Bukola Saraki For the past few weeks, it has been a trending news in Nigeria that the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering the appointment of the former Kwara State Governor and ex-President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki as the National Chairman of the party, amidst the crisis that hit the party at the national level.
Recall that following the crisis between the leadership hierarchy within the PDP at the National Level, the erstwhile National Chairman of the Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu who led the party to the 2023 General Elections was sacked, after which the National Vice Chairman of the party (North), Umar Damagum was endorsed as an Acting Chairman of the party in respect to the constitution of the party.
Knowing fully well that politicians who wish to contest for various political positions in the 2027 general elections must have commenced strategizing for their ambition, the main opposition party, PDP, is anticipating a quick resolution to have a National Chairman that will be generally accepted by the warring groups within the party.
Although as a member of the PDP, Senator Bukola Saraki like every other member of the party has the right to be appointed as the National Chairman of the party, and mostly with fact that Senator Saraki hails from the North Central geopolitical zone where the ticket of the National Chairman of the party has been ceded to, Saraki could be considered a leading candidate for the Office. However, there is little to how the Chairmanship of Senator Saraki can do to settle the political rift that has heavily divided the party.
Senator Bukola Saraki is a two-term former Executive Governor of Kwara State, an ex-member of the National Assembly, and someone who has participated at various levels in the party politics over decades, he is definitely a good National Chairman to be. However, his tenure if appointed may lure PDP into another phase of the chaotic moment.
Knowing fully well that Senator Saraki is one of the members of the party with presidential ambition, he may use the power of his office to prepare the ground for his presidential ambition, decide to resign weeks before the party's primary, and proceed to lock down the presidential contest with other high-ranking PDP members in the country. This may resort in a heavy political crisis which may mark the end of the deteriorating PDP as a party because it would be practically impossible for anyone to stop Saraki at the primaries if allowed to lead the party as the National Chairman with his presidential ambition.
Besides, the closeness between Bukola Saraki and the 2023 presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar may be a threat to the PDP if Senator Saraki is allowed to lead the party as the National Chairman of the party. Recall that Senator Saraki was the Director General of Atiku's Campaign in 2019, and he strategically supported the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential primary of the party. Hence, members of the PDP who belong to the group opposing Alhaji Atiku's faction of the party, especially the pro-Wike groups will definitely find it hard to entrust the party in the hands of Senator Saraki who has proven records to either nurture his presidential ambition or go for Atiku against others.
Among other factors, Senator Saraki has every right like every other member of the party to occupy the seat of the National Chairman of the party but his chairmanship may pose more threats to the unity of the party than the good it may bring.
Category: Forum
Tag: Bukola Saraki as pdp national chairman trending news
Written by Omooba Alekuwodo (omoobaalekuwodo)
Published 7/14/2023 1:06:53 PM