The National Convention of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,PDP holding in Abuja has become a gathering for the coronation of candidates approved by the Presidential Villa in spite of the will of the People.
At the convention ground this afternoon ,it was announced that all except one aspirant for the post of National Chairman of the Party have withdrawn .Bamanga Tukur, widely believed to the President Goodluck Jonathan’s anointed party chairman is the only one in the race.Jonathan appears to have learnt from Obasanjo’s way of muscling his way through while he was president in Nigeria’s recent past.
Earlier, a report said even Dr Musa Babayo who won the chairmanship contest from Tukur’s North East zone had been prevailed upon to withdraw from the race.By implication the villa has decided to ride roughshod over the will of the people by imposing its candidate.But what has happened may be seen as repeat of what occurred in 1998/99 when the North worked for the election of General Olusegun Obasanjo despite the fact that the South West people rejected him at the polls.
The same endorsement of former Osun state Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the National secretary of the party is expected any moment from now as Ebenezer Babatope the most prominent contestant for the post has stepped down too.
Many other posts were filled by affirmation and observers said there was discernible anger by some of those who have ‘withdrawn’.
General Olusegun Obasanjo was seen sitting close to Jonathan at the venue .
