Democracy sliding under Buhari - PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party says no amount of blackmail by the All Progressives Congress will deter it from exposing what it described as the deliberate agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to destroy the nation’s democracy.

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, the APC and the Federal Government further confirmed their intolerance, disdain for democracy and appetite for totalitarianism.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this in a statement he issued in Abuja on Sunday.

He 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.”

Metuh said, “While we understand the nervousness of 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 the 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?”

Metuh wondered that 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?”

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

Metuh asked whether the PDP was not justified when it described as a mockery of reasoning, “President Buhari’s use of choice words to condemn the coup in Burkina Faso while he alleged that the President’s government engages in brazen contravention of Nigeria’s 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,” Metuh added.