Adeyemi Yusuf
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been under the illusion that they are rebranded and are bound to take office in 2027 in Kwara. The reasons for that tall dream are unconnected to a series of moves including the appointment of two young people as party secretary and publicity secretary respectively. While I commend such a move as an awareness of the need for change, I make bold to say that that is not the change we need. I dare say the more things changed with them, the more it remained the same.
Take for example the antics of the party in communication and stakeholder relations from yore. While the former thrived on fake news and propaganda, the latter relied heavily on blackmail and disregard for inclusion and diversity. The guidebook is still very much in play, most profoundly inherent in the communication format, in the last month.
From press releases on health, education, and security to social media posts on opposition political leaders like Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and former commissioner Rotimi Iliasu, the message dwelled on the routine motive of speaking to denigrate rather than discourse or seeking to misinform rather than communicate the citizens. It may be argued that all is fair in politics –but a classic understanding of the art of modern politics would reveal the ineffectiveness of such primitive tactics to sway the voters. It starts with the inability of the elite to identify with such crookedness followed by the disavowment of the holo polloi with politics of bitterness. Either way, it would be hard for a party like PDP that is unable to craft a public message without insulting the sensibilities of the majority.
I am late to the party and I will excuse the playback of the debate on KwaraLearn, PHCUOR, and OOSC. There is no loss out here as these are things that would dominate the polity for the next four years. When we revisit them, it would be lovely to see how either APC and PDP use data and reports to defend their narrative. But really it is the height of ungodliness to read from the PDP insinuations that education has gone even a tad worse in Kwara between 2019 and 2023. It has to be that ‘worse’ has a new meaning or the real meaning is lost on the writers of such soap operas.
Back to the meat of the article. Did anyone read midweek reports from members of the PDP alleging that Rotimi Iliasu was arrested and detained by the EFCC? Have you seen another from their stable about how Tanke flyover may be unsafe for use?
Now, right there is the unveiling of what the old-or-new-look PDP is. This party has not saved itself yet. The first story points at undying belief in fake news as a communication strategy. The second underscores stark ignorance of statehood and a disturbing sense of respect for people. As it has come to be known that Rotimi was never arrested and, in fact, was out of the state, so is the falsehood of the dangerous narrative that there are cracks and disintegration on the ongoing flyover work in Tanke. But I am more peeved at the panic and fear that is being woven into the minds of the populace including investors and tourists as it is a dangerous psychology for development.
Yet, this has been on for over one year now. In this period, no professional body or association, including COREN has raised dust on the quality of work. No hazard or accident has been recorded on any part of it on account of being substandard. Who are the residents and users in panic? It may look to some people as a routine gimmick of the opposition party but the reputational damage PDP gives that project is deeper and more reflective of destructional politics at the core of their ideology. The consistency in lying should also be noted, along with careful study of their history, as the marked spot of a proverbial leopard that will never change. Or is this lying and creating panic, and rubbishing public properties the respect and honour Kwarans deserve for voting for them for 16 years and — and to consider them for a new mandate?
The pervading image is now that if PDP is not picking mundane things and amplifying it. They have cooks in the kitchen baking and roasting fake news. The difference now is that they are more energetic and stylish at it. Forget the initial gra gra. It would be interesting how the engagement shapes up as we go forward. I hope there is an about-face from the engagement that denigrates and lies to one that discourses and presents the truth to the public to pick sides. It is what I sincerely think we help a party that thought it could lie to people to win but rather lied to itself about its chances in 2023. You know how it ended na. Let the quality of the message match the noise this time. All the best.
Yusuf writes from Tanke