PDP’s Fake Romance With Discipline
By KUNLE SANYAOLU
THERE is something inherently comical about the controversial expulsion of Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu from the Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). That thing is the reason offered. The governor, Alhaji Rasheed Ladoja said the decision on him was informed by the need to instil discipline in the party. This is a man, I mean Adedibu, who is well recognised as the governor’s political mentor, on whose shoulder Governor Ladoja practically rode to office. The two Alhajis have been political bedmates, at least off and on. But when the chips were down and Ladoja indicated his intention to be governor, the relationship waxed stronger. Ladoja probably believed his governorship dream was not likely to materialise without Adedibu’s support. So, the governor accepted him as a mentor, knowing fully well that Adedibu’s entire political history is not something that many people are likely to be excited to embrace. It is a history of controversial, nay unpopular, alliance. Adedibu of course, is protected by the Nigerian Constitution to form and associate with any political groupings of his choice. For this, there should be no discrimination against him.
Had he simply exercised his right to freedom of political association, he would not be as controversial as he is. But Adedibu obviously thrives in controversy. He enjoys it. It matters little to him if his decisions are popular with the masses or if it goes against the grain of popular inclinations. Whatever camp he chooses to belong, his tactics have always been the same. They include, where subtle diplomacy fails, arm-twisting, thuggery, violence and political blackmail. He has always provided a source of livelihood for miscreants and never-do-well in Ibadan, so long as these have no scruple to go against his bidding. Over the years, he has acquired an awesome reputation such that any political aspirant feels duty bound to woo him if such aspiration is to have any meaning. He commands a sizeable army of unregistered thugs. He boasts openly about this political worth and how he wishes to achieve his heart’s desire. He had no qualm when in the late 90s, he canvassed for the self-succession of military despot Gen. Sani Abacha, even when most Nigerians saw the late ruler as the number one problem of the country. That is Adedibu. On top of these, he has somehow driven himself to become the political kingmaker of Ibadan and Oyo politics.
Certainly, Adedibu is unlikely to be a shining example when talks revolve around discipline in the real sense of it. But politicians are wont to overlook his character and reputation when they seek his support for office. Unfortunately, for Governor Ladoja, he (the governor) is fast learning that with Adedibu, you can’t eat your cake and still have it. Nigeria’s recent political experience is replete with events similar to the prevailing bickering in Oyo State. The episode between Chris Ngige of Anambra and Chris Uba, his erstwhile political mentor is for now the epitome of such ugly occurrences. When his expulsion was first announced, Adedibu’s reaction, predictably, was that it was all a huge joke. He couldn’t see how anyone could dislodge him from PDP or any other party he may choose to belong. It is not in his character to be expelled. He dictates when he joins the party and when he quits. Even the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP is not comfortable with reports of Adedibu’s expulsion. The committee is reportedly arranging a meeting to broker to peace between him and the governor, after the first meeting earlier held in Ibadan came to no fruition.
The pertinent question is just when did Ladoja and his supporters realise that Adedibu is not disciplined or that his presence in the PDP does not augur well for discipline Initially, the contention between the mentor and the governor was said to be over how many people Adedibu would provide in Ladoja’s cabinet. As it is customary to the average Nigerian political mentor, Adedibu wanted to contribute a lion’s share, or at least a share that Ladoja considered o be abhorrent. Along the line, the extent, of their dispute became known only to the two main parties and perhaps their close allies. A few days back, Adedibu defended himself. “We are being misunderstood,” he said. “Is it right for the governor, the secretary to the state government, the finance commissioner and five other commissioners to come from an area which did not produce a senator for us, that is Oyo South Senatorial District Reasonable people will know we are right in our demands.” Adedibu insisted that he wasn’t demanding anything from Ladoja other than calling attention of the public to areas his administration needed to improve upon.
While not admitting the existence of any major differences between them, Governor Ladoja insists that Adedibu was expelled because he was found quilty of indiscipline and because he was unsure of what exactly he wanted. According to Ladoja, Adedibu was always demanding the impossible, such as removing the party chairman and putting some other people on the executive. The governor’s discovery is coming rather late. He should have known Adedibu much better than he is portraying. It is this same Adedibu who publicly accused the governor of removing the statue of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, erected in government house Agodi, Ibadan. According to Adedibu, Ladoja’s action in removing the statue was informed by the prophecy of a white garment church prophet that his tenure would be adversely affected if the statue wasn’t removed. Adedibu’s information is coming about a year after the statue was pulled down. And, 24 hours later, a man called Bola Awos showed up to debunk Adedibu’s claim, saying he was among the demolition team that removed the statue based on the orders of Abass Oloko who was allegedly acting on behalf of Adedibu. Really, very few people should expect clean proceedings where Adedibu is involved. Events in Ibadan are bearing this out with a promise of even more confusion in the days ahead. Surely, the expulsion of Lamidi Adedibu from the PDP is not about to be rested.
Anyway, the idea of discipline is alien to the PDP. It is a party that represents gross indiscipline, in spite of its pretensions. A party that has no qualm about the reputation of its members or morality has no business with discipline. As Wole Soyinka said, it is a party with a “nest of killers.” Evidence abound from the extermination of Bola Ige, Marshal Harry, Aminasoari Dikibo, Chief and Mrs. Barnabas Igwe of Anambra and a dozen other politicians and non-politicians country wide who have fallen to the political ambition of PDP stalwart. A political party at the centre of government cannot be regarded as disciplined when its top officers commit stark illegality and constitutional breaches, while the party leadership looks the other way. When confronted with the reality of Governor Ngige’s abduction, the PDP’s reply was that it was a “family affair.” Up to now, nobody in PDP has been sanctioned or prosecuted as necessary even though perpetrators of the crime are well known. You can be sure that knowledge that political chieftains in PDP could get away with blue murder is the catalyst needed to enact current scenario in Oyo. You can also be sure that the scene will play itself out somewhere else soon.
The PDP doesn’t mind making scapegoat of a man while letting go the real culprits. It happened to AIG Raphael Ige, fingered in the Ngige abduction saga. What sort of discipline can be ascribed to a party that specialises in rigging elections and presiding over the outcome The PDP revels in double standard and compromise. It is ready, during electioneering campaign, to promise a good life for citizens. But when citizens groan under high and uncontrolled fuel prices, the party frowns at the citizens’ Labour Congress and labels it enemy of democracy. The PDP is a protagonist of IMF and World Bank policies where these lead to increasing tariff and prices of essential goods. At the same time, the party treats with disdain the world bodies’ advice against profligacy and uneconomic or white elephant projects. Out of 120 millions or so Nigerians, the PDP cannot see any presidential aspirant more credible than Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and vice president Atiku Abubakar. These are the only two persons who have the money in sufficient quantum to aspire for presidency. It matters little to the party how they got their money. Such inquires shouldn’t have anything on government’s anti-corruption stance.
One could go on interminably with the PDP woes and its nature of indiscipline. One thing is clear though. The party is not through with Nigeria. At the rate it is going, it won’t be through until it has effectively sold the country to a few individuals with a lot of ill-gotten money, a lot of brawn but no brains nor inclination to take Nigeria to the committee of great nations.
