The war of words between the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) continued as PDP warned that the growing anti-democratic behaviour of APC, if not checked, could undermine the entire democratic structure. The party also advised all lovers of democracy still in the APC to immediately quit as they are not likely to enjoy any democratic tenet under despotic leaders who are not disposed to divergent views.
The PDP said the APC has shown itself to be “nothing but a party of ill-bred, frustrated and intolerant politicians; bad losers for whom resorting to personal attacks, blackmail and mudslinging, in addition to promoting violence has become an ideology.”
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, also described APC leaders as “incurable despots who have since instituted a reign of impunity characterised by brazen dictatorship, imposition and victimisation within the APC. It cautioned “those expecting free and fair primaries for the selection of APC candidates for the 2015 general election to wake up to reality before it becomes too late.”
“That the APC is a party of self-centred and dictatorial politicians with no regard for democratic principles is well known to all. However, we have noted a disturbing pattern, wherein the APC leaders now resort to personal attacks on people when they dump their party.
“The vitriolic attacks, insults and threats on former Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; his Sokoto state counterpart, Attahiru Bafarawa; former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode, and several others who were labeled ‘traitors and political misfits’ by APC leaders when they left the party easily come to mind.
“Nigerians ponder. Why is it that the APC only realises that their members are traitors and misfits when they exercise their freedom of association and leave due to its undemocratic, destructive and anti-people agenda?
“One notable example is the recent attack by the APC’s unelected Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu against their former member, Chief Tom Ikimi, who he branded a ‘sellout’ and ‘unreliable’ personality because he left their fold.
“How come Tinubu did not realise that Chief Ikimi was unreliable and a sell-out who cannot be trusted with the leadership of the APC until when he decided to leave? Did Tinubu not know all these when Ikimi was selected to lead the negotiation for the merger agreement that resulted in the formation of the APC?
“The APC has refused to address the issues of lack of internal democracy, religious and ethnic segregations, promoting of violence and other entrenched anti-people tendencies raised by those who left its fold. Instead, it has resorted to cheap blackmail, propaganda and character assassination to divert attention. This shows the APC as a party of frustrated politicians attempting to use their mastery of the act of deception to hoodwink Nigerians.
“However, the recent confession by Tinubu that the APC National Convention was manipulated to stop Chief Ikimi, from emerging as the National Chairman clearly underscores the party’s undemocratic stance; the hollowness of its selection processes and the readiness to stifle democratic quest among its members,” the PDP said.
The ruling party noted that “it is on record that the APC is a party where individuals crown themselves national leaders without recourse to appropriate democratic process”, adding that such is “a clear manifestation of the fact that the APC is merely a private estate; a vehicle through which selfish politicians pursue their personal interests”
