Nigerians must stand for multi-party democracy — Ogidi

By Ochuko Akuopha 

Elder Emma Ogidi is the South-South Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and notable personality in the Dr. Kabiru Turaki-led tendency of the party. In this interview, Ogidi spoke on  the conflicts in the party, INEC and other issues.

You have said that you are optimistic that the PDP will be on the ballot in the 2027 general elections and the Nyesom Wike-backed faction is also saying the same thing. How is this possible, looking at the myriads of problems bedeviling the party?

It is not just Wike-backed; it is APC-backed. Initially, the problems in PDP were self-inflicted, but this APC government led by President Bola Tinubu is bent on destroying democracy in Nigeria. What Nyeson Wike is doing is in clear support of Mr. President and this is a threat to democracy. It is not only about PDP; it is a threat to democracy.

The PDP is supposed to be in opposition,  has Wike challenged the polices of APC? APC has weaponised hunger against Nigerians. There is insecurity in Nigeria, killings, banditry and some people keep saying they are doing well, but everyday, the death rate is increasing.

Is it not the job of the opposition to be opposing these evil acts? So what PDP are we talking about? The PDP that I belong to that is led by Dr. Turaki Kabiru is the true face of democracy in Nigeria and the leading opposition. The APC government is not comfortable with it and we have the Minister of Federal Capital Territory who has made himself available to destroy PDP.

We have lost our integrity in this country. Growing up, my father used to tell us:’Don’t spoil my name o,’ but today, we have lost our integrity.

You just said the problem of PDP was initially self-inflicted. What exactly do you mean by this?

What l meant was that it was within our ranks. Let me be truthful to you, there has always been anti-party politics, but it it has always been done as a consensus, but today people are coming out in the open to say ‘l am doing this’. It is unheard of. How can you be in a political party and say you will not have a presidential candidate?

Again, the truth must be told in this country and the Bible tells us that it is only the truth that can set you free. This is going to be the worst INEC. The other man stayed two tenures before they compensated him with ambassadorial appointment. This man has not even done four months, he has gone to see Wike.

For God’s sake, those federal judges that went to see Wike, it is not Wike’s money. It is our money, Federal Capital money that was used in building those houses. They also know, because they are judges, they know it is not Wike; they know it is the President.

There are three arms of government; the legislature, executive and judiciary. The executive is so powerful because they control the money and they have marginalised the other two arms of government. It is so unfortunate. The proponents of Presidential system of government say that there must be checks and balances, but here, there are no checks and balances. It is a free fall.

Elites should brace up and tell Nigerians the truth. The governors should brace up and tell Nigerians the truth. If this is a federal republic, then why are you aligning with the centre? How can governors say they want to align with the centre? Who is denying you of your entitlement?

Look at Osun State. They held their local government funds for so long. They pushed the man until he left PDP. He went to Accord Party and as soon as he went to Accord Party, there is problem there.

I believe that in spite of the shortcomings of the federal courts, the Appeal Court will do the needful because the Appeal Court in their earlier ruling has said that parties should be allowed to rule themselves. So, l believe that they will do the needful and if they fail to do the needful, the Supreme Court is the last hope of Nigerians and it is also the last hope of democracy. If the Supreme Court revises it’self, then it will be the final end to democracy in Nigeria.

What do you make of the Federal High Court, Ibadan judgment that nullified the recent PDP national convention?

We went to court and said since INEC was involved in all of our processes, the 101, 102 NEC meetings that were held – INEC was present and saw the process till the convention – then they should be compelled. That was why we went to court. Then the expelled members rushed to court. Unfortunately, the court said, join the suit. They joined, so if you join us in that matter, how come you now turn around?

Again, that is to tell you how this country is. That is the play book of APC, recognising Wike who is expelled so that the PDP will continue to be suppressed and there will be no voice for the opposition. APC does not want opposition, that is why they are doing what they are doing.

You know when Wike was in PDP,  how he used to fight APC, so is it the same Wike you are seeing today? So what are we pretending about?

The Senate’s rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results has been greeted with outrage. What is your feeling about it?

Let’s not not go too much on that now because, you can see that even some of the Senators are saying that was not their decision, so let’s just give them the benefit of the doubt. But if what they said that it is the 2022 Electoral Act, then we are in real trouble because while we were sleeping, the results were announced.

But l know Nigerians are not going to take this. No matter how they try to suppress us in the PDP, we are going to mobilise people to resist it.

You have been accusing INEC of being biased in the goings-on in the PDP. What are your reasons for drawing such conclusions?

Like l said, INEC was in our NEC meetings. Our leaders came and pleaded that we should take Samuel Anyanwu back as Secretary. It was a bitter pill, but we took it. Coincidentally, as soon as Anyanwu was brought back, INEC started attending our NEC meetings. We invited them, they came. They were there when we took decision on our national convention. They gave us their register.

In the whole of these, they were there when the final report on the convention was given and a letter was communicated to INEC. So at what stage is INEC now coming to say that there was no decision on convention? The new Chairman can pretend and say he was not there but the records are there. When you come into an office, you check the records.

Now we are told that they invited the Wike group to a meeting. It is part of the playbook because they are comfortable that the Wike group will not challenge this government. It is so bad.

You just inaugurated a Caretaker Committee for the PDP in Delta State. What do you think would be the chances of the party in the state in 2027?

It was just an inauguration but look at the the turnout. I was amazed, so there is hope for PDP in Delta and we are going to take back what belongs to us, because since 2019, PDP built the state.

Apart from yourself and some BOT members, no other top ranking PDP member attended the inauguration. What do you make of this?

They are still in the wings waiting. They are in touch with us.

What is your message to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 polls?

Nigerians should stand for multi-party democracy. Nigerians should resist APC because APC is trying to kill democracy. We should be vigilant; we should not sleep anymore.

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