Why PDP May Lose Some States, by Nwodo

On August 19, 1998, some individuals decided that the G-34 group which piled pressures on Nigeria’s maximum dictator, Sani Abacha, before his death, should form the nucleus of a political party.  A few disagreed.  But today, that party is the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. For the party formed by a group of people who fought Abacha’s dictatorship to now become Nigeria’s biggest headache remains confounding to some leaders of the party.
Its National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, says he is on a mission to change the party and transform it.
He came to Lagos last Thursday to preach his message of change.
Apart from the interactive session, Sunday Vanguard was able to exclusively ask a few questions from Nwodo.
In what sounded like a homily, Nwodo’s opening remarks read:
“We have a great mileage to cover because we are yet to fully shift from the mundane issues.  Nigerians must begin to debate how to improve their lives. “Failure in the parties or at the elections next year will set this country back.
The story of democracy in Nigeria in the last 50 years has not been a good one, we must give a good account of ourselves and democracy in the next 50 years.  The ills of the society are across party lines.
“It’s not been easy and I said I was ready to pay the supreme sacrifice.  We have been hit left, right and centre because we want to bring about change in the party but we’re ready to forge ahead because the price will bring change.
“People who are used to short cuts do not want change.  When you bring change that people are not used to you meet resistance.”
Excerpts:
Once the Consensus Committee of the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum, NPLF, announces its consensus candidate, there is bound to be a change in the complexion of the presidential primaries of PDP.  As the national chairman, what sense would you make of that?
Individual candidates, in partnership, are allowed to plot their own strategies in any way they like.  You know, some 40 political parties have said they are supporting President Goodluck Jonathan.  First, President Jonathan is not a member of their political party. Second, is that they do not have presidential candidates.
So, if within our own political party some candidates decide to work together, it is their own strategy.
Read More:http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/why-pdp-may-lose-some-states-by-nwodo/