Nigeria’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on Nigerians to brace up and use every legitimate means to resist what it described as all fascist tendencies being exhibited by the ruling party, as well as defend the country’s democracy.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the hardship and uncertainty in the country caused by the economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration have led to serious social dislocation of families with negative consequences on the country.
The statement which was obtained by Africa Today News, New York read: ‘The new year offers Nigerians the opportunity to re-invent and assert themselves as a free people under democratic order; set aside every ethnic, religious and political partitioning and join their voices with the PDP in resisting anti-democratic forces seeking to undermine the constitution and the laws, emasculate institutions of democracy and foist a fascist regime on our nation.
“Our citizens must say no to anti-democratic actions and policies of the President Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which are so far tilted towards the institutionalisation of corruption, crippling of democracy institutions and sabotaging of national productivity which the PDP had earlier alerted is consistent with APC’s scheme to increase poverty and suppress Nigerians to surrender to totalitarianism.
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“Such assault on democracy institutions, including the emasculation of the National Assembly to prevent it from playing its constitutional role of holding the executive accountable; the compromising of the Independent National Electoral Commission by the appointment of card-carrying APC members as resident electoral commissioners and alleged attempts to also compromise the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies are all pointers to emerging totalitarianism.
“The exhibition of fascist tendencies in the rendition of Tinubu’s campaign tune amidst proceedings in the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly and recent unconstitutional interference by President Tinubu on political developments in Rivers State House of Assembly contrary to subsisting order of court and clear interpretation of constitutional provision by the Supreme Court further confirm a move towards authoritarianism.
“It is distressing that due to the counter-productive actions and policies of the Tinubu-led APC administration, including the failure to address the comatose infrastructure, major multinational giants that have established in the country for decades, including GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble among others, are now leaving in droves with attendant massive loss of jobs and businesses.
“The PDP re-assures its determination in leading the charge and using every legitimate means available to protect our nation’s democracy and constitutional order. The APC administration must know that the sovereignty and resources of this nation belong to all its people and cannot be appropriated by any individual or group.
“Our party again tasks the National Assembly to be on the side of the people by immediately reviewing and adjusting the 2024 budget by cutting all provisions for luxury items and channelling such funds to sectors that have direct bearing on the wellbeing of Nigerians. The party also charges leaders, at all levels, to use the new year to re-double their efforts in serving and seeking the good of the citizens.
“The PDP calls on the international community to assist in the sustenance and support for democracy in Nigeria given the huge humanitarian crisis with potential negative consequences on the stability of West Africa, Africa and, indeed, the world, should democracy fail in Nigeria.”