The Lagos State PDP has for years had the uncanny ability whenever it appears on the verge of electoral redemption, to shoot itself in the foot. That same story is playing out again.
A state party that appeared to be getting its house in order has been thrown into crisis, again succumbing to the enemy within. While the judgement purporting to declare Dr. Dominic chairman has set the cat among the pigeons, it is those within the party that elevate their personal and parochial interests above the interests of the party that are the clear and present danger to the Lagos PDP.
I shall not be dissecting the judgement; it is a matter of public record. I shall instead make some observations on why its consequences are symptomatic of what ails the PDP in Lagos, and why this is a disruption too far. We as a party must look within at our propensity for self-harm.
More in Home
Sanwo-Olu names Sunmoni, Shaffudeen in new 13-member LASU Governing Council
Lagos PDP Crisis: Court judgement exposed unpreparedness of the party for Council Poll
Chief Bode George and Dominic again! Whom did we offend in Lagos PDP?
I am still In PDP- Prince Lanre Ajose
I would start by saying that it is the national PDP as much as the state party that is undermined by this judgement. If a state Congress convened and sanctioned by the national executive, overseen by national organs, attended by INEC, lauded as one of the freest and fairest ever conducted by the Lagos PDP where normally it is by selection, can be successfully called into question by disgruntled elements, who are we to complain about the lack of democracy in the country?
A national reconciliation effort led by Senator Saraki sought to soothe ruffled feathers, in the interests of the party. In doing so, Lagos State was mandated by the committee to step down all legal cases. This was specifically addressed to Dr. Dominic. The reconciliation committee was doing its best to ensure that in upcoming elections, the PDP focused on rescuing the people from the perditions of the APC rather than exhausting itself with internal wrangling.
The State Chairman, Engr. Deji Doherty was not the only person to emerge from the congress, other state officers emerged; all those officers that emerged at the congress are affected by this judgement.
The systematic and orderly selection of candidates for the upcoming local government elections in the state is a powerful example of diminishing rancour within the state. Young men and women have turned out in their numbers, expressing their desire to participate in local government elections, yet none of the actors in this phony war has spared a thought for them. In these times of economic hardship, young candidates have gathered what little resources they have, to pay necessary dues – both to the PDP and the Lagos State electoral commission – and to mobilise for the upcoming elections.
It is as if the affairs of the Lagos State PDP are caught in the grip of Fifth Columnists who resurface whenever elections are around the corner. Our attention is repeatedly diverted from our efforts to rescue the people of the state from the dictatorial tendencies of the APC under Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
And when one looks under the rock, the ever-present malevolent presence is that of Chief Bode George. He is the personification of an era of political leadership that sees the state party as a vehicle for the advancement of personal, parochial and pecuniary goals. While his peers are concerned about winning elections for the party, he continues to sow distrust and division in the party. His support base is no more than 10% of the party in the state, yet he has been allowed to maintain a stranglehold on the party in the state.
The party is being held back and slowed down again. While Dr. Dominic (a man who was NEVER ELECTED) now wishes to claim the chairmanship of the party, over the person chosen by a fully attended congress, he is in actual fact playing out a role directed by his principal, who once again is sowing the seeds of discord as he battles his waning influence in the state party.
Chief Bode George is like a child who throws his toys out of the pram, insisting that if he can’t play with them then no one else can. He is never a peacemaker, always a destroyer. He does not care that the national party is fed up with the stagnation he has embedded in Lagos PDP politics. He seemingly does not care that his antics are calling into question the authority of the highest organ of the party, the national executive.
The Lagos State PDP must stop being its own worst enemy. The party appeared to be entering into a period of peace before this judgement was handed down; we must not promote our own demise. For those that rejoice, I would counsel pause for thought: Evil appears as good in the minds of those who god leads to destruction.
Mrs Folake Phillips
State Auditor