Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza and the “FDU” confusion.

Many will agree that most politicians in Rwandan opposition today are interested in making a name of their own in Rwandan community in general and in the diaspora in particular. They work hard to rise in the delusional “corporate ladder” within their political parties. They fight for control and ownership of their organisation. They are more interested in getting a piece of recognition rather than organisation’s achievements and actions.

Visibly, today FDU party leadership is divided because politicians at the top still want to hold on the ownership of “FDU“. We heard arguments such as “I created the movement and therefore…” or “I (i.e Nkiko Nsengimana) and my brother (i.e Eugene Ndayaho) are reunited !” and therefore “everyone should wait (put the party congress on hold, for instance) until further notice!” This proves that the issue is with people who consider themselves the owners of the party and therefore have the last word.

In contrast, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza has proven to the world that she is a selfless politician, a leader who goes in front of her followers rather than getting comfortable in her seat. As a mother and wife, Victoire Ingabire could have continued to do politics still in the comfort of her job, with her family in the Netherlands. She went back to Rwanda willingly, knowing that she was risking everything including her own life.

Despite the total confusion as to whether there is one FDU (Forces Démocratiques Unifiées !!!) with movements, branches or two distinct political FDU parties, one fact remains:Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is admired by many in “FDU” and beyond. Many people, Rwandans and non-Rwandans, continue to admire this lady and take her as a role model for a genuine politician and the greatest politician in Rwandan opposition today.

Those who are busy dividing the party with their politics of “Ier et IIeme Republique” forgot that the majority of those behind Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza are of a younger generation to whom this ideology is meaningless. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza belongs to this young generation who have nothing to do with previous regimes. The majority of FDU members, followers, sympathiser and on-lookers are those who’s attention was drawn to FDU by Victoire Ingabire’s message and charm, starting from year 2009. They have no affiliation to RDR or ADR or FRD what so ever.

Rewinding the party’s history to the time of confluence of the three streams and start a new political “watershed” is to forget that there’s been too much water under the bridge and that the strategy of divide and conquer will only attract the like-minded.

The strength of a political party is in its followers NOT in a dozen of men and women with big titles. Victoire Ingabire has the backing of FDU members, (whatever that FDU is!). 

Free Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza