By Chibuike Nwabuko
What’s even more disturbing is Ortom’s recent attempt to exonerate himself from this monumental failure. Appearing on Arise TV today (Thursday) morning, Ortom laughably tried to pin the blame on Atiku Abubakar, claiming that his committee’s hands were tied. If Ortom could not carry out a clear mandate, then he had no business leading such a sensitive committee. His performance or lack of it, only raises questions about his political courage and leadership capacity.
Gone are the days when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was driven by principle, bold leadership, and a clear sense of direction. Today, that legacy has been eroded or hijacked by cowards and political boys who now sit at the helm of affairs. Nowhere is this decay more evident than in the shameful manner the party handled the issue of zoning ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Rather than uphold the PDP’s long-standing and unambiguous stance on power rotation between North and South, the party hierachy chose the path of cowardice. Instead of calling a spade a spade, they appointed a so-called zoning committee chaired by then Benue Governor Samuel Ortom; a committee that not only failed its basic assignment but further deepened the internal crisis that consumed the party.
What was the point of a committee when the party’s position was already clear? What was expected of Ortom and his colleagues was simple: reinforce the principle of equity and fairness. Which is that power must shift to the South in 2023. Instead, the committee danced around the issue, shirking responsibility, evading a clear verdict, and leaving the party exposed to manipulation.
Whether they were compromised or simply lacked the spine to take a firm stand, one thing is certain, which is that the Ortom Committee failed. It failed to speak truth to power. It failed to rise above selfish interests. It failed to guide the PDP at a critical time in the road. And for that, history will not be kind to them.
What’s even more disturbing is Ortom’s recent attempt to exonerate himself from this monumental failure. Appearing on Arise TV today (Thursday) morning, Ortom laughably tried to pin the blame on Atiku Abubakar, claiming that his committee’s hands were tied. If Ortom could not carry out a clear mandate, then he had no business leading such a sensitive committee. His performance or lack of it, only raises questions about his political courage and leadership capacity.
Let’s be blunt: if the Ortom Committee was not compromised, then it was definitely manipulated and patronized by all sides of the divide. And if anyone is going to attempt a half-hearted defense of that good-for-nothing report, it certainly should not be Ortom. His moral authority on the matter is non-existent.
The PDP’s problem isn’t just zoning or internal wrangling. It’s the rise of weak, indecisive figures masquerading as leaders. Men who would rather please everyone than do what is right. Until the party rids itself of these cowards and political boys, it will continue to wander in confusion, unable to fulfill its promise to Nigerians or even itself.
Comrade Clement C. Nwabuko – An Economist, Political Analyst and Good-Governance Crusader, writes in from Abuja. He can be reached on [email protected]
