The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians not to give up in the collective struggle to reinforce democratic governance in the country, in spite the prevailing challenges.
The PDP also asked the President to use the June 12 to address key issues in Nigeria
The party gave the advice in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Friday in Abuja.
Ologbondiyan urged Nigerians to remain law-abiding during the planned June 12 Democracy Day Anniversary.
He, however, cautioned against the use security forces and thugs to clamp down and unleash violence on citizens as witnessed in the #EndSARS protest.
Ologbondiyan said it was indeed disheartening that the very cause for which the symbol of June 12, Chief MKO Abiola struggled and paid the supreme price, had witnessed some uncomfortable developments.
He advised President Muhammadu Buhari and elected leaders at all levels to use the on June 12 address to address key issues in the country.
He also advised the government to use the occasion to reconsider some of its policies, especially on human rights, freedom of expression including the recent ban on Twitter.
The party said: “PDP laments that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has brutally violated all the known tenets of democracy and returned the nation to the dark era of military dictatorship, all in a bid to hold Nigerians under subjugation.
“The brazen violation of statutory principle of separation of powers, disregard to rule of law, violent defilement of fundamental rights of citizens, erosion of free speech and freedom of expression, as even being witnessed in the ban on Twitter; stifling of the press, attack on peaceful protesters, manipulation of electoral processes, violation of the independence of the electoral commission, abuse of court processes, disobedience to court orders and other violations, show APC’s aversion to democracy and its tenets.
“Under the APC administration, the essence of democracy has taken flight as the nation degenerates into a painful totalitarianism, where APC leaders now regard other citizens as vassals and slaves in their own country.
“It is indeed disheartening that the very cause for which the symbol of June 12, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale MKO, Abiola struggled and paid the supreme price, has continued to be debased, desecrated and trampled underfoot by the Buhari administration and the APC.
“The PDP laments that June 12, instead of being a day of celebration of democracy, has become a sad reminder of betrayal by the APC and its leaders.
“The PDP cautions President Buhari, the APC and its elected leaders at all levels to desist from their usual cosmetic address to Nigerians on June 12, unless they urgently reverse their detestation to democracy.
“Our party counsels President Buhari to use the occasion to reverse his administration’s anti-people policies including violation of human rights, infringement on freedom of expression as evinced in the ban on Twitter, clamp down on innocent protesters, crass nepotism as well as perceived hatred for persons from some sections of the country.
“President Buhari must use the occasion to end his assault on democracy by reintroducing the Electoral Act amendment bill which he refused to sign, end the use of military to muzzle elections, as well as retreat from seeking to corrupt and annex the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by appointing his aide as national commissioner.
“Our party urges all leaders across board to reflect on the essence of June 12 and take steps to ensure that the martyrs and heroes of democracy did not labour and die in vain.”
