The PDP Special Convention may have ended on a controversial note as some group of aggrieved Governors, precisely 7 Governors disdainfully, sneeringly and derisively staged a walkout in protest of development in the party, leading to the formation of what they have termed a new faction of the party under the leadership of Alh. Kawu Baraje.
Many are of the views that the PDP crisis has gotten to its Olympia height, and can survive this war only by miracle or magic.
Recall that seven governors, namely; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Ahmed Abdulfatai, Babangida Aliu, Sule Lamido, Murtala Nyako, Aliu Wamako, and Chibuike Amechi staged a walkout at the just concluded Special Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party. The walkout was led by former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar who has been fingered to be behind the newly registered PDM.
The aggrieved governors and other party members are protesting the non-inclusion of their candidates in the party executive and also for continuous wrong handling of the party by the Bamanga Tukur led party leadership.
Even though some have concluded that the event of the party convention was the height of it, and would be highly detrimental to its 2015 agenda, others have opined that the recent development was a beginning of an epoch and the end of the party’s protracted crisis.
Having sampled the two varied opinions on the walkout, and having also applied the principle and theory of conflict resolution, it is obvious that the protest of the governors has marked the end of PDP internal crisis or what a loyal PDP party member could term mere misunderstanding. This is because, before every conflict can be resolved, heads must roll, and people must lose their hopes and faiths.
Noted, the governors and other party members have been grumbling over some issues they have considered unfavourable to their membership of the largest and biggest party in Africa, however, no solutions were proffered prior to the walkout. Several individuals had attempted to resolve the crisis, but there was no headway as people rarely understood where these stalwarts of the party and governors stood in their anger and protests.
The walkout therefore was a clear definition of where they stand, and what their agitations were all about. The walkout was simply an open disclosure that they wanted their issues addressed so they can continue as bonifide members of the party they can’t afford to lose. Though, their actions depicted grave disregard for President Goodluck Jonathan, for walking out of a convention when their President was still seated, few of the Governors had communicated non-verbally to President Goodluck Jonathan that he was not their problem, as they paid their normal and usual homage to the president before the walkout.
Even though, they had walked out of the venue to call a press conference on the formation of another faction of the party, the theory of conflict resolution says otherwise; the governors, if they were ready to continue with the crisis would have simply opted for another political party almost immediately, since there are various options at their disposal. But their action tells Nigerians that they only wanted a roundtable discussion with the President and other party stakeholders in order to resolve the lingering crisis.
Their action simply tells more about individuals who are now tired of continuous war and are now calling for peace. Of course, there are several ways to attaining peace in a crisis situation such as this. This may not have been the best the G7 would have employed in their search for lasting peace, but may eventually lead to peace.
The prompt intervention of the former President, Olusengun Obasanjo is a clear indication that the prayers of the G7 governors were working, and they have embarked on a walk into reconciliation. Obj in his wisdom has asked the governors to return to the party and to negotiation table to the shame and disappointment of Atiku.
Analysts are of the view that whichever path the governors choose to follow, the end of PDP crisis is in view; it then means that if they break way, the party will continue peacefully, and if they insist on remaining party members, the crisis will be resolved; whichever way, the PDP will have nothing to lose. The best option, according to most people is the ‘Obsanjo’s option. Like the biblical lost Sheep, and the Prodigal Son, they have got the chance to return before sunset as delay is dangerous. They can return now, that the crisis is over.
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