APC Lawmakers...
The People Democratic Party has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the political crisis in Ekiti State, where the All Progressives Congress lawmakers are alleged to making moves to impeach the state Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
The Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus, who spoke on Monday with newsmen during a retreat organised for members-elect of the National Assembly in Port Harcourt, also called on the international community to intercede in the situation in Ekiti State.
Secondus accused the APC of planning to cause confusion in Ekiti and other PDP-controlled states, warning that such a step was detrimental to the survival of democracy in the country.
He wondered why the ruling party had decided to foment trouble in PDP-controlled states, adding that the ruling party was already boasting that it would dissolve the tribunals set up by the judiciary.
He added, “It is the plan of APC to cause crisis in Ekiti State. It is the plan of APC to systematically cause crisis in the PDP-controlled states and this will not augur well for democracy in Nigeria.
“If you recall, PDP has nurtured this democracy for 16 years and what we are having today, that has the rule of the game, they are now in power. They were not coerced; they were allowed freedom of press; rule of law was obeyed and today, Buhari is the President of our dear country.
We call on the President and we call on the international community to quickly look at what is happening in Ekiti. We ask that the rule of law be followed.
“We want also to bring to the notice of the media and the international community what is also happening in some PDP-controlled states, especially where PDP are law abiding and APC had been on the verge, boasting that they will dissolve the election tribunals set up by the judiciary.
“Two of such cases are in Akwa Ibom and Abia states, where the tribunals have been disbanded and the seats have been relocated to Abuja. We believe that that also will not augur well for a smooth transition and for the democracy that PDP had nurtured.
“Why is it that PDP states are target by the APC-controlled governments? What do they want? So, we want to bring this to the notice of the entire world. We have confidence in the judiciary; we believe that the right thing will be done.”
Also, the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, who was at the PDP retreat, said the move to impeach Fayose was a wrong way for the APC to kick-start a government controlled by it at the centre.
Dickson stated, “We are drawing the attention of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because, as he rightly said, he is the President of all Nigerians, including members of PDP in the affected states. We are drawing the attention of our country and those who love democracy to watch out; this is a wrong way to begin the Federal Government controlled by APC.
“You all know what we did when PDP was in control of the federation. We had freedom of speech; as a matter of fact, the opposition parties had more of the press, as you guys know better than we do. Nobody was molested; there were no political prisoners; no detention and no harassment of opposition.
“What we are saying is that the right things must be done. We pledge to work loyally, supporting the President under the provisions of the constitution and the laws. We are not going to embark upon vitriolic and aimless opposition and by so doing, denigrating all national institutions as APC did when PDP had control of the federal level; no institution was spared.
“That is not the brand of our politics; that is not going to be the nature and character of the opposition from PDP. We are going to mount a systematic, well-coordinated, constructive and nationalistic opposition, supporting the constitution and the laws of the country.”
Earlier, participants at the retreat, who were mostly national lawmakers, governors and former governors on the platform of the PDP, agreed to brace to the challenges of playing the role of the opposition.
Senate President David Mark charged the PDP lawmakers in the 8th National Assembly and other PDP members to always speak with one voice.
Mark said, “We must subject our individual interest to our group interest. In the election of principal officers of National Assembly, we must vote in one accord. We must know that united we stand, divided we fall.
“We must take our destinies in our hands. We must be ready to provide credible, vibrant, determined and focused opposition to the party in power in a manner that would guarantee development and good governance.
“In doing so, we must maintain a strong synergy between our members in the National Assembly and the National Working Committee. The PDP is still a brand all Nigerians know. We just need to reinvent the wheels and move forward.”
