The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern over what it has called a steady erosion of democratic values under the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as Nigerians commemorate 32 years since the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election was annulled.
In a forceful statement on Wednesday, the PDP charged that the government was moving closer to dictatorship and violating the memory of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the victor of the canceled election that is generally considered to be the most free and fair in Nigeria.
Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s national publicity secretary, told Vanguard that he was deeply concerned about the status of the country’s democracy and accused the Tinubu administration of putting personal interests and cronyism before of constitutional governance.
“Are we practicing democracy now?” said Ologunagba. Is this individualism, cronyism, or democracy? We’ll make a declaration. Don’t be concerned about that.
Read Also: Aide to Ekiti Governor Resigns Amid Ongoing Developments
Timothy Osadolor, the deputy national youth leader for the PDP, echoed similar views when he criticized Tinubu’s leadership style, claiming it is incompatible with the democratic principles he previously championed when serving in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
One of the first front-runners among the NADECO members who fought for June 12 was President Tinubu. Osadolor stated, “That was the democracy we are currently enjoying today.”
He called the current government’s contempt for court orders and democratic standards “brazen” and “worse than military rule.”
Unlike during military control, we have witnessed blatant attempts to suppress democratic tendencies in the country. Orders from the courts are blatantly ignored and ignored.
He continued by saying, “History will always refer to his administration, not those of his appointees or surrogates.”
