Press Statement
The
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raises a rallying cry to all its members,
supporters and lovers of democracy across the country to rise up and use all
lawful means to resist anti-democratic forces, now using the judiciary and
security agencies in their desperate scheme to subvert the will of the people
and destroy the nation’s democracy.
*Buhari
The
party said though it seeks peace, it is not ready to accept the peace of a
graveyard, neither is it willing to surrender the mandate freely given to it by
the people in any part of the country, particularly in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom,
Delta, Abia, Taraba and other states where it won in the last general
elections.
“Let it
be known, and clearly too, that no matter the strong-arming, threats and
manipulations by the APC government, the PDP is not willing to, and will never
surrender the mandate freely given to us by the people in states where we won
in the last general elections, neither are the people of those states willing
to allow sectional invaders to exert influence on those to be in charge of
their affairs” the party said in a statement signed by its National Publicity
Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on Sunday.
The PDP
said the desperation so far exhibited by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC
government in manipulating sensitive agencies of state like the judiciary and
the security to further its bid to take over the rich states of Rivers,
Akwa-Ibom and Delta is totally against the spirit of democracy and peace
bestowed by the PDP in conceding defeat at the Presidential election, but
instead, an affront to the people and recipe for crisis in the polity.
The
party maintained that the prejudiced rulings by the Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states
governorship elections tribunals, with their inherent contradictions, were a
direct fallout of interferences from the APC and some elements within the
office of the President of the Court of Appeal, adding that they should be held
responsible should there be any break down of law and order in the system.
It also
strongly cautioned against any interference in the Rivers and Akwa-Ibom cases
at the appeal level as well as any further intrusion in the Abia, Taraba and
Delta governorship election tribunals, which the APC is already boasting of
controlling. The PDP said such would be a clear invitation to chaos in the
land.
“In the
last five months, after conceding defeat at the Presidential elections and
other polls where we lost, Nigerians are witnesses to the fact that the PDP has
remained calm and steadfast to its commitment to providing mature, decent and
civil opposition with more interest on the peace, unity and corporate interest
of our dear nation.
“However,
the ruling party and the APC Federal Government in their dictatorial
inclinations are much more interested in playing crude, selfish and sectional
politics and trying to use manipulation of judicial processes to forcefully
take over states where we genuinely won in the elections.
“Nigerians
have noted APC’s definition of credible elections wherein governorship
elections in Imo, Ogun, Plateau, Lagos
“In the
light of the foregoing therefore, leaders of the PDP across the country are now
converging on a consensus not to surrender our national destiny and fate to the
whims and caprices of the sectional interests of the Daura and Bourdillon
Mafia.
“We
want all to know that this party is able, willing and now ready to call up our
members and supporters to use all means within the limits provided by the laws
of the land to resist this evil plan to decimate the PDP and opposition. The
peace we seek is not that of a graveyard, it is such as guaranteed by a
well-recognized democratic system that treats all as equals before the law,
irrespective of partisan and political affiliations.
*Metuh
“We
hereby raise a rallying cry to all our members and supporters of PDP
nationwide, all patriotic citizens and all lovers of democracy to join the PDP
in this fight to save our nation from the hands of the lying, deceitful and
false prophets, who are bent on parading themselves as cruel conquerors of our
democracy.
“Furthermore,
we request the international community to note that never in the history of our
democracy has the nation witnessed such a divisive and anti-people government,
whose actions have so polarized the polity, and undermined national unity and
cohesion, a development that spells doom for our democracy, if not checked.
“We are
therefore duty bound to counsel President Muhammadu Buhari to be cautious of
tendencies that provide avenues for the destruction of the nation’s democracy,
which he is a huge beneficiary of.
“In the
same vein, we call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed to
note the looming danger and save the nation’s democracy and the institution of
the judiciary by immediately checking negative actions emanating from elements
operating within the office of the President of the Court of Appeal.
“Finally,
it has become necessary to remind all that this democracy was built on the
principle of the rule of law and no political party, individual or group must
be allowed to, by any means, appropriate or attempt to appropriate the will of
the people at any time and under any guise whatsoever.”
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
No comments:
Post a Comment