KUNLE ODEREMI writes on the rising tempo of horsetrading over the race for the post of National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  in the South-West.

From March 3, 2012, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is  expected to commence the election of its officers to man its machineries, beginning from the wards. The exercise, which had been postponed twice because of exigency, will also elect delegates to PDP national convention, who are expected to elect the substantive national officers.

In its tradition, the party has zoned the positions across the country with the sole intent of achieving fairness and balance in power distribution among stakeholders in PDP. Expectedly, a large number of party members have indicated interest in the positions. However, two key posts appear to be eliciting more interest, ostensibly because of their strategic role as stabilising forces within the party structure. The offices are that of national chairman and the position of national secretary.

The general expectation is that PDP top hierarchy will meet shortly to give a final seal to the understanding reached last July at the PDP national caucus for the convention. Nonetheless, the agreement on the positions informed the fact that all the contenders for the position of national chairman are from the North-East zone. Some of the contestants include Professor Jibril Aminu, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Barrister  Ibrahim Shehu Birma, and Senator Abba Aji, all of whom are Muslims. The past occupants of the post include Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Colonel Ahmadu Ali, while the present occupant is Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who is from North-Central, and successor of Dr. Mohammed Bello Haliru, the incumbent Minister of Defence.

So far, the contest for the office of national secretary appears to be the hottest. The race has attracted a large number of well-tested, competent and qualified party leaders from the South-West. But only a few of them are said to have actually reached out to party members beyond their immediate constituencies, ostensibly for logistic reasons. Speculations were initially rife that a particular contestant had been endorsed for the position among PDP leaders from the zone. This is because of the belief that President Goodluck Jonathan was bound to have a favourite among the contestants. Those who belong to such school of thought say he will want experienced, trusted and competent team at the PDP headquarters to complement the efforts of his government at delivering his pre-election promises. What is, however, certain is that a couple of the contestants have succeeded in worming themselves into some formidable caucuses in the party.

Saturday Tribune learnt that the recent understanding by South-West leaders to distribute key elective offices in the zone still subsisted. There are strong indications that the current national vice chairman, Chief Tajudeen Oladipo, who hails from Osun State, might retain his seat, barring any last minute political maneuverings. Therefore, most attention appears to be on the position of national secretary. And from all indications, many are beginning to narrow down the race to about four or five of the large number of people jostling for the position. The activities of such contestants like Professor Tunde Adeniran, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Tunde Daramola and Chief Wole Oke had been more pronounced within and outside their constituencies. Each of them parades intimidating credentials having served at different capacities.

For example, Babatope, who says of his race for the office: “because I believe that I can be of assistance to transform the party the more,” is not a new comer in the political scene. Widely called Ebino Topsy, he is a man of many parts. He is well-known for the political philosophy of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Articulate, intelligent, and forthright, Babatope, is a fearless writer and political actor. He was able to elevate the status of the defunct Unity Party (UPN) founded by Chief Awolowo in his capacity as the director of organisation in the Second Republic.

Babatope is ever deep in thinking, imaginative and pragmatic in organisation, and never given to frivolities. In short, he has made his mark as a party man, minister, public commentator and analyst.

Similarly, Professor Adeniran was a minister and boss of the defunct Mass Mobilisation for Social and Economic Justice and Self-Reliance (MAMSER). He  led the team that organised the PDP national convention to elect PDP’s standard-bearer last year. His ambition is believed to enjoy wide support from within and outside the South-West, because of his wealth of experience and pedigree. He is also said to be the rallying point for PDP in Ekiti State where he comes from. He played a very active part in the political agenda that led to the political engineering that culminated in the adoption of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) that produced the freest and fairest presidential election in 1993 that was eventually annulled by the military.

In Lagos State, Chief Daramola has taken himself to the front seat in the race for the position. His credentials include being the leader of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and later,  the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He has served as member, planning and strategic committee of the South-West PDP; delegate to PDP national convention in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2009 and secretary to the Yar’Adua/ Goodluck Jonathan campaign organisation in Lagos State. He was the chairman of the screening panel for aspirants to membership of the Enugu State House of Assembly; member,  Mobilisation Committee for Goodluck Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Primary Convention in January 2011 and secretary of the screening panel for rerun primary election of aspirants to the Senate and House of Representatives for Kwara Central in Kwara State. A trained pharmacist, Daramola has served as Lagos PDP Secretary. On his mission, he said: “We need a vibrant political leadership. We shall work to return our great party to its original foundation in terms of the lofty aims and objectives of the founding fathers of PDP. So, the PDP, I envisage, is the party that must touch the lives of ordinary Nigerians, regardless of their party affiliations.”

Beyond all these credentials of the aspirants, coupled with the issue of religion and perceived marginalisation, in terms of distribution of elective and appointive offices, the number and calibre of federal appointments made from each of the six states could play a factor in the choice of the eventual national secretary from the zone.  The influence of some PDP powerful caucuses outside the zone may also not be ruled out, given the strategic importance of the office of national secretary as the post is considered as the engine room of the party.