by Laila Ibrahim

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described the All Progressive Congress (APC) as a party groomed with ill-bred, frustrated and intolerant politicians.

In a statement issued on Saturday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, it advised all lovers of democracy in the APC to quit, stating that the party’s growing anti-democratic behaviour, if not checked, could undermine the entire democratic structure.

The statement described APC leaders as “incurable despots who have since instituted a reign of impunity characterized by brazen dictatorship, imposition and victimization within the APC.

According to Metuh, those expecting free and fair primaries for the selection of APC candidates for the 2015 general election, should wake up to reality, as “the APC is a party of self-centred and dictatorial politicians with no regard for democratic principles”.

The party accused leaders in the opposition party of resorting to personal attacks on people decamp.

“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 labelled ‘traitors and political misfits’ by APC leaders when they left the party easily come to mind.

It cited the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s statements against Chief Tom Ikimi, as a major example which proved that the APC attacked those who left to join other parties.

“One notable example is the recent attack by APC’s unelected Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu against their former member, Chief Tom Ikimi, whom he branded a ‘sellout’ and ‘unreliable’ personality because he left their fold.

“How come Tinubu did not realize 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?

Also accusing the party of breeding several individuals of crowning themselves as leaders without appropriate democratic process, the ruling party pointed out Tinubu’s imposition of his family members into state government positions. An action it described as “a clear manifestation of the fact that the APC is merely a private estate; a vehicle through which selfish politicians pursue their personal interests”

“This is in addition to the imposition of his son in-law, Hon. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, as a member representing Ijero/Efon/Ekiti West in the House of Representatives, his sister-inlaw, Lola Fibisola Akande as a member of the Lagos state House of Assembly and his daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to replace his late mother, Abibatu Mogaji as President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men”, the ruling party said.

The PDP stressed that those who resisted the impunity of the APC were continuously victimized and thoroughly insulted. It called on the leadership of the party to be more democratic in their dealings and understand that citizens must at all times be allowed to freely exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Emmanuel Chidiogo