INTERVIEW: Sen Gershom Bassey Roars, Says PDP Engaged in Self-destruct in 2023, No Ambition For 2027

 Judex OKORO

During the Yuletide season, Sen Gershom Bassey, who represented Cross driver South senatorial district, had an interaction with some journalists on the state of PDP, his alleged rumour to contest for governorship seat in 2027 and his planned defection to ADC. THE BEAGLE NEWS was there and brings you the full details of the interview. 

 Excerpts: 

On feelings after the 2027 election cycle

I have spoken extensively about the 2023 elections. For me, it was a movement and the experience was bittersweet. It was bitter in some respects and sweet in others.

The bitter aspect was that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party I love deeply, made a fatal mistake that led to its near collapse in Cross River State. That error can be traced directly to decisions taken during the 2023 elections, and the results spoke for themselves.

We lost the governorship, the deputy governorship, 22 House of Assembly seats, the Senate seats, and several House of Representatives seats. Virtually everything was lost. The only position the party managed to retain them was a Senate seat in the North, and even that was by a very narrow margin. Today, the North is also gone.

This was particularly painful because the PDP was once a dominant force in Cross River State. The party produced three governors, consistently controlled between 90 and 100 percent of the House of Assembly, and held all National Assembly seats for many years. Before 2023, the last non-PDP candidate to win a National Assembly seat in the state was Florence Ita Giwa. After her, no other party had succeeded until 2023. All of that collapsed for one simple reason. The PDP failed to listen to the people.

 On what exactly went wrong

 The strength of the PDP had always been its ability to listen to the people. Whether at the local government, councillorship, or state level, the party usually respected existing arrangements and sentiments.In 2023, however, the party became arrogant and assumed it could impose candidates on the people. 

The people of Cross River State were clear that power should rotate and that it was the turn of the South. That sentiment was widespread across the state, but the PDP ignored it and insisted that the ticket could come from anywhere.Times had changed, but the party did not adjust. By abandoning the very principle that guaranteed its success, it set itself up for failure. This, we lost woefully.

 On the experience being sweet

 The sweet part was that Cross Riverians stayed true to the founding principles of the state. From the Calabar-Ogoja Accord, the understanding has always been that power should rotate among the senatorial districts.

In 2023, many of us wondered if the people truly believed in zoning or if it was just political rhetoric. But the election results answered that question clearly. The people spoke loudly through their votes. The PDP, which picked its candidate from the wrong zone, lost overwhelmingly. Even its governorship candidate lost his own local government. Meanwhile, the APC, which respected zoning, swept the field.

That made me very proud as a Cross Riverian. People from the North, Central, and South rallied behind the southern candidate because it was the South’s turn. That unity was remarkable.

 Concerns that Nigeria may be drifting towards a one party system.

I am concerned, but I am not overly worried. History has shown that political dominance comes and goes. I strongly believe in multi- party democracy as enshrined in our Constitution. When constitutional principles are ignored so openly, there is little one can do beyond trusting that things will eventually correct themselves.

I am a believer in a multi-party democracy in Nigeria. Politics is not all about grabbing power, but also an ample opportunity to ensure good governance in the society either through a coalition or a political party platform.

Sometimes in politics you will see a party that has never taken over governance, but still remains relevant in the society. Go to the UK for example, you will see a party like the Green party or even the Liberal democrats. These are political parties that are not particular about power.

Green party has not held power. Apart from the coalition they entered into with the Conservatives, yet people join them. Personally speaking, politics cannot just be the quest for power.

If you take a politician like our President today, Bola Tinubu, he was in the then AD or ACN and someone once described him as the last man standing. Recall the 2003 elections, all the states in the southwest moved to the PDP, except Lagos state. Yet, Bola Tinubu did not move. 

We once had 28 PDP governors in this country. This same thing that is happening in APC now; its not new. It happened to the party, but Tinubu stayed behind. He held his ground across several electioneering circles; he did not move. He had enough friends in PDP to protect his interest, and had ample opportunity to also move to PDP, but he stood his ground on principle. That’s one of the things I respect Tinubu for; he is a man of principle.

If you are copying someone, copy him well. So, for me, I am copying Tinubu on his principled stance on the issue of defection. I am copying his principled stance in politics. He is a principled politician.

 Efforts out in place to rebuild PDP

 The PDP entered a phase of self-destruction after the elections, something unprecedented in my view. Much of it was driven from Abuja and aided by certain elements within the state.

Personally, I have not made any dramatic moves. I have simply observed events. Politics has cycles, and this phase will end eventually. Many serious people have left the PDP, and the party today is only a shadow of what it once was. Still, some of us have remainednand continue to watch.

 Future of PDP in Cross River State

Yes, there is a future for every political party. We may not clearly see that future right now, but it exists. The party will not implode. It will evolve, though the direction is not yet clear.

 *Plan to contest for any political office in 2027* 

Not at the moment. I am not thinking about elective office right now. I am still watching.

 Assessment of the APC government

 The truth is that many Nigerians are suffering under current policies. This is not propaganda. It is a reality felt across all social classes.

However, I do not believe in judging a government at halftime. Governments should be assessed at the end of their tenure. While expectations have not been met so far, we must wait and see how things unfold.

 Advise to the APC government to reconsider

In my opinion, the removal of fuel subsidy was rushed. If subsidy removal was inevitable, it should have been gradual and preceded by strong infrastructure, security, and social safety nets.

Many governments across the world make policy reversals when necessary. A U-turn is not a failure. What matters is whether a policy works. Right now, the effects of subsidy removal are hurting citizens.

 Reforms needed on Electoral Act ahead of 2027

One major issue is the electronic transmission of results. The intention was to create a foolproof system where results from polling units uploaded to the IReV could be independently verified by the public and matched with results announced by INEC.

In 2023, that system failed due to technical issues. One proposal is to codify the process into law rather than leaving it to regulations.

Another issue is the exclusion of automatic delegates during party primaries. That gap in the law disenfranchised many party leaders. I hope the National Assembly restores automatic delegates.

 Your view on tax reforms

I am not a believer in high taxation. It is better to have a broad tax base where people willingly pay than to impose excessive taxes.

I have not studied the new tax law in detail, but I understand that the threshold for taxation has been raised, which is positive. However, blocking all tax loopholes without first providing basic services like electricity, water, and security can suffocate citizens. Government must allow people room to breathe.

On speculations about defecting to APC or ADC

I have no intention of joining the APC, though as a politician, I never say never. As for ADC, I have not defected. I am still in the PDP, but I am a sympathiser of the coalition movement. ADC is only one component of that coalition.I am a member of the coalition. I am very interested in the coalition. I am still in the PDP for now.

But I urge the new coalition championed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to embark on a self-cleansing exercise in order to reset her priority. The formation of the coalition was not a bad idea, but there is need to have square peg in a square hole in order for the group to achieve her set goals.

When the coalition berthed in the state they were lots of enthusiasm. The ADC vehicle has some work to do; internal work to do so that the initial enthusiasm can be fully expressed

Politics is not always about immediate power. Some parties may not win elections for years but still stand for principles. Bola Tinubu himself remained in opposition for several election cycles before becoming president.

Standing by one’s principles sometimes matters more than chasing power.

 Assessing Governor Bassey Otu's administration

Of course, leaders often have a broader view of governance and may not always feel the direct impact of certain policies the way citizens do.

Form the areas where I have had personal knowledge and could clearly assess progress are in security and infrastructure. There are noticeable improvements recorded in those sectors.

However, he urged the governor to see criticism as a tool for growth rather than hostility, noting that while some criticisms may be misplaced or unconstructive, many contain valuable insights that can help leaders perform better. I advise against turning critics into enemies. 

Leaders should especially pay attention to criticism expressed in a respectful and constructive manner. Listening to dissenting voices would not only strengthen leadership but also promote inclusiveness and better decision making

 THE BEAGLE NEWS