Inter-party relationship went very low this weekend in Nigeria as both the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) went after each other via verbal blows. It is not clear who started it but newly elected PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus had said, quoting a former American president, that the APC was nothing more than a machinery contrived to capture power but unprepared to rule. Before him, former Vice-President and PDP presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar had said the APC had failed to perform. While granting that the PDP made what he called some mistakes in the past, he is, however, of the opinion that the party remains the best, adding how the PDP would restructure and develop Nigeria. In congratulating Uche Secondus, Atiku went further to declare the APC the enemy of the PDP, posting the PDP as the party Nigerians were looking up to for rescue “from the mis-governance of the APC”.
President Buhari of APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
Obviously angered by these remarks, the APC said the PDP could never change. Stalwarts made references to how accredited delegates at the just concluded convention was 2115 but the total votes cast was 2296. They meant PDP could not be trusted not to rig. It then went for the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, circulating graphics of him and former Minister for Petroleum, Diezani Alison – Madueke as Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. They meant to say that the former Vice-President is all about corruption.
If the weekend altercation indicates the direction of the impending struggle for power, it can be inferred that what the opposition would be hauling against the ruling party is alleged incompetence or non- performance. The ruling party, on the other hand, would try to tar Atiku Abubakar, the most likely presidential candidate of the PDP with the brush of corruption. That would make the election a choice between alleged incompetence and alleged corruption. What a choice to be made if it remains at that!
Of course, the struggle for power is always filled with all manner of variables. An incumbent can make several moves that can paralyse opponents. Smart opponents could also acquire a momentum to the shock of an incumbent. Which of these would happen may not be entirely within the control of either incumbent or opposition. The mood of the country could shift as constantly as the British weather. It’s still a waiting game!
