(Buhari) ‘President is acting like a dictator,’ PDP says

 

President Muhammadu Buhari's inauguration ceremony  Reuters

 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has begun to show signs of dictatorship.

The PDP also accused the Buhari administration of deliberately attempting to destroy Nigeria’s democracy.

The comments were made on Sunday, September 20, 2015, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh via a statement.

It reads:

“While we understand the nervousness of [Lai] Mohammed to remain relevant, especially in the face of desperation for an appointment, this administration must come to terms with the fact that democracy requires accountability,adherence to the rule of law and constitutional order, and not the crass infractions, executive arrogance, intolerance and undermining of the legislature; the symbol of the sovereignty of the people that we now witness under the APC.”

“The question is, has the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government not exhibited all the trappings of despotism, including ruling without a constitutional component of a cabinet; persistent abuse of power; corrupting of democratic institutions; quest to appropriate the National Assembly in spite of the principle of separation of powers; invasion of state government and personal houses; injecting confusion into the judiciary and hounding of individuals perceived to be against its interests?”

“What is the APC’s position regarding the anti-democratic statement by the President, who, in an interview, during the recent visit to France, expressed his reluctance to appoint ministers, in addition to his disparaging allusion to cabinet ministers as noise makers? Does this not smack of totalitarianism?”

“How else can one explain the relentless interferences in the activities of the National Assembly, a separate and independent arm of government, in addition to the bitterness with which the Presidency and the APC hold the duly elected leadership of the Senate, simply because it is not occupied by their preferred candidates?”

“Whilst we note the failed efforts of the APC spokesman to divert attention, we invite the Presidency and the APC to be informed that their attempt to harass and/or intimidate us with plethora of well instigated, sponsored, immature and wild allegations can never deter us from remaining focused on issues.”

The PDP had also previously accused Buhari of neglecting Nigeria’s economy leading to losses amounting to billions of naira.