A Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, has linked the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party to selfishness.
In a chat with Daily Post, the academia stressed that the reason for continued cracks within the party is because individual interests have overridden that of the party and national interest.
He revealed that the party’s tap root was anchored in the South East and South South and the choice of giving its presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar who is a northerner caused the party to begin to fall.
He hinted that it is not as if the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is too strong but he has the tactics to “romance” with the opposition.
He said: “People are getting it all wrong. What is happening is different from what most people and even the press described.
“I don’t see it as Wike having a strong grip on the PDP. For you to appreciate the situation properly, I want you to take a look at the forces that got the party where it is today.
“The party became blind to the sensitivities of its stronghold. The South-East has been the strongest base of the PDP. That’s followed by the South-South. When individual interests overrode party and national interest, the party hit rock bottom.
“The party thought it wise to give its presidential ticket to Atiku, a northern Fulani Muslim, to replace Buhari, a northern Fulani Muslim in a country that has been run based on alternations.
“Now, the party is floundering, not because Wike is too strong. He seems to have a strong grip on PDP leadership, not because of the strength of his tactics or manoeuvring.
“Wike or anyone is able to press the neck of the PDP leadership, romance with the opposition, and attend NEC meetings with bragadacio because people have lost interest in the party.”
He further disclosed that there is a reduced interest at the national level of the party which has birthed several resignation of membership.
He added that for the party to continue to exits above two circles of election, it has to put its house in order at the national level.
“Future is no longer associated with the party at the national level. That’s what happens when individual interest overshadows party or national interest. Is it not recently that Emeka Ihedioha resigned from the party?
“There is a reduced interest in the party at national level. So, Wike or anyone can run the party anyhow and nothing will happen.
“If the PDP doesn’t put its house and acts in order, and atone for how it treated its strongholds, the party may no longer exist at the national level in two election cycles. APC is out to swallow carrier politicians. Labour Party is out to sweep up the younger generations disillusioned by the others,” he added.