By Our Reporter
Lagos State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the statement made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, that Nigeria’s democracy is facing an "existential threat," saying rather what is under threat is the opposition’s fading relevance and not Nigeria’s democracy.
APC said this in a signed statement by its spokesperson, Hon. Seye Oladejo, copy of which was made available to newsmen on Thursday, quickly noting that "it is ironic as it is convenient" that this sudden affection for democracy was.coming from a political tendency that had repeatedly tested, stretched, and strained democratic institutions in the country.
The party said it was instructive that the outburst was being amplified from the stable of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the opposition platform as "a political contraption that appears unsure of its ideological footing, uncertain of its leadership direction, and plainly afraid of its own shadow."
According to Oladejo, ADC, having failed to convince Nigerians at the polls, now seeks relevance by predicting the collapse of a democracy that has continued to mature despite their constant doomsday prophecies, maintaining that Nigeria’s democracy was not under threat, but the opposition due to its facing relevance.
The party chieftain noted democratic institutions in Nigeria had since May 29, 2023, functioned as designed, saying that elections had been conducted, courts had adjudicated disputes, the legislature had exercised oversight, while citizens had continued to enjoy constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
Oladejo said, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, the opposition had spoken freely, protested freely, and litigated freely, further noting that it was increasingly apparent that the ADC, which he observed as "a fragile coalition of protagonists whose singular ambition is the Presidency" with "each nursing private entitlement while threatening fire and brimstone should that ambition be denied," might implode under the weight of its own contradictions and inherent deceit.
"The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken note of yet another alarmist outburst by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who now claims that Nigeria’s democracy is facing an 'existential threat.' Coming from a political tendency that has repeatedly tested, stretched, and strained democratic institutions, this sudden affection for democracy is as ironic as it is convenient.
"It is instructive that this apocalyptic narrative is being amplified from the stable of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a political contraption that appears unsure of its ideological footing, uncertain of its leadership direction, and plainly afraid of its own shadow. Having failed to convince Nigerians at the polls, the opposition now seeks relevance by predicting the collapse of a democracy that has continued to mature despite their constant doomsday prophecies.
"Nigeria’s democracy is not under threat; what is under threat is the opposition’s fading relevance. Since May 29, 2023, democratic institutions have functioned as designed. Elections have been conducted, courts have adjudicated disputes, the legislature has exercised oversight, and citizens have continued to enjoy constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. The opposition has spoken freely, protested freely, and litigated freely-hardly the attributes of a nation under democratic siege.
"It is increasingly apparent that the ADC may implode under the weight of its own contradictions and inherent deceit. Beneath the loud rhetoric, borrowed moral outrage, and manufactured alarmism lies a fragile coalition of protagonists whose singular ambition is the Presidency-each nursing private entitlement while threatening fire and brimstone should that ambition be denied," the statement said.
"No political house built on sand can withstand the inevitable internal whirlwind that follows unchecked ambition without ideology. It is, therefore, disingenuous to blame the ruling party for the visible desperation of ADC leaders who already see the forthcoming elections as their final bow on the national stage.
"Perhaps it bears reminding that winning and losing are integral and inseparable components of the democratic process. Democracy does not collapse because personal ambitions are frustrated, nor is it imperiled when Nigerians refuse to mortgage their future to political expediency.
"This coalition, as presently constituted, appears to have its expiry date engraved upon it. Longevity, sadly, does not appear to be its portion. What we are witnessing is not the defence of democracy, but the last convulsion of a political arrangement held together by fear, impatience, and the fading relevance of its leading lights," it added.
The Lagos APC, while affirming that Nigeria’s democracy remained resilient and firmly anchored under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, assured that the ongoing reforms, though demanding, were rooted in constitutional order, the rule of law, and democratic accountability-principles that cannot be wished away by those who lost the confidence of the Nigerian people.
The party, therefore, called on Atiku Abubakar and ADC to confront reality honestly, further assuring that democracy was not collapsing as Nigeria was also not afraid, but only the opposition that "is frightened by its own shadow-and by the unmistakable reality that Nigerians have moved on."
"The Lagos APC affirms that Nigeria’s democracy remains resilient and firmly anchored under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The ongoing reforms, though demanding, are rooted in constitutional order, the rule of law, and democratic accountability-principles that cannot be wished away by those who lost the confidence of the Nigerian people.
"We therefore advise Atiku Abubakar and his new political companions to confront reality honestly. Nigeria is not afraid. Democracy is not collapsing. It is only the opposition that is frightened by its own shadow-and by the unmistakable reality that Nigerians have moved on," the statement concluded.
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