Resignation of PDP members and the senseless noise making

By Arthur Bruno Ekwelem

Political party is an association of people sharing common ideological beliefs but underlying that belief is the personal interests of individual members. But as an association, the primary objective or main objective of its formation can not be anchored on the specific interest of any given individual hence the freedom of entry and exit.

Don’t forget that the present APC was formed by the alliance of some exited PDP members then led by Atiku, Saraki, Rotimi Amaechi etc with some other political parties. At some point the romance between them in their new Party got soured and the same individuals made a quick return back to PDP. The reason is that a hasty and wrong calculation was made. They came to the realization that PDP was more accommodating, prospective and supportive to their aspirations than the new place. The regret in their actions was clearly expressed on their faces, and in their voices. By then, the harm had been done, destroying the house that held better opportunities for them and the Nigerian masses they were said to be fighting for.

Today, every effort to redress that mistake has become a daunting challenge and the consequences of that sad situation have remained a bitter experience to all including those beating the infamous drums of war.

Prior to this sad reality the protesting leaders were desperately focused on their personal interests, ambition and aspirations without proper assessment of the future consequences of their actions. Today, everybody is suffering from that mistake.
Another path of regret is being towed by some self acclaimed and desperate political mavericks in Imo PDP leading some vulnerable members into another future of obscurity.

In 2018, the personal and conflicting interests of Sheriff and Markarfi featured prominently in the internal struggles for power and it brought a big division within PDP which most people felt was going to be PDP’s biggest albatross. At the end of the court imbroglio favoring the Markafi camp, the Sheriff people exited from PDP. The exit was also noisome in Imo PDP then as it is being chorused today.

Contrary to the expectations and predictions of doom against PDP, the Party (PDP) remained unshaken. Rather it witnessed a massive return of decampees from other political parties. In Imo State then, the exit of Senator Hope Uzodinma, a PDP BoT member and the likes of Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie who was the then State Chairman with some members of his State Working Committee was seen as a red line for PDP, but surprisingly it wasn’t.

Across the LGAs and Wards of the State the same sceneries played out. A good number of Party stalwarts and members of PDP also exited from the Party, joining their vision bearer Hope Uzodinma albeit Sheriff yet PDP remained a strong Party and went into the 2019 election more formidable.

It is obvious that without the massive fraud and irregularities that characterized the last governorship election, APC was far from being declared the winner. Don’t forget that PDP went into that election without the support of all these marauders and self styled politicians tendering their resignations from the Party. I consider it a senseless noise making which will end up in similar outcomes and experiences as witnessed in the past.

There is nothing strange about this development or uncommon in the turn out of events in Imo PDP. It is just a repeat of history which is not peculiar to PDP or even Imo State alone. In joining a political party or association, three factors influence the choice or decision; one is the ideological framework of the Party, secondly, personal interest or thirdly, the interest of someone you look up to as your vision bearer. It is common that some people are emotionally attached to the interests of their vision bearers and not necessarily the ideology of the political party they claim to belong to or their own personal interest either. I see a wave of actions propelled by sentiments more than personal convictions.

It is therefore instructive to say that the emerging resignations of some members is not strange to PDP neither to other political parties nationally. In the just concluded 2023 General Election, the dynamics that played out was not different. There were massive inter party decamping of members both from PDP and the ruling APC to Labour Party and vice versa, some with a reason to identify with a candidate of their choice.

Let it be understood that movements in and out of a Political Party is a common practice and a fundamental right of an individual to his freedom of association and movement which should not be orchestrated beyond reasonable limits. No one person can dictate or determine the faith of everyone, neither will the insinuations or fears expressed by the exit of these individuals bring an end to PDP. Just understand it that the movement is driven primarily by the personal interest and ambition of a group of individuals seeking for their political relevance and survival no matter how they present themselves as serving your own interest and political purpose. Be guided when aligning your decision or actions with that of someone else, we share different faith and destinies.

Retrospectively, the betrayals perpetrated by these same individuals against the party they claim to be faithful members in the last Governorship election raise a moral question against them. I was personally not expecting anyone with similar antecedent to seek refuge and expect to wield authority in the same house he or she mischievously made efforts to destroy, more so, without any form of remorse. Though after another failed misadventure to upstage the leadership of the Party, PDP was still willing to forgive and bring everyone together again in one accord like any responsible father would do to his ailing children, but the pundits were weighed down by their moral consciences. To them, the reasonable and courageous thing to do was to stage a walk out even if it amounts to making themselves fugitives in another political party than face the disreputable consequences of their anti Party activities. You can now better understand the effect of conscience on the soul of man and the reason for this unprecedented flight.

Imo PDP is not in any way unduly ruffled or distracted, the quake will come and be gone as in the time past and the Party will still remain strong. We are just watching.

Like Joshua advised the Israelites in the bible, I will also submit “Today, choose ye the Party you want to belong to, as for me and my family we will remain in PDP” A new PDP governed by the rule of law and tenets of democracy is emerging, phasing out the era of impunity and imperialism. Let us reason together and build a party of our collective dream. No one should be deterred or demoralized by the senseless noise making trending in the media space.