the last and now former-wife, as Governor; or whether it was a political decision, sanctioned by the first lady, to show who has her support, among the two major senatorial contenders. Luckily for Ekweremadu, the state’s alleged stern instruction to the traditional rulers, not to host his likes, did not extend to the churches, and the Senator seems to have cashed in on that.
There is also the report in the media, that Ekweremadu outsmarted the Governor, during the election of delegates for the party’s congress, where the candidates for the 2015 election will be elected. If the report is correct, there appears to be a revolt within the Ebeano family oligarchy. As one follower of this column said to me, it appears that my claims before the delegates’ congress, that the Governor has unchallenged supreme power in the Ebeano family, may have spurred a major revolt within the party ranks. As many have argued, Ekweremadu may be more useful to the state, if he returns as a deputy senate president, should the PDP win the presidency, but I doubt if when the chips are down, Ekweremadu can really defeat the reigning godfather of the Ebeano family, Governor Sullivan Chime.
But the news out there, is that peace have been made between the Governor and the Deputy Senate President, with the Governor conceding his senatorial ambition to Ekweremadu, while the latter, will in turn support the gubernatorial preference of Governor Chime, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Whether it is that peace arrangement, that, Her Excellency, Mama Peace, the first lady, went to consummate, or it is another peaceful settlement that she went to wrought all by herself, the days ahead will reveal. What ever be the case, His Excellency, Governor Chime, has more or less relocated to Abuja, in his hot pursuit of both his senatorial ambition and that of his many god sons and daughters.
The first lady has also since departed to other troubled sports, in the rancorous match of His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, to a landslide victory, in 2015 elections. In aid of the war efforts, which the 2015 elections is turning into, the Boko Haram insurgents, are also excising for their dubious Caliphate, parts of the stiff necked opponents of Mr. President, aggregated mostly in the north east. And who knows, by the time the election comes up in 2015, much of the major states opposing the reelection of the President, may technically no longer be part of Nigeria, and so not part of the electorate, while the remaining part will Insha Allah, resoundingly reelect Mr. President, for another term; even if for security reasons, he may have to shift down south, the capital of the country.
