deliberate infractions and crass abuse of power by the President Muhammadu
Buhari-led APC Federal Government, it is no longer in doubt that the
nation is on a quick slide into fascism and official terrorism.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa
Metuh, on Saturday alerted that the President Buhari-led regime has
exhibited trappings of despotism, including “ruling without a
constitutional component of a cabinet, persistent abuse of power,
undermining of democratic institutions, invasion of state government and
personal houses, injecting confusion into the judiciary and hounding of
individuals perceived to be against its interests”.
The party expressed worry over the “relentless onslaught against
democratic institutions, especially the growing tension trailing the quest
to annex the National Assembly; for which the Presidency had since vowed
not to recognize the current Senate leadership, in total disdain to the
independence of the legislature and the principle of separation of
powers”.
It further described as a mockery of reasoning, for President Buhari to
condemn the recent coup in Burkina Faso whilst his government continues to
violate the provisions of the constitution of his own country.
“Ordinarily, the intra-party squabbles within the APC, regarding
leadership positions in the Senate is not necessarily our concern. Also,
we are not interested in whether Senate President Bukola Saraki ran for
the APC Presidential ticket against President Muhammadu Buhari; or whether
he ran for the Senate Presidency against the advice of the President and
his party. Our concerns here are the prevailing executive intolerance, the
undermining of the institution of the National Assembly and the overall
threat to the survival of our democracy.
“Whereas the PDP totally supports the fight against corruption, while
reposing confidence in the judiciary to protect and preserve its sanctity,
we note with grave concern, the politically induced controversies within
the judiciary, as a result of the part being played by agents of the
executive, especially the question of due process with respect to the
roles statutorily vested on the person of an Attorney-General, who is yet
to be appointed, regarding proceedings in the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“We note this dangerous trend because the Presidency and the APC have not
hidden their aversion to the election of Senators Bukola Saraki and Ike
Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively,
even as the fact of various moves to oust them from office, including the
recent unsubstantiated allegations of forgery and harassments by the
federal controlled security agencies are in the public domain.
“We call on Nigerians to be aware that the fixation on the leadership of
the National Assembly is part of a major step towards the appropriation of
the federal legislature, so as to undermine its statutory role of checks
and balances and set the stage for dictatorship in the land.
“Part of this script is to commence a major onslaught against federal
lawmakers perceived to hold divergent views to those of the Presidency,
irrespective of party affiliations, a situation that would ensure a
subdued legislature.
“Also, similar machineries have been activated for possible forceful
takeover of PDP states, a plot which played out in the recent act of
terrorism against democracy, in the invasion of Akwa-Ibom state government
house by the Department of State Services (DSS), under the direct
instructions from the Presidency.
“We also recall July reprehensible invasion and sealing of Rivers local
councils by the Police, who also barred members of caretaker committees
that were duly appointed by the state government to take charge of the
councils.
“The erosion of personal freedom of citizen also came to public glare in
the invasion of the home of the former National Security Adviser (NSA),
Col. Sambo Dasuki, against constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights
and the rule of law.
“Furthermore, Nigerians are witness to the undue interferences of the
Department of State Services 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.
“We recall the show of intolerance in the venom and disparagement with
which the APC-led administration in August, attacked our highly revered
national leaders in the National Peace Committee, which has as members,
former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, His
Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, respected clerics; Archbishop John
Onaiyekan and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kuka, retired justices of superior
records, as well as other highly respected patriotic Nigerians, for daring
to counsel Buhari’s government on some observed undemocratic tendencies
and processes.
“It is therefore a mockery of reasoning for President Buhari to use choice
words to condemn the coup in Burkina Faso whilst his government engages in
brazen contravention of our own constitution, a development that is
clearly derailing Nigeria from the path of order, democracy and
constitutionalism.
“It is hence only appropriate that the President is called upon to focus
on restoring proper democracy in Nigeria and end this drift towards
dictatorship under the “new Sheriff’, an ominous undemocratic nomenclature
introduced into our political space by the Presidency.
“We invite the international community and the civil society to note that
our nation is facing a defining moment for the survival of democracy.
Nigeria has come to a point where citizens, irrespective of political
affiliations, can no longer freely express their views. We have fast
descended from an environment of personal freedom and rule of law to an
environment of muffled voices and suppression.
“Whereas we remain dedicated to our commitment in providing a robust and
credible opposition, constructively offering alternatives to policies and
programmes of the Federal Government, we restate in the strongest possible
terms, that we shall not be cowed to abdicate our irrevocable resolution
to defend our democracy, while resisting actions inimical to the stability
and unity of our dear nation.