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The Action Congress (AC) has replied the PDP over its recent claims that the opposition is trying to thwart democracy, saying it is the ruling party that has turned democracy to a means of punishing Nigerians instead of making their lives better.
The Action Congress (AC) has replied the PDP over its recent claims that the opposition is trying to thwart democracy, saying it is the ruling party that has turned democracy to a means of punishing Nigerians instead of making their lives better.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party re-stated its commitment to democratic rule, insisting there is no alternative to that system of government if Nigeria must break the curse of poverty imposed on it by years of inept leadership.
'We are happy that the PDP spokesman has finally woken up from his slumber, but it seems he woke up on the wrong side by leveling unfounded allegations against the opposition, perhaps as a ploy to clamp down on them and turn Nigeria to a one-party state -the dream of the PDP hierarchy
'We in the AC will like to say, without equivocating, that we have done more than the ruling party to rekindle the hopes of Nigerians in this democracy through a constructive and unrelenting civilized engagement of this visionless, rudderless and incompetent Federal Government.
'No amount of blackmail or clampdown will make us to change our posture as a responsible opposition, ever eager and able to call attention to the failings of an administration that has now spent over a quarter of its tenure 'studying' the problems of the country that should be in a hurry to develop," the party said.
AC said the statement by its chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, that the Yar'Adua administration would not last till 2011, was quoted out of context perhaps in an attempt to use it as a leverage to attack the opposition and cow them into submission.
'What Chief Akande said was in the context of the party's petition at the Supreme Court against the election of Yar'Adua. Since we believe in the strength of our case, we are sure of victory, hence the statement by our chairman. Any other interpretation is akin to deliberate mischief," the party said.
AC also said those accusing the party of criticising the judiciary have either been living in a cave somewhere or are playing the Ostrich, since no party in this great country believes more in the judiciary than the AC, as attested to by its opting to challenge all illegalities in court than on the street.
'What we have tried to do is to call the attention of the judiciary to attempts by the PDP to decimate it, in the face of its string of impressive showings until recently. Since the judiciary remains the only hope for Nigerians, we will not relent in our efforts to thwart all attempts by the PDP to rubbish this arm of government.
'It is interesting that the same PDP that has been accusing the AC of criticising the judiciary unjustly has now taken paid adverts to disparage the judiciary over the widely-hailed ruling of the Ondo State election petition tribunal.
Yet, Justice Minister Michael Aondoakaa and his likes have surprisingly lost their voices now that their beloved party has taken on the judiciary, AC said.
The party reminded the PDP that since democracy is built on the concept of one man, one vote, all the shenanigans of the PDP in ensuring elections don't count anymore amount to tearing down the wall of democracy.
Never in the history of Nigeria have election petition tribunals been as busy as they are since the 2007 general elections were concluded, all because a desperate party has turned the very concept of democracy on its head. Even elections held since the Yar'Adua administration took office have been worse. So much for a party that claims to thrive on the rule of law and due process, in addition to
the deluded touting of itself as a lover of democracy!'' it added.