Mitigating the effects of intra-party crisis in Nigeria’s political struggle
By James Lukpata
Crisis is a normal phenomenon in our society as far as human being is concern.The evolving societies from the feudal system to the most modern form of any society has passed through one form of crisis to the other.
While sociologists believe that crisis and development walk hand in hand it is obvious that if crisis is not properly managed its effects can wreck previous successes recorded.
There is no misgivings that in every crisis levels of individuals exist,they are those that utilized the crisis situation to enrich themselves,others are victims that suffer losses and shadow parties that are invincible but significant as they have ability to fuel crisis from all angles with a view to deriving some benefits from the disorderly situation.
For instance, political impasse and indeed intra-party crisis are usually caused by shadow parties operating from behind with alterior motives to instigate crisis that will disorganised political parties’ structures so that they can stand a chance to benefit in one way or the other whether in cash or in kind.They can incite party loyalists to go against party leaders or by giving ill-advice to leaders of political parties that make them to assumed the position of demi- gods that cannot take instructions elsewhere.
Disagreements within political parties or opposition parties usually stemmed from clashes of interest to occupy positions among various leaders, stalwarts, and even National Working Committees of parties concerned.
In many occasions, party faithfuls get aggrieved when they are being denied tickets to contest election in favour of other preferred candidates who in most cases are being single handedly picked by a Governor who is seen as the party leader in the State against the wishes of other party’s caucuses thereby leaving card carrying members to either coss-carpet, defect or even creating factions within parties.
It is common to big wigs of political parties moving back and forth from one political party to another when they are being frustrated or aggrieved such calibres of persons include the likes of Ahlaji Atiku Abubarkar, Senator Segun Mimiko, Senator Bukola Saraki, Rotimi Amaechi, Emmanuel Uduaghan former Governor if Delta State among others.
Actions of party leaders within parties and across has led to many political parties’ defeat in an election due to lack of true reconciliation or inability to give in to public demands.
The September 5th Cross River North PDP Senatorial byelection primaries and the Edo Gubernatorial election are most recent intra-party wrangling that are unhealthy to both Democracy and progress of political parties as the former APC National chairman tried to imposed a cadidate on the people likewise the scenario in Cross River State where the incumbent Gov Sen Ben Ayade’s attempt to surrogate a candidate led to violence and inconclusive election.
Party leaders at various levels and critical stakeholders must imbibe the culture of dialogue in settling aggrieved party members to keep the party as a family towards the path of progress and will culminate into victory during elections.