The internal crisis of the PDP has reached a new boiling point as a wave of suspensions swept through several state chapters of the party. On Friday, the PDP National Working Committee dissolved the Executive Council of the Ekiti State branch and suspended several members in the Ekiti, Imo and Enugu State branches thought to be working for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, or otherwise sympathetic to the cause of the ironically named “Integrity Group” or G5-Group, lead by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.
Among those suspended were Oluwajomiloju Fayose, son of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose; Former Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, who has since endorsed the APC presidential candidate; and Chris Ogbu of Imo State, among others.
Nyesom Wike hit back at the National Chairman of the party, Inyiorcha Ayu, declaring that the line had been drawn and promising to back a court challenge to the dissolution of the Ekiti State executive committee.
This internal bickering over power sharing has beleaguered the party since its presidential primaries which, as has always been the case, saw the ticket go to the highest bidder, Atiku Abubakar.
These new developments however are a new turning point in the power tussle, especially this close to the elections. It is indicative of just how disunited the Nigerian ruling class is as a political class. It is bared for the viewing of all Nigerians just how shamelessly they pursue their own selfish political interests without regard to their actual duties as elected public officials. Resources of the commonwealth are being publicly jockeyed over, being deployed for patronage, or for foreign trips to participate in high stake negotiations that have nothing to do with bettering the lives of the Nigerian people who are forced further into multidimensional poverty everyday.
With the exaltation of their personal interests above all else, it is not surprising that they are united only in imposing their economical and political hegemony on the Nigerian masses. Working-class people and youth must not let themselves be recruited into this standoff. We must instead put our efforts into organizing to oust them from power so we can build a better life for ourselves and our communities.
by Kayode Somtochukwu ANI
