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PDP’s greatest challenge is managing itself –OkonkwoBY BEIFOH OSEWELE
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would secure a landslide victory in next year’s general election, notwithstanding the security challenges and the attendant economic problems, says Chief Sylvester Onuorah Okonkwo. A lawyer, industrialist, teacher, philanthropist and senatorial aspirant in Anambra State, his optimism is hinged on the fact that the party has performed creditably, with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. The PDP government, at the centre, he argued, has succeeded in deepening democracy by strengthening its institutions and guaranteeing liberty, freedom of expression and respect for rule of law. He has also ensured an unfettered electoral process where votes count.
“No other political party has shown the discipline to conform to these standards of conduct and engagement. The fortunes of PDP is looking good and I am sure that Nigerians would not settle for political adventurism. As things stand today, continuity and consolidation should be the watchword.”
According to him, the greatest challenge PDP faces is how to manage its impressive fortunes rather than any perceived threat from the opposition. According to him, in the course of inter party defections, the PDP has absorbed so many people, some of who were returnee members that abandoned the party at some point, which he said has further confirmed the PDP as the largest party in Africa.
A big party could be an asset or a liability in an election year and where fate places a party is usually a factor of how it manages itself in the midst of fierce contending interests amongst its members. A level playing field for all remains the magic wand the party requires to go into the field and record huge success in the general election. It is only when aspirants are satisfied that the primaries were conducted transparently that they would willingly support any candidate that emerges as the flag bearer, he reasoned.
Chief Okonkwo also spoke on why he decided to leave his comfort zone to vie for the Anambra Central Senatorial ticket, his agenda for his people and issues of leadership problem.
The security challenges in the country with the attendant economic problems remain an albatross for the Jonathan administration and indeed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Are you not worried that these issues may affect the fortune of your party in the 2015 elections?
Discerning minds and those who have refused to play politics with the insurgency issue acknowledge that the Jonathan administration and the security agencies under his watch are dealing with the implosions creditably. We may not have resolved the problem but definitely, the government has done well so far and shown enough capacity to sustain the gains. All we need is concert of effort especially in the area of information and intelligence.
With these problems still on the front burner, what are the chances of the PDP?
The transformation agenda of the PDP government holds enormous hope and the successes so far in many critical sectors comes with huge goodwill which the security issues cannot diminish. Security challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria and world leaders are networking to explore ways and means through concert of effort to deal with them. Its note worthy too that anyone who fully understands the psychology of terrorists would know they operate by blackmail and propaganda.
Whether it is the PDP or any other party that is in power, the issues remain the same and the method of resolving same cannot be by rocket science. Any political party that claims to have the Midas touch to resolve the problem over night may either know what the rest of us do not know or is merely grandstanding.
In the Circumstance, it is even more advisable to align with a government that enjoys the advantage of learning curve than experimenting with new hands. Except of course if the new hands are in cahoot with Boko Haram leadership and would require only a pronouncement for the insurgency to end.
Honestly, Nigerians would definitely identify with the PDP on the basis of trust, capacity and character. The devil you know is better than the angel you do not know. The vibration from the major opposition party would throw this country into political turmoil.
It would be risky to leave the fate of this country in the hands of a band of propagandists and obvious under the table schemers who seek power for reasons other than bettering the lot of the people.
You are a senatorial aspirant under the platform of the PDP in Anambra State, what is the driving force?
Ordinarily, I would have preferred playing the role of a good partyman and a stabilising force which I have enjoyed as a founding member of PDP and one of the conveners in Anambra State. I have had to serve in various committees of the party at the national and state levels leading to successful congresses and conventions. In all of these, I have been guided by the need to sustain a formidable platform to make our standard bearers electable at all levels. But over the years, I have watched with disappointment the quality and character of representation for my senatorial district and feel seriously challenged to place my experience and exposure at the disposal of the people of Anambra Central senatorial district who are unfortunately holding the shorter end of the stick in comparative terms.
In specific terms, what leadership or representation gaps are you coming to redress or is it just matter of wanting to be yet another Senator for the zone?
In the course of my political journey, I have had the rare opportunity of sharing valued vision with leaders who are adjudged great transformers that habour genuine anger to do uncommon things to change the vista of their people. The leadership vacuum in Anambra central senatorial district requires a man with experience, clear understanding of the operating environment, a visionary with the milk of human kindness flowing in his veins, one with the right contacts and a voice that cannot be drowned in the red chambers. That man with the right voice is Sylvester Okonkwo.
I will never forgive myself if I do not offer to serve at this critical time when my zone, the state and the country need the intervention of men with the right desire and anger to change the political environment for greater good.
What I promise the people of Anambra Central Senatorial district is that my first four years would signpost vocal and focused representation. My voice will be heard and loudly too for the good reasons. Potentials need to be unlocked, opportunities for real empowerment created and the zone would be placed on a pedestal of reckoning in the country.
As an ecclectist, I would drink from the fountain of some great minds from the state; the class, candor and eloquence of Rt. Hon. Chuba Okadigbo, the deep intellect of Dr. Pius Okigbo and the love for greatness, finess, unity and cohesiveness of Nigeria espoused by late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe would form great references in my political outing.
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