The controversial nature and tenacity of purpose of the Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, in playing the role of the opposition, as well as his consistent bashing of President Muhammadu Buhari, seemed to have paid off for him recently, with his emergence as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum.
This development, according to some key members of the party, was a move that will probably bring back the lost glory of the party, which was snatched from it some two years ago. But to some other party members, it is not yet uhuru for the embattled opposition party, not with Fayose’s erratic nature.
However, political observers, who have been following Fayose’s antecedents, believe that his emergence as PDPGF chairman may not really impact on the opposition party, in terms of returning the ‘largest party in Africa’ to power come 2019, as he promised, on assumption of office.
will Fayose’s leadership of the PDP Governors’ Forum…be the panacea to the party’s hydraheaded crises and save the PDP from the brink or create more problems for the tottering opposition party and send it deeper into the abyss? Only time, the harbinger of events, will tell
Recall that Fayose, immediately after his emergence as chairman of PDPGF, promised to bring the party back to life within the shortest time possible, even though he did not elaborate on how to achieve that. But, political pundits are of the view that the internal crises bedeviling the once-upon-a-time ruling party and self-styled largest party in Africa, may be too enormous for Fayose’s political dexterity to handle, especially against the background that most of the problems responsible for the party’s present comatose state had their roots in the decisions of the party’s founding fathers, many of who had parted ways with the party.
Meanwhile, another issue which will stand as a litmus test for Fayose, as chairman of the PDPGF, is the recent gale of defections from the party to the All Progressives Congress.
Recently, no fewer than three senators, with the senator representing Akwa Ibom South senatorial zone, Senator Nelson Effiong, being the latest, elected on the platform of the party had defected to the ruling APC.
Fayose, as PDPGF chairman, is expected to collaborate with other party leaders and stakeholders, to bring stability to the tottering party and arrest the drift which the party is precariously plunging into by the day; therefore, as the leader of governors elected on the PDP platform, so much, apart from noise-making, is expected from him, in doing everything humanly possible within his capabilities, to douse the gale of defection from the party to the ruling party, as a matter of urgency, if truly, the PDP is serious about bouncing back in 2019.
The controversial governor is also expected, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to reconcile all the warring factions in the PDP, particularly, the Ahmed Makarfi-led and Ali Modu Sherrif-led factions, and mend the already embattled and tattered umbrella.
However, The Point gathered that the PDP governors chose to entrust Fayose with the leadership of the PDPGF, based on his bold and fearless nature, which had positioned him as the real leader of the opposition.
Chairman of Lagos State chapter of the PDP, Chief Moshood Salvador, while speaking with The Point, said Fayose will be expected to use his experience in both party and Nigerian politics, to solve the lingering crises in PDP, between Senators Markarfi and Sheriff’s camps, which had eaten deep into the fabric of the soul of the opposition party.
“Fayose is an experienced governor, both in the party and the Nigerian polity. So I expect him to bring the spirit of hard work to the forum; I also expect him to use his experience to bring the crises bedeviling our party to an end,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff faction of the PDP has advised Fayose, to tread with care in his new office. One of the leaders of the Sheriff’s camp, who pleaded anonymity, in a chat with The Point, said, “We welcome the development, because the governors are at liberty to choose whoever they want to lead them. And we will advise him to ensure he acts within the rule of law and eschew impunity; but he must mind his words very well.
“He should also act as a leader; he must not be irrational, so that the office will be beneficiary to PDP.” But the Ondo State chapter of the ruling APC, said that Fayose lacks the decorum to function as PDPGF chairman.
Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, the Ondo APC maintained that “the PDP is on a voyage of total destruction and abandonment, with the emergence of an uncultured governor like Fayose, who lacks decorum and whose past records, attitudes and public utterances are seen as affronts, as its leader.”
Adesanya added, “It shows that the PDP is lacking in men and women of proven integrity, with high level of mental alertness, considering the enormous challenges facing our dear country as a result of its 16 years of misrule.
“It is unfortunate that Fayose, who was alleged to have beaten up a judge in his state; who is seen to be suffering from ‘diarrhea of the mouth,’ could be allowed to lead the PDP Governors’ Forum.”
He added that the PDP was in comatose under the leadership of the outgoing governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, as the chairman of its governors’ forum.
Also, the senator representing Ogun East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has condemned the choice of Fayose, as PDPGF chairman.
Kashamu stated that “it was a misnomer that the governors of an opposition party, which is in need of rebranding and repositioning, could chose a liability, a loud-mouth and an immature politician like Fayose as their chairman.”
Kashamu said, “It is not that his emergence as the chairman of the Forum means anything to me, far from it. But as a committed and loyal party man, it gives me great concern that instead of taking steps that will foster peace and unity, we are doing things that will widen the gap and cause more disunity.
“Those who chose him should have a rethink in the interest of the party that is striving hard to return to power. His brother-governor, Dr. Mimiko, whose tenure he purportedly continued as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, is a cool-headed and balanced character.”
The senator added, “Even then, some of us pointed out that Mimiko was slippery and sly, and a traitor, who could not be relied upon. What happened at the end of the day?
The party broke on his head, when he overreached himself in the South-West as PDPGF chairman at the behest of Fayose.
Instead of being a strong leader, who would be fair to all, and do well to all manner of people, without fear or favour, he became more of a weather-beaten fowl, sullen and uninspiring. But, we thank God that we held our grounds and fought for our rights.
“Fayose had always wanted to be the chairman of the PDPGF. That was why he had some resentment towards Mimiko upon his emergence as the chairman of the Forum in 2015.
While I concede to our governors the right to choose whoever they want to lead them, my point is that they should have settled for a balanced, more experienced and matured person to lead the Forum, not a cantankerous, divisive and unstable character like Fayose, who snaps at the slightest provocation.
I know that the Forum boasts of governors who are true leaders, and not pretenders.” The PDP national spokeperson, Adedayo Adeyeye told The Point that the confidence which PDP governors and PDP members reposed in Fayose will surely lead him to success.
“We have issued a statement on this and I will repeat that we have confidence in Fayose to lead our governors to success this time. He is a personality that you can count on, and his arrival at a crucial time like this will definitely help us as a party,” he added.
Adeyeye had earlier in a statement maintained that “We have confidence in his uncommon courage to pull together his colleagues to work more in the interest of the party, its membership and democracy in general.
“We are optimistic that he will bring to bear his wealth of experience as he takes up this onerous task.
The party appreciates Fayose’s doggedness and perspectives on national issues, as he amplifies the voice of opposition by holding the government in power to be more accountable to the people.” But with his unpredictability and penchant for fishing in troubled waters, will Fayose’s leadership of the PDP Governors’ Forum at this point in time be the panacea to the party’s hydra-headed crises and save the PDP from the brink or create more problems for the tottering opposition party and send it deeper into the abyss? Only time, the harbinger of events, will tell.
