Dear Editor,
Amidst damning allegations of sexual assault and threat of rape, high profile resignations, condemnations with regard to electoral and financial irregularities leading to withdrawals of two candidates, and court proceedings initiated to abort the 22nd Congress, the sole contestant, Mr Aubrey Norton, emerged ‘victorious’, was re-elected as the PNC Leader, and will be its presidential candidate for the 2025 general and regional elections.
It must be recalled that, as far back as 2009, Norton himself had accused the party of fraudulent electoral process, now he himself is accused of the same. At that congress, there was a consensus that the PNC needs to build its credibility and electability, yet, at that same congress, there was blatant lack of such characteristics; and it brings to mind what former General Secretary Ms Amna Ally concluded about Norton. She claimed that the PNC Leader was undemocratic, ran the party as his ‘personal pig farm or cake shop’, and many questioned his ‘fitness’ to lead the party.
Unfortunately, the party itself has provided the necessary foundational ‘training’ which these PNC leaders carry forth when in government – the rigging, the corruption, and the financial mismanagement and thievery are reflections of such training.
Is Norton the right person for the leadership of the PNC? And is he fit to be its presidential candidate, being a grassroots person who is accused of low-class behaviour? Be it low-class behaviour or ‘high-class behaviour’, all the PNC leaders have displayed the same common characteristics: violent street protests when they lose elections; the penchant for rigging; and when in Government to bankrupt the economy and enrich themselves. These are facts, and the evidence is humongous. This will never change. Norton will follow closely and even surpass the past leaders.
Let us examine a few of his statements. Firstly, Norton, without an iota of factual evidence, concluded that the PPP/C rigged the 2020 General Elections, that President Ali is an ‘illegal president’, and that his Government is ‘illegitimate’. Secondly, in July 2022, after the Mon Repos terror attack, he blamed the PPP of promoting ‘ethnic hostilities’ even though the facts laid the blame squarely on the backs of his supporters. Thirdly, in 2023, he endorsed Tacuma Ogunseye’s call for violence and inciting racial strife; and in January 2024, the real Norton emerged when he hinted at the use of violence to remove the PPP/C from office, when he said that, ‘merely having guns does not guarantee you victory. He who can handle the gun is in a better position.’ He called on supporters “to let the PPP start feeling”. No wonder he never condemned Tacuma Ogunseye’s call for violence.
Fourthly, in February 2024, he vehemently defended Hamilton Green’s call to rig elections, again displaying his affinity to rigging and electoral malpractices as a justification to grab power.
Evidently, Norton is biding his time. Norton and his cohorts should come to the realization that ‘destiny is not created by the shoes we wear but by the steps we take’, and it is pellucid that they are unwilling to take the right steps.
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
