An Open Letter To The PDP Stakeholders In Osun By Integra Leadership Foundation

To our dear PDP leaders in Osun. We know it is natural for you to be uncomfortable with this open letter of ours. Yet, it is still our pleasure to write this long-overdue letter to you.

It is not really our intention to make it an open letter. But we were however constrained by the fact that there is no appropriate quarters or contact person(s) in which the letter can be channeled to as no one can be identified as substantial party chairman of PDP in the state who would have receive this letter for corrections, redress and possible solution to safe the party in Osun from a state of comatose. Knowing fully well that the caretaker chairman is an alien to Osun politics and politicking and cannot feel our pulse.

The Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria known to us from the origin, is always conscious of its historic mission to build a modern democratic state, founded on justice, equity and fair play. Realising the need to make fundamental break with past mistakes in order to realize the optimum potential of the country. Vis-a-vis building a qualitatively better society based on the principle of democracy, human rights and sound justice.

The potential objective of PDP is to seek political power for the purpose of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria and Nigeria state, promoting security, safety, welfare and well being of all Nigerians. Establishing and promote political stability and foster national unity and integration while safeguarding culture and values. Also, it aims at providing the political atmosphere and environment that is conducive for economic growth and offer equal opportunities to hold the highest political, military, bureaucratic and judicial offices in the country to all citizens. But why have you all derailed from the aforementioned objectives?

On this note, it is fundamental importance to remind you of the party’s commitments and obligations, if you have forgotten. We believe you know these, but your selfishness and callous attitude put on, has always make you neglected it. PDP is ever committed to restructuring Nigeria in the spirit of true federalism. The leaders thus, emerge through general, popular, free and fair elections not a process of discriminatory, irrational, dubious and devious selection as surface in Osun PDP. Eschewed the culture of this disruptive destructive godfatherism in the party so as to strongly prepare for 2018 if you have any good programme to showcase in this state.

Your primary obligation as main opposition party in this state is to be a conductor of constructive criticism to the ruling party in the state. This is to enable the ruling party to focus on delivering its manifestos and campaign promises to the good people of Osun State. It is your obligation among others, to search and present the right and qualified candidates for elective and selective political offices as at when due. But reverse is the case, neglecting your obligation while pursuing shadow, irrelevances, and individual agenda.

Practically and theoretically, PDP as a platform in Osun is not your personal property just like every other political party. It belongs to the good people of Osun to showcase ideas, approach, developmental issues and good governance that will promote the existence and dreams of the founding fathers. You are ”just” a custodian of the party which implies that you are a member and not the owner. However, with the current happenings in the party, it is like you don’t have anything good to offer this state. If the development of this state is your major priority, you must have find a lasting solution to the leadership tussle in your party especially when gubernatorial election is fast approaching.

It is highly disheartened that you have forgotten the party’s covenant and directive principles which is to continuously promote political tolerance, accommodation, harmony and cooperation. While the directive principles state that members shall strongly committed to democracy, good governance and sustainable development through the creation of enabling environment.

In a developed world, we hardly see party leaders facing the media to canvas for a particular political aspirant or contestant. What we usually see is that they work harder to select or elect candidates that will prove himself to the public. But why has godfatherism and spirit of imposition rule your minds? Is this a curse on Africa and its leaders? Even if it is a curse, by now we should be thinking of how to cleanse it totally.

However, Integra Leadership Foundation, being an advocate for good governance and leadership development organization, we deem it fit to ask you the following questions. Why has the party principles of creating an enabling environment is too difficult for you to achieve in Osun? Why has integrity, transparency, accountability and foresight in the conduct of party and public affairs become a forbidden principles to you? Why has injustice overshadowed the spirit of proper devolution of power in the party here in Osun? Why have you gone astray from the party’s mandate? This is worrisome! Why? Why?? Why???

Another area of great concern to us are the caliber of aspirants who have been showing interest to run under the party’s platform in Osun. It will be good if you are able to read our open letter written to the Executive Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, dated 24th October, 2017 published on Citymirrornews to know the prerequisites, qualities and measures which should be embedded on any prospective gubernatorial candidate in coming election.

Furthermore, to get out of this dark wood of political underdevelopment in Osun PDP, party stakeholders must resort to true democracy, devoid of godfatherism, rationalism and selectivism. You are expected to make the well-being of Osun indigenes your ultimate objectives and stop pursuing personal agenda and selfish ambitions. You should know that the true democracy does not lie in selection or rotation along zone, district or ethnic, religious or geographical line but lies in the election of credible candidates based on their credibility, capacity, potential, pragmatism and feasibility of their manifesto.

In addition, the political parties in Osun State, be it APC, PDP, APGA and others should live beyond the democracy of rationalism and godfatherism. Such democracy is antithetical, divisive, disruptive, underdevelopment and utterly destructive. Remember, if democracy were to go along the line of zoning, selection or godfatherism, the cherished President Obama of United States of America then couldn’t have become President and the great evergreen Nelson Mandela couldn’t have become the President of South Africa, likewise the current President of United States of America, Donald Trump will not have been emerged.

In conclusion, “before it is too late” we call on you party stakeholders once again to look into repositioning the party as a matter of urgency for the benefit of Osun citizens and with the belief that “the voice of the people is the voice of God”.

Thank you.

Signed
‘Bode Oladitan
Director General, Integra Leadership Foundation, Nigeria.
Writes from Osogbo.
(integranigeria@gmail.com)