National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of running a militarized version of democracy since his assumption of office in 2015.
Secondus stated this in his opening remarks at a reception dinner organised in honour of defectors from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the party on Wednesday.
The PDP chair who chided President Buhari’s handling of the security situation in the country assured the new members of equal rights and opportunities as other members, stressing that nothing stays on their path of political aspirations.
“We have seen in the past three years that the APC government has visited upon us a military styled democracy that cannot be described.
The security agents that are charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order are breaking the laws. “We can’t afford to watch the bloodletting going on across the country.
We have seen in the past three years that the APC government has visited upon us a military styled democracy that cannot be described.
The security agents that are charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order are breaking the laws.
“We need to honour our returnee members for leaving the ruling party which is very unusual,” he said, even as he urged them to realize that the road to Aso Rock is a fairly long one. “We are very far from our destination. It is going to be a long walk to freedom. The Press is not free. If you tell them the truth, they will say it is hate speech. If you tell them the truth, they will say it is fake news.”
Taking a swipe at the ruling party, the PDP chair described the APC as a party that is neither bothered by what economic hardship in the land, nor about the defections that has rattled it in the past few days.
He continued: “They are not aware that Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal and 18 members of the state house of assembly have defected to the PDP. They are not aware; they are not bothered. Former ambassador to South Africa, Ahmed Ibeto resigned his membership of the APC. ‘they are not losing sleep,” a reference to the remark by the APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole who said the defection of party members was not enough to make him lose his sleep.
Speaking earlier, National chairman of the party, Senator Umar Tsauri welcomed the defectors and thanked them for returning to the PDP.
Responding on behalf of the lawmakers who joined the PDP earlier in the week, Senator Dino Melaye who also represented Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the event thanked the party organs for providing an enabling environment for their return.
He chided the APC-led administration for what he called the persecution of perceived enemies of government even as he described the APC as a 404 Peugeot car that has no air conditioning system.
