The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the recent clash between
the military and members of the Shiite movement, where scores were killed
in Zaria, as a sign that Nigeria is “gradually sliding into a police
state.”
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP
said the court of appeal ruling against the River State Governor, Nyesom
Wike, and some PDP federal legislators are clear fall-out of President
Buhari-led government’s muzzling of a session of the judiciary, “a
development that portends grave danger to our democracy and the much
desired peace and stability in the volatile region of the Niger Delta,
especially coming on the heels of APC induced violence that led to the
inconclusiveness of the Bayelsa state governorship election.”
The party said: “We are very worried that our country, now under the
command of President Buhari, is gradually sliding into a police state with
observed bloodthirsty tendencies by obviously compromised security
operatives for which the citizens now live in fear.
“For instance, how can this government explain its indifference to the
recent senseless bloodletting in Zaria, Kaduna state where the military
clashed with an Islamic group resulting in loss of lives, as well as the
mindless attack and killing of some unarmed protesters in Onitsha, Anambra
state by security agents?
“Also embarrassing to democracy is the flouting of judicial
pronouncements, the growing erosion of personal freedom, violation of
fundamental rights of citizens and brutal manhandling of suspects facing
various trials, as amply evidenced by the case of the former Director
General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, who, while on bail was openly beaten
by security operatives.
The PDP said the developments were in direct contrast to democratic
environment created by the PDP in the last 16 years where the rule of law
and freedom of citizens were allowed to reign.
“Of utmost concern is the unprecedented and frightening polarization of
the country coming as direct consequence of the undemocratic tendencies of
the Buhari administration. In the last seven months of this dictatorial
and divisive regime, there has been an alarming escalation of inter-and
intra religious and ethnic hostilities that clearly threaten national
cohesion and stability.
“We therefore caution this government to come to terms with the fact that
this nation cannot afford to contain, at this time, undue and avoidable
pressure coming ceaselessly from its totalitarian tendencies and actions,”
the party said.