Read the press statement from PDP below...
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says
President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses
at the Wednesday Presidential Media Chat
were not only embarrassing but also
further exposed his undemocratic character
as an unrepentant tyrant who has no
regard for the rule of law and the self-worth
of Nigerian citizens.
The party, in a statement by its National
Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,
on Thursday also said the President
confirmed his partisanship in the much-
vaunted war against corruption by
openly absolving his ministers and party
members of corrupt practices.
“Whilst we restate our respect for the
person and office of the President, we
note that President Buhari bared his true
colours to the world as an unrepentant
tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in
doubt as to who is behind the prevailing
recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens
and outright flouting of judicial
pronouncements by security agencies.
“A situation where the President openly
pronounced persons facing trial guilty
and sanctioned their continued
incarceration despite being granted bail
by the courts, presents a dangerous
fascist practice obtainable only in
totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s
Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s
Uganda and General Than Shwe’s
Burma.
“This extremely shocking dictatorial
tendency being brazenly exhibited by
the President in total disdain for our
laws and judicial institutions portends
great danger for our democracy and
constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the
people, and should be resisted by the
citizens before it festers.
"The scorn for the principle of
separation of powers, especially the
independence of the legislature, is
further manifested in the declared
craving to regulate the funding and
running of the National Assembly, a
matter constitutionally vested outside the
jurisdiction of the executive. We are
most uncomfortable about his attempt at
trying to whip up public sentiments
against an independent arm of
government, especially the one vested
with the constitutional power of
appropriation.
“Following from the foregoing, therefore,
it may be necessary to suspend the
application of our Constitution and allow
the President to operate as maximum
ruler for four years after which the
nation can return to a democracy.
“On the issue of the Chibok girls,
President Buhari’s embarrassing
declaration of seeking information on
the whereabouts and state of the girls
betrays an obvious insincerity which is
in total conflict with his campaign
promises in that regard. Thus by this
declaration, our dear President has
accepted failure on this issue and should
therefore apologise to Nigerians for all
the insults, abuse and aspersions cast on
the past administration by himself and
the leadership of his political party.
“On the issue of devaluation of the
naira, there is an obvious conflict
between the budget speech wherein the
president stated that the government is
assessing the foreign exchange rate with
a view to attracting foreign investments
and his categorical pronouncement
during the media chat that the naira
would not be devalued. We invite
Nigerians to note that the president
obviously does not understand the
currency that applies in the devaluation
of the naira (laugh out loud).
“Furthermore, Nigerians were shocked
by the President's labeling Nigerians as
‘very difficult lot’ while responding to
questions on the strategy to be adopted
in implementing his promised N5,000
social welfare package.
“This unhealthy portrayal of the citizens
by the very father of the nation, who has
remained unrelenting in de-
marketing his country through
unguarded statements, is indeed a great
disservice to Nigeria and its
international image. Consequently, we
reject this negative labeling of our
citizens and reiterate our confidence in
them, especially the millions who remain
honest, hardworking and credible.
“Finally, Nigerians must take copious
note of the fact that the President gave
no inspiring answers to questions
pertaining to his campaign promises, the
fight against insurgency and rescue of
the Chibok girls, the poor state of the
naira, sudden plunging of the economy
under his watch, and the gradual loss of
democratic rights and freedom.”
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
