THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned Nigerians against the antics of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leaders, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Bola Tinubu, respectively, as according to the party, they are comrades in dictatorship. A statement issued on Sunday, in Abuja, by the acting national publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr Tony Okeke, however, said Nigerians would not be deceived since they were aware of the antecedents of the two politicians. It said: “Buhari and Tinubu are united in dictatorship. It is on this pedestal they are pursuing their merger to register the All Progressive Congress, which manifesto betrays the fact that they have absolutely nothing to offer, but desperate for power for their selfish gains. “We urge all lovers of democracy, especially those seeking elections on the platform of any party, where the duo are in control to wake up before it is too late, as there will not be any primaries to give them a level play ground to realise their dreams. “Nigerians in general should also note the antecedents of these politicians and their cronies and know that any government where they are allowed to hold sway will be a terrible government characterised by dictatorship, corruption and abuse of the right of Nigerians.” The PDP advised both men to stop parading themselves as saints and democrats, saying Nigerians already know their dictatorial antecedents. The ruling party said it had taken stock of activities of the two men and submitted that they were bitter because they know that “they will lose the 2015 general election despite the so-called merger of their parties which is built on deceit, corruption and falsehood and as such, want to invent excuses ahead of time.” According to the statement, “Buhari and Tinubu, though well-known despots, lack the moral justification to pontificate on democracy, especially when all their actions are dictatorial.” The PDP said the CPC in castigating Buhari’s former aide, Yinka Odumakin, for exposing the atrocities of the CPC leader and those of ACN officials in a recent statement shows the CPC as a party characterised by falsehood. PDP added: “Buhari has refused to change his dictatorial tendencies. He has continued to impose himself as leader of any political party, where he finds himself and use his despotic powers to handpick candidates for elections. In 2003, he forced John Nwodo Jr. and other presidential candidates in the then APP to step down for him leading to the famous ‘I weep for Nigeria’ statement by Nwodo. In 2003 Buhari imposed himself and failed. In 2007 and 2011, he imposed himself and failed. If he imposes himself and his lackey Tinubu or Tinubu’s wife as running-mate in 2015, he will also fail.” The statement also described Tinubu as a man lacking in democratic credentials and as such, should learn to advise himself before pouring lame vituperations on the PDP, especially with regards to issues of internal democracy. The statement further said: “Tinubu has been going around making statements to portray himself as a hero of democracy from which imaginary pedestal he continues to vilify and accuse the PDP of working against Nigeria’s democracy. “It is to say the least, rather pathetic that the opposition leader has failed to realise that Nigerians have since become fully aware of his double- facedness, as he has continued to exhibit crass dictatorship in the leadership of the ACN and states controlled by the ACN, through which he has continued to syphon the resources of the states. “It is on record that the so-called democrat crowned himself the national leader of the ACN without recourse to appropriate democratic process. It is also on record that Tinubu forced the former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora to leave the Senate, despite his enviable performance, only to replace him with his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has made no meaningful contribution since she got to the Senate more than two years ago, thereby depriving the good people of Lagos State effective representation in the Senate. “Nigerians have not forgotten how Tinubu recently imposed his daughter, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, who is not a full- time trader to replace his late mother, Abibatu Mogaji, as President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men. “Tinubu may wish to be reminded how he used his dictatorial powers to install his son in-law, Honourable Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo as a member representing Ijero/ Efon/Ekiti West of Ekiti State in the House of Representatives, while his daughter was imposed as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. “It is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians how Tinubu recently tried to bar a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Bamidele Opeyemi, from contesting the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State, a despotic act, which was widely condemned across the country. “Nigerians have not forgotten that the same man, who now parades himself as a champion of democracy ran away at the heat of the military dictatorship, leaving the struggle for acclaimed statesmen such as Pa Abraham Adesaya, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Dr Alex Ekwueme, among others, just to return at the end of the struggle to wangle his way to become governor of Lagos State.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:49:21 +0000
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