PDP Insists Democracy Sliding Under Buhari

 
 Assault On Democracy: ‘Address Issues’ - PDP Replies APC
    ….Insists Democracy Sliding Under Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says no amount of blackmail and
diversionary tactics by the All Progressives Congress (APC) would deter
it from exposing the deliberate agenda, already in motion, by the
present administration to destroy the nation’s democracy and impose a
dictatorship in the country.

The party said by resorting to insults, threats and personal attacks on
its leaders, instead of responding to issues of emerging fascism raised
by the PDP on Saturday, September 19, 2015, the APC and the Federal
Government further confirm their intolerance, disdain for democracy and
frenetic appetite for totalitarianism.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on
Sunday said Nigerians await answers to issues and would not be
hoodwinked by the antics of APC’s spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
whose cleverness in using insults, personal attacks and wild allegations
to divert attention is well known.

“While we understand the nervousness of Alhaji Lai Mohammed to remain
relevant, especially in the face of desperation for an appointment, this
administration must come to terms with the fact that democracy requires
accountability, adherence to the rule of law and constitutional order,
and not the crass infractions, executive arrogance, intolerance and
undermining of the legislature; the symbol of the sovereignty of the
people that we now witness under the APC.

“The question is, has the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government
not exhibited all the trappings of despotism, including ruling without a
constitutional component of a cabinet, persistent abuse of power,
corrupting of democratic institutions, quest to appropriate the National
Assembly, in spite of the principle of separation of powers; invasion of
state government and personal houses, injecting confusion into the
judiciary and hounding of individuals perceived to be against its
interests?

“What is APC’s position regarding the anti-democratic statement by the
President, who, in an interview, during the recent visit to France,
expressed his reluctance to appoint ministers, in addition to his
disparaging allusion to cabinet ministers as noise makers? Does this not
smack of totalitarianism?

“How else can one explain the relentless interferences in the activities
of the National Assembly, a separate and independent arm of government,
in addition to the bitterness with which the Presidency and the APC hold
the duly elected leadership of the Senate, simply because it is not
occupied by their preferred candidates?

“If not for a possible ulterior motive of appropriating the federal
legislature as a means to undermine its statutory role of checks and
balances and set the stage for dictatorship, what other reasons could
there be for the current fixation on the leadership of the Senate by the
APC and the Presidency?

“Nigerians are still waiting for APC, a party which prides itself as a
progressive platform, to respond to the widely condemned invasion of
Akwa-Ibom state government house by the Department of State Services
(DSS), under the direct instructions from the Presidency. Is it not part
of the plot activated for possible forceful takeover of PDP states and
impose a one-party regime in Nigeria?

“What about the July reprehensible invasion and sealing of Rivers local
councils by the federal controlled Police, who also barred members of
caretaker committees that were duly appointed by the state government to
take charge of the councils?

“In the same vein, how else can one explain the undue interferences of
the DSS in the activities of election tribunals in PDP controlled states
of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Abia, Taraba and others where electoral
officers are being harassed, intimidated and detained, ostensibly to
influence judgments against the PDP?

“This is not to talk about the intolerance and arrogance witnessed in
the venom with which the APC attack well-meaning Nigerians, including
highly revered national leaders, for daring to counsel the Federal
Government on some observed undemocratic tendencies under their ‘new
Sheriff’, a development which has resulted in the setting in of an
environment where citizens, irrespective of political affiliations, can
no longer freely express their views.

“Is the PDP therefore not justified when we described as a mockery of
reasoning, President Buhari’s use of choice words to condemn the coup in
Burkina Faso whilst his government engages in brazen contravention of
our own constitution?

“Whilst we note the failed efforts of the APC spokesman to divert
attention, we invite the Presidency and the APC to be informed that
their attempt to harass and/or intimidate us with plethora of well
instigated, sponsored, immature and wild allegations can never deter us
from remaining focused on issues.

“Nevertheless, as we restate our commitment in providing issue-based
opposition as well as our support for the fight against corruption, our
final word for the APC spokesman on this, is that being ethically
challenged, includes embezzling funds meant for fencing of an airport in
an APC-led South West state. It also includes fraudulently refusing to
supply ambulances after collecting monies from another APC South West
state.

“It is then a comedy of roles when Alhaji Lai Mohammed speaks on
corruption, a topic he practices and has well learnt, being a personal
aide to one of the most corrupt politicians to ever bestride the
political landscape of the country.


Signed:

Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary