IN DEFENCE OF MAKINDE, by Setonji Koshoedo

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There is no doubt that winning the 2023 Election is so important to any well-meaning Peoples Democratic Party member. I can state unequivocally, that making HE. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is paramount in the minds of all right-thinking members. The aggrieved inclusive. It is by this that our party can rescue Nigeria from the perverseness of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress.

However, there comes a time one needs to stand up for something bigger than oneself to take a firm decision on a matter, no matter how delicate or dangerous such decision may be. In a situation where a group of people actively or passively keep another down in an organisation call for such a decision. And that is what Governor Seyi Makinde and his colleagues have done. They have taken a decision to fight for the worth, dignity, and equality of every member of the party, regardless of their geopolitical zone affiliation.

I sincerely by my nature, would not have wanted to be part of the shenanigans, especially when it is coming from the high and mighty, but fear of what posterity has ahead of me, and of course my conscience, will not allow me to remain silent when I need to speak out, especially in a matter that has to do with fairness and justice. So I choose to lend my view on the issue, hoping that it will prompt a new rethinking of the crisis.

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I am surprised at how people have completely misconstrued the actions and reactions of the likes of Governor Makinde and others. It becomes worrisome when people within their zones start throwing diatribes at the people that have chosen to stand for their rights against all odds.

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History has it that there was a time when Pa Obafemi Awolowo and his likes of blessed memories, fought for a cause that eventually brought about our independence. The likes of Chief Gani Fawehinmi and some others fought for civil and human rights till their deaths. Even Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and his friends fought vociferously against the military rule to re-establish democracy in our nation. This is, to mention a few, out of so many fights against injustice. It does not matter if the fight is for the entire nation or within an organisation or even what triggered the fight. Any human rights fight is for liberation, and it’s becoming part of history that Governor Makinde and his colleagues are standing up for something bigger than all the wealth, fame, and power of governance to defend a cause they so much believe in. So why crucify them?

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Many say the outcome of the presidential primary election prompted this agitation. Yes. Something must trigger an agitation for a movement to commence. After all, ‘little’ harassments by the police prompted ‘Endsars’. A ‘little’ discontent against President Jonathan prompted the mass movement of party stalwarts which cost our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to lose power in 2015. One can go on listing more of such prompting occurrences.

The truth is that this agitation is beyond Governor Nyesom Wike’s loss at the convention or Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as our party’s presidential ticket bearer; it is even beyond the quest for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to step down. These occurrences are just triggers and demands for something fundamental as Governor Makinde always put it. It is therefore not out of place that the outcome of the presidential primary has triggered a movement that any pursuer of justice needs to align with to have his or her name written in gold in the annals of the party – no matter one’s ethnic affiliation.

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For us to understand the fundamentality of the matter, one needs to ask the big question of whether the PDP, as it is today has been just and fair in the management of its affairs as provided in Section 6(1) of its Constitution which stipulates the Character and Ethics of the party as regards race, creed, and ethnic affiliation. If the general response to this question is negative, then, why castigate those challenging the situation? If we must all have our stake in the Peoples Democratic Party, there must be all-inclusiveness, fairness, and justice in all ramifications. Governor Makinde and others are just the change makers within our party. So where did they go wrong? The crux of the matter is that a lot of injustice is at play through the manipulative and deceitful tendencies of some powers that be in the party, and it’s high time this is corrected. Anyone against such a move is just playing to the gallery. It is simply a way of going along to get along.

There is this pretentious fear that the timing of the crisis is wrong, as it may affect the 2023 elections. I do not subscribe to this blackmail. As true as this may sound, I rather think that the best time to place your demands in negotiation is when you are most needed. If the party sees any importance in the view of the aggrieved enough for it to affect winning elections, then the party needs to look more into their grievances and respond accordingly. Ignoring such an energetic generation can be very dangerous, just as it was in 2015 when such energetic powerful ones left the PDP against President Jonathan. In my opinion, there cannot be any other time better than now for a politician to demand his right.

Governor Makinde should therefore not be seen as a black sheep in the South West, and neither should any of his colleagues be seen as the black sheep in their zones. They should rather be embraced and supported to fight this just cause till things are corrected for the good of all of us as members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.

Let’s now reason together. If winning the coming election is truly that important to all of us, members of the party across the board must be ready to make sacrifices for us to win. So if the ‘small boys’ out of their youthful exuberance refuse to drop their demands for peace to reign, why can’t the ‘big men’ in their wisdom yield to their demands or at least, dispassionately examine their views for the sake of winning the coming elections, after all, what is good for the goose must be good for the gander. It should not be easily forgotten that these jolly good fellows contributed immensely to the sustenance of the party when most needed. Some of them stayed back when others left, seeking greener pasture elsewhere. They have always been known for standing against any act that demeans the worth and equality of members of the party or acts that tend to frustrate the progress of the party.

To resolve this problem, there must be a truce, and a truce does not come without compromises. If the truce demands that some people lose their exalted positions, why is it too much a sacrifice? Why won’t anyone that loves this party, no matter how highly placed, be ready to relinquish his or her position for the party to win? It is supposed to be a sacrifice that everyone should be ready to make for our progress on this matter. Some people are querying the constitutionality of the demands, I can tell you that the party has capable intellectuals to resolve such issues if the moral will to achieve it is made available.

Finally, politics is about protecting the interest of the people you represent, and if few people like Governor Makinde have chosen to stand alone to fight the injustice and unfairness against their people, they should rather be applauded for taking such a decision. It is not expected that human right fighters are loved and accepted by their people, but the fact remains that history with record them great for speaking out for justice, especially in the face of persecution. Governor Makinde and his colleagues have taken up the responsibility to speak and act on the prompting to ensure justice for their people. We should all join them to achieve a good cause.

This is my candid personal opinion.

 

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