The
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the All Progressives Congress, APC,
the President, Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly elected on
the platform of the ruling party and the judiciary to learn from what is going
on in the United States of America.
In a
statement on Friday, the PDP noted that the triumph of democratic institutions
in the handling of issues related to the United States, US, presidential election
has highlighted the demands by Nigerians on the Buhari administration to allow
institutions of democracy to function.
PDP posits
that the US election serves as a strong lesson to leaders in the All
Progressives Congress, APC, that no matter how desperate they seek to
manipulate the system, “the will of the people and the constitution will
prevail in the end.”
The
statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that “the insistence of the US
judiciary and the legislature on the provisions of their nation’s constitution,
especially in resisting those who are desperate to hold on to office even after
losing an election, reinforces the triumph of the collective will of a people
through their system.”
The
PDP maintained that Nigeria can only be repositioned when all Nigerians,
including workers in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the
judiciary, the legislature, security forces, and faith-based organizations,
join hands.
“It is
instructive to state that this is the only way to reposition our nation on the
path of good governance, political stability, national cohesion, and economic
prosperity,” the party said.
“Whereas
our institutions of democracy including the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, and security agencies were brazenly manipulated by the APC in the 2019
elections, the United States experience strengthens the determination by
Nigerians to stand up against such manipulations ahead of 2023.
“The
PDP therefore calls on all Nigerians including compatriots in INEC, the
judiciary, the legislature, security forces, faith-based organizations, the
media, civil society groups and other political parties to join forces with our
party in the quest to reposition and strengthen our institutions for the task
ahead.
“Never
again should individuals be allowed to manipulate our system, denigrate our
constitution, lie to and incite unsuspecting citizens, promote violence,
division and killings; compromise our security agencies, invade our courts and
intimidate our judiciary, assault our National Assembly and trample on our
laws, all in their inordinate bid to foist their selfish political interests.
“There
is no overstressing the fact that for the strong institutions put in place by
patriotic leaders of the United States, that nation would have been thrown into
terrible turmoil or succumb to a chaotic order that would have no regard for
the law and the will of the people.
“Our
party urges the Buhari Presidency to check all acts that weaken our
institutions and encourage the manipulation of our security, judiciary, legislative
and electoral bodies.
“Mr.
President should take steps to ensure reforms that would strengthen our system,
including ending all acts of nepotism in appointments into such sensitive
institutions.
“The
American example equally underpins the demand for public officers, particularly
the APC leadership in the National Assembly, to begin to pay greater loyalty to
our country and her interest over the parochial interest of their party or the
executive arm.
“The
patriotism displayed by American Senate Leader, Mitch McConnell, in rejecting
the attempt to undermine their nation’s electoral system is a direct call on
APC leaders in the National Assembly against the unpatriotic practice of
putting narrow partisan interests above the national interest.
“Moreover,
the APC must stop being a community of people with common selfish interest and
desperation for personal enrichment, who are not ready to stand up for the
truth in the face of acts of injustice, deprivation and callousness against the
Nigerians people and our constitutional order.
The
PDP noted that if not for the strong institutions put in place by patriotic
leaders of the US, the country would have been thrown into terrible turmoil.
The
party therefore called on the Buhari led government to check all acts that
weaken Nigeria’s institutions and encourage the manipulation of security,
judiciary, legislative and electoral bodies.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Comment expressed do not reflect the opinion of African Parliamentary News