▪︎Says Nigerian democracy needs a thinking opposition
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday dismissed what it referred to as an incomprehensible statement credited to a spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The ruling party described the position expressed by the PDP as mere beer parlour rant.
The opposition PDP had called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister APC and declare vacant the seats of all APC lawmakers.
But in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena, the ruling party said if the PDP assumed this as its standard of opposition politics, then democracy was in danger and it was now clear that the PDP’s disillusionment following their rejection by Nigerians in the 2011 and 2019 general elections had degenerated into senility.
“It is common knowledge that the PDP leadership is currently facing a serious crisis of confidence as a result of its rudderless leadership.
“However, it will seem that the PDP crisis has been grossly under played.
“How does one explain the public rebuke by the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, to stay clear of the party’s reconciliation efforts?
“With the PDP, as the supposed ‘main opposition’, lacking the capacity to provide rigorous and intelligent interrogation of the policies and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, we reiterate our frustration that the PDP is pushing Nigeria into a one-party state, which the APC does not subscribe to.
“In place of the failed PDP, we repeat our call to other opposition parties to take the opportunity and play the true role of opposition which our democracy and governance need to flourish,” APC said.
The ruling party further stated that it was commendable that the PDP had taken a keen interest in the APC’s internal party processes, particularly the virtual APC National Executive Committee (NEC) held on Tuesday.
“However, it is our sincere hope that the PDP learns a thing or two on proper party management, progressive politics and internal democracy,” the APC said, adding that “the PDP can start by paying its staff members’ salaries.”
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