By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors have sounded the alarm that President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) are using threats and intimidation to decimate their ranks and “capture” them, one man at a time.
The “underhand tactics” are cited by PDP Governors’ Forum Director General, CID Maduabum, in a 10-point statement which articulates that:
1. APC quest
PDP governors note the seeming capture of one of the governors of the PDP by the APC and the federal government by deploying unlawful threats, intimidation, and outright underhand tactics.
2. Zamfara
When Buhari “directly and prejudicially” regretted in his recent interview that Zamfara State is governed by another party other than his own, it was “a clear subtle threat” to Governor Muhammad Matawalle “to join him or face the consequences.”
(Matawalle defected from the PDP to the APC on June 30).
3. Luring APC governors
Earlier, “all sorts of threats had been deployed” by the “illegal” APC Caretaker /National Convention Planning Committee whose only job “seems to be to lure PDP governors and other PDP stakeholders,” abandoning its “mandate of organising a National Convention.”
4. Tackling insecurity
Supporting Zamfara and other states to tackle insecurity shouldn’t be politicised nor should joining the APC be “a condition precedent” for security or other assistance.
5. APC shields its members from prosecution
We remember the infamous statement by former APC National Chairman [Adams Oshiomhole] that “once you join the APC all your sins will be forgiven by the powers that be.”
This appears to be “the guiding principle” of Buhari and the APC.
6. PDP members forced to join APC
It is “quite distressing and shameful” to watch PDP governors and other stakeholders “who are literally forced to join APC being Paraded at the Presidential Villa like captured persons immediately after their acquisition as culprits by the APC.”
Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but “the immorality of it all is quite nauseating.” No principles are involved or invoked. It doesn’t matter whether you are a convicted criminal or a wanted person by security agencies.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are fingered in various investigations like NDDC scams, NNPC probes, or other accusations of fleecing the nation of billions of naira.”
7. APC celebrates capturing PDP members
The way “the APC celebrates the capture of any PDP governor or stalwart you would think that a major Boko Haram or insurgent terrorist leader has been neutralised.”
8. Wasting national resources
If Buhari or the APC “can spend 10 per cent of the energy they use in wooing PDP governors and stalwarts in tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, herders/farmers conflicts, separatist tendencies, building infrastructure, providing food, health care, education, and tending to the general wellbeing of Nigerians, our country would be a better place.”
9. APC without redeeming virtue
“There is no redeeming quality in the present APC or its government. Nothing.”
A political party that cannot constitute its Board of Trustees, a so-called political party ruled by a military like constituted National Executive Committee and unelected executives at all levels contrary to Section 223 of the Constitution, has nothing to attract anyone.
It is certainly not in a position to consolidate our democracy or engineer our national rebirth.
“A political party that has run the country aground and thrives in incompetence, corruption, rudderlessness, bad governance and wanton destruction of all that has held Nigeria together over the years has nothing to offer Nigerians.”
It is “obvious that anyone who defects from the PDP or indeed any other party to the APC today under the terrible conditions they have put Nigeria into is looking for something other than the good of the nation.”
10. APC, a clear and present danger to democracy
The APC and its government at the federal level “now constitute a clear and present danger to Nigeria and especially its democracy.” We will continue to resist the attempt by the APC to foist a one-party dictatorship on Nigerians.
If Nigerians are allowed to express their political preferences through a free and fair election, the APC will be roundly rejected as “the PDP remains the only credible, acceptable alternative platform that could deliver good governance for Nigeria.”
It is time for well-meaning Nigerian patriots to rise and join together to rescue Nigeria from the APC malaise.