Observers of political struggles ahead of 2023 general election can attest that since it became the new bride in the nation’s political ecosystem, Labour Party (LP) has been struggling to adjust to the demands of its new position albeit uneasiness. When Peter Obi’s widening influence in the buildup to party primaries was getting declining attention in PDP, some youths voluntarily organized peaceful protest rally at Wadata Plaza headquarters of the party in Abuja, asking PDP and Sen. Iyorchia Ayu to give their ticket to Obi. This voice of reason was neglected by the party, and they opted for the highest bidder.
Having deciphered the handwriting on the wall, Peter Obi in his signature demonstration of intellectual mobility withdrew from the party on May 23, 2022 and joined Labour Party four days later.
Meanwhile, in the ‘interregnum’ (while Obi weighed his options and shopped for the best bet) the same Nigerian Youths were everywhere on social media asserting assurance that their loyalty is with him. I could remember a certain comical cliche that trended at the time: “Dear Peter Obi, even if you like, join Christian Women Organization we will still support you there.” It looked like a joke, but it registered an undeniable sentiments among the youths in their preference of him.
At this point, political watchers knew that Obi represents Bernard Shaw’s submission on what makes one a good leader: “My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.”
And when, after that short period of suspense, Peter Obi officially announced his membership of LP on May 27, 2022 the party’s fortunes automatically turned around. A hitherto obscured national chairman of the party, became an overnight celebrity on TV screens. The party took a penultimate seat on the table of ‘men’ looking eyeball-to-eyeball with PDP and APC. It was akin to when Jewish billionaire — Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea football club in 2003 and the once mid-table club became a top-table finisher the next season. It gave voice to millions of the club’s supporters across the world, that they could stage argument of superiority with legendary clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool etc.
Peter Obi injected new life to a struggling party and its future will never be the same again.
However, this renaissance comes with unforeseen intricacies — the task of managing such sudden rise in fortunes for the party. The party’s NEC and NWC who (rightly) claim the ownership of the party want to retain all the credit; but their presidential candidate — a meticulous administrator who by the virtue of his being their flag bearer is the party’s national leader, thinks they should focus on the bigger picture which is the Nigeria project.
According to the first (and, to date), only female Prime Minister of India — Indira Gandhi: “My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.”
Obi’s goodwill earned the party an easy ride to prominence, but intra-party politics of superiority and relevance among the party officials and interest groups is shoring up. Clandestine fight for supremacy is visibly playing out. From the release of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) list to the publishing of its manifesto, there has been apparent indication of internal subtle squabbles between Obi’s choices and the party’s preferences.
Within 24 hours of releasing the 1,234 names, there were evidence that the PCC list was not okayed by Obi and his absence at the press conference was conspicuous. One of his campaign spokespersons, Ndi Kato tried to wave off the obvious at the press, but it was an open secret.
As newsmen kept pressing for Obi’s campaign manifesto, there came out in the early hours of Monday, 31st October 2022, a 48-page policy document tagged “Our pact with Nigeria” as the manifesto. But within three hours, the presidential candidate sent a tweet distancing himself from the document.
He wrote: “We have not formally released our Manifesto. I will do so personally. It seems an earlier draft copy under review has made its way into the public space. Until I release the approved and final draft, please disregard what is being circulated.”
This is a clear evidence that Labour Party is headed the way of APC, who have struggled to manage the unexpected electoral largesse they got from Nigerians eight years ago. Even as a ruling party, APC spent its first four years acting like opposition, casting aspersions on PDP. It didn’t know how to reconcile Buhari’s goodwill and cult followership that earned them victory, and the party’s then new found prominence.
Granted, the Nigeria constitution and amended electoral law provided that the name of parties, not candidates should be on the ballot paper, but that is in principle, because in reality the candidate’s character commands more influence among the electorate. With the new wave of voting for competence of the candidates instead of the overrated party ideologies across Africa, as witnessed recently in Kenya and Zambia, there is increasing need for political parties to submerge their so-called policy statements to their candidate’s manifesto.
This is the inevitable alternative since our political parties are mere platforms through which candidates rise to power, and once that is achieved, the winner discards the party’s philosophy and rules in accord with his/her own ideas.
LP’s hasty release of that manifesto is a goof in this respect. Peter Obi would want to have a complete ownership of such public espousal since he will be president as “Peter Obi” not as Labour Party, if elected. He wants to be responsible for every single letter of the promises made therein. Recall that President Buhari was on record to have disowned some of the humongous promises made by APC on their way to Aso Rock in 2015. Peter has repeatedly said he is not toeing that path. Therefore, it has be released in his own terms.
In a presidential system of government, a lot fall under the prerogative of the presidential candidate. The party can suggest, but they can’t impose. Even Bola Tinubu’s choice of a fellow Muslim — Kashim Shettima as running mate was “entirely his prerogative” as the party claimed, and so was Obi’s choice of Dr. Datti Ahmed.
It is obvious that Labour Party is learning the rope, but they should carve their own niche, and leave unique legacy and not replicate what the other parties that had failed Nigerians did.
May daylight spare us!
© Jude Eze
