Nigeria Content Online

As the battle for
the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP rages on it may be time
for new thinking. Obviously, the major point of debate is about the
rotational presidency. On the one hand are those who say the party
zoned the presidency and other political offices between the North and
South. These people base their arguments on the fact that the
arrangement is actually captured in the party’s constitution.

On the other side
are those who want to dump zoning. All sorts of arguments have been put
forward to defend the stance that zoning is anachronistic. But no
anti-zoning proponent has ever claimed that zoning is not clearly spelt
out in the PDP constitution.

Unfortunately,
instead of Nigerians seeing through the whole imbroglio for the
political smokescreen that it is, the debate has taken on a regional,
ethnic, even religious tone. For a country like Nigeria, that is a very
dangerous turn of events. But the politicians and their handlers who
stand to benefit from the growing chaos are not above this kind of
reckless brinkmanship.

It is obvious that
President Goodluck Jonathan and his handlers tragically mismanaged the
entire affair, especially as regards the North. The regional champions
supposedly fighting for the North are only struggling to ensure that
their personal interests are protected. The Jonathan team should have
conceded that zoning exists, but sought an understanding that would
protect these interests. . As it is, the confrontational stance assumed
has hardened both positions to such an extent that a clearly more
strategic option has been left unopened.

But that aside,
since the North is finding it difficult to select a consensus candidate
to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan in the PDP primaries, why not
settle for a compromise candidate, preferably outside the big four of
Ibrahim Babangida, Abubakar Atiku, Aliyu Gusau and Bukola Saraki? If
none of these candidates is unable or unwilling to step down for the
other, perhaps they may be willing to step down for someone else– the
proverbial dark horse.

There are many
Northerners and PDP members who are qualified for the presidency,
though they may not have stepped forward or even indicated interest in
the office. Prominent among these are people like Mallam Nasir
el-Rufai. A candidature like his would settle the issue of consensus
with a compromise and ensure the emergence of a nominee that has a
national outlook, international exposure and general acceptability.

If Nasir el-Rufai
or any other credible ‘’dark horse’’ could be persuaded to join the
race for the PDP presidential ticket, the raging crisis in the PDP
which is capable of having a multiplier effect on the polity generally,
would easily be doused. Compromise has been adapted in the past to cool
tensions within the ruling PDP when election or selection of the
National Chairman of the party reached feverish points.

Such a candidate
who has not been part of the mudslinging between pro and anti zoning
groups would be assessed on his/her merits. Although el-Rufai in a
recent Facebook posting reflected that he might not vote for the PDP in
the 2011 elections, such a statement appears to be borne out of the
frustration the rudderless state of the ruling party has inflicted on
its members across the board. The fact remains that el-Rufai has not
made any public declaration for any other political party.

If the PDP settles
for a compromise, the division would subside without any major negative
consequences. The two sides would eventually have a face saving
situation. While the consensus side would be elated about having had
their way the other side could equally bask in the euphoria that they
had succeeded in achieving a change. And even within the pro-consensus
group – the big four contestants currently campaigning could equally
subsume their ambition under the compromise candidacy.

Thus it would be
manifestly clear that the tension generated by zoning would have been
obliterated, as the pro-consensus group would be able to field a
relatively unbiased candidate to slug it out with the incumbent who
stands as a candidate with the proposition that zoning even if it
existed is inconsequential.

Adopting of this
option would leave the PDP primaries, for the number one job more
keenly and objectively contested on profound issues of national ethos
rather than primordial sentiments as currently being witnessed.

In view of the
foregoing, the compromise candidate must be one that fits into other
major criteria Nigerians yearn for in the 2011 elections such as the
generational change – someone outside the recycled group of 1966; a
highly detribalised Nigerian without any trace of religious bigotry and
one who is brilliant, intelligent, a team player and a great
bridge-builder who can effectively steer the ship of the nation aright,
not only as a president but as a statesman.

A compromise
rather than a consensus is what the ruling PDP needs if the polity is
not to be overheated beyond a level that the fall-out would put the
2011 elections in jeopardy.

Ajayi Olatunji Olowo writes from Abuja, Nigeria.