Some of us have maintained stoic dignified silence in the affairs of our dear political party (PDP) in Cross River State over a period of time now. Many issues have crept up within the party at the state and national levels that demanded sane advice indicating leadership and direction but there has been a long loud silence that indicates the absence or dearth of leadership.
I have concerns in the direction of political party administration, accountability, effectiveness and viability for political engagement and activism in shaping political thought and values that are generally acceptable global standards to use as a platform where identical ideas gestate for the benefit of society.
It is pathetic to see the level to which leadership has deteriorated in the party within the state and the country in general where authority figures have stripped themselves nude dancing in the market to puppeteers of ignoble virtue with so much glee to the chagrin of erstwhile admirers.
A political party is governed by a constitution by which all members abide. There are guidelines and appropriate conduct expected by anyone who belongs to that political party failure to which sanctions are applied. When members slide out of line within the expected compliance requirements, it is expected that the necessary consequences take effect in order to maintain discipline and order accordingly. It behooves me to say the reverse has been the case in my dear PDP in which I have served as National Publicity Secretary 1999-2001.
To see the party in 2025 as opposition acting as toddlers in a candy bar while Nigerians are bleeding and looking for salvation is simply unimaginable. The show of shame over the weekend in Calabar in the so-called South South zonal congress is actually most regrettable and unfortunate. Those who are expected to be the beacon of hope fell into the trap of the NOW symphony of vultures looking for whatever to devour to maintain a foothold on transient relevance that at best earth will consume in dust as the finite human remains decomposes in its eternal pit sooner or later.
As the bible says, WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN, IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?
The dancers and drummers of the ongoing issues in South South Zonal PDP Congress and PDP national in general, history does not forget. As you mouth your vituperations foaming and snarling with invectives and merry making at perceived victories over the affairs of a viable political platform which you do not even understand its foundations, sacrifices and resilience, please don’t go to sleep yet. Victory is still far out of sight. Just like IBB’s “TESTIMONY” published last week is going through thorough dissection from different specter of society, YOU will be subject to no less sooner than later.
It appears Cross River State is an unfortunate example of what can best be described as the travesty of leadership. When leadership fails to meet its fundamental responsibilities as clearly exhibited in the so called South South zonal congress of the PDP which had no presence of any South South governors who are an important integral membership, implications and loudness of their silence and distancing leaves no one in doubt as to the credibility or ownership of the exercise irrespective of what the outcome of the drummers of envisaged winners may sound, since most outcomes these days end up in undignified court judgements and orders that seem to be playing a dirge for justice in Nigeria. It is curious to note that the serial court orders and judgements that seem to be generally trending in some states in the South South seem to have garnered speed with the ingenuity of the puppeteers to warrant the brazenness of the jamboree in Calabar even when the host (Cross River State) executive as a major organ of the party distanced itself from the purported zonal congress. How long this ingenuity will last with attendant speed with which casualties are piling in the prison of mortgaged conscience is for posterity.
Where erstwhile leaders are expected to have a clear vision on issues at stake in the current lack luster, misadministration of the APC-led government and the ability to steer their followers towards common goals aimed at strengthening the PDP, the reverse seem to be the result where personal perquisites, selfish and parochial as they reveal will certainly lead to missed opportunities of building a viable and robust opposition. Self-interest as portrayed in the so called South-South zonal congress held in Calabar over the weekend delves into the various facets of leadership failure and its profound impact on society. When leaders shamelessly display lack of integrity public trust is destroyed and hope is dimmed for the future of the nation. The ethos for which probity and accountability is held in high esteem is thrown overboard and the populace only can wail, mourn and despair!!! But herein beckons anarchy and the struggle for survival which has never left any society without wounds, scars and dents!!!.
Dr. Emmanuel Awhan Ibeshi is a Cross Riverian and writes from Bedia in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. He served as a federal lawmaker in the Nigeria’s 3rd Republic and became the first National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Dr. Emmanuel Awhan, and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.
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