Democratic history has thus far shown the importance of political parties. They are the democratic structures and are an integral power base upon which individual(s) vie for elective posts. If politics is mostly a grassroot affair, then a political party is the branded ideological vehicle to the grassroot.
The political party is supreme and regardless of an individual's elective position, he or she must abide by the party's sacred laws, rules and regulations - this is how it is in climes where things are normal. However, the same cannot be said for the nation Nigeria where party chairmen/persons are handpicked by kingpins and political godfathers who those so 'anointed' are bound to obey. Refusal to bend to the whims and caprices of these political behemoths with such clout and punching power puts their appointees (turned victims) in the precarious position of losing their stand within the political party. Essentially, the party chairperson turns out to be a mere figurehead, entirely at the mercy of the powers that be.

Technically in Nigeria, our political parties never had a party chairman. Take for example the People's Democratic Party that has had 13 party chairmen since 1998 and only Col, Ahmadu Ali has completed his tenure without rancour; in addition to the fact that no chairman has ever enjoyed the benefit of a second term.

The APC is no better off. Fresh in the memory is how Chief John Oyegun was butted out of office by the same powers that brought him onboard.

The party chairmen are supposed to be the father-figure, looked up to by all party members irrespective of position or any such basis for discrimination. He ought to be the leading icon in political gatherings where ideas and powers, perpetually pitted against each other require dispute settlement and conflict resolution. Being a congregation of humans, misunderstandings are bound to occur and what keeps a party ruling is how well the party chairperson puts the political house in order.

I would not speak of Uche Secondus and Adams Oshiomole who are miles of party powers but a far cry from what an ideal party chairman ought to be. However, Adams Oshiomole is fighting for his party's destiny as a dominating force; this we saw in the last party primaries of APC after which the power brokers in his house turned out not to be happy with him. I will albeit conclude that irrespective of the number and manner of his flight (pun intended) to the United States with the supposed backing of Mr President, Nigeria's political history has shown taught us the he who pays the piper dictates the tune - the end is in sight for the comrade chairman.

Uche secondus seems to be enjoying the wheel now but we know that it will last for long. If the PDP performs poorly at the polls then the end has come for woke crown boy.
The failures of these chairmen is a leading reason for the majority of skilled and capable young Nigerians refusing to associate themselves with politics, a very costly decision indeed that is severely crippling our dear nation.
Young Nigerians are faced with the herculean task of building a Third Force, one whose leader (chairman) would understand the efficacy of diversity and the power of unity, a chairman with foresight who is a genuine visionary and unquestionably paternal as well as patriotic.

I do hope that in the nearest future we will be bless with such a good party chairman.

Thank you.

May God bless you and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Adewumi Adedeji
Writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
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