Politics
…accuses APC of sabotage to undermine democracy
THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed deep concerns over the internal crisis plaguing Nigeria’s two major opposition parties; the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party. According to HURIWA, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is allegedly behind the turmoil as part of a strategic effort to weaken political opposition and gradually implement an authoritarian regime similar to the communist governance structure in China.
In a statement released by the rights group, HURIWA highlighted the destabilization efforts it believes are orchestrated by the APC. The group suggested that the ruling party is deliberately sowing discord within the PDP and Labour Party to consolidate its grip on power. The group drew a parallel between the biblical story of the “hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob,” alleging that the APC is working behind the scenes to sabotage internal democracy within these opposition parties while appearing uninvolved.
HURIWA cited the recent political upheavals within the PDP as a direct result of the APC’s clandestine interference. A key example, the group noted, was the appointment of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, a prominent PDP figure, as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). HURIWA alleged that Wike’s appointment is part of a broader scheme to destabilize the PDP from within, as his loyalty to the opposition party is now in question, given his collaboration with the APC-led administration.
Furthermore, HURIWA condemned the decision by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exempt the FCT Ministry from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), a system designed to ensure transparency in revenue generation and allocation. The exclusion of the FCT Ministry from the TSA, according to HURIWA, is an arbitrary move that plays into the hands of Wike, positioning him as a powerful force within the PDP who, despite holding office under the APC government, continues to wield influence over his party’s internal affairs.
“This arbitrary exclusion of the FCT Ministry from the TSA is a dangerous precedent that threatens fiscal accountability and strengthens the suspicion that the APC is using key PDP figures like Wike to sabotage the opposition,” HURIWA stated. The group emphasized that this strategy is aimed at ensuring the PDP remains divided and weakened, which will, in turn, make it easier for the APC to tighten its hold on political power and move towards establishing a one-party state.
In addition to its concerns about the PDP, HURIWA also raised alarm over the ongoing internal leadership struggle within the Labour Party. The group pointed to the refusal of the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, to vacate his position after his tenure had reportedly expired, as evidence of a seeming interference from the ruling APC.
HURIWA believes that Abure’s continued hold on power, despite legal and constitutional challenges, is being propped up by external forces, particularly the executive arm of the government. The association claimed that the APC’s apparent support for Abure is designed to cripple the Labour Party and weaken the political influence of its key leader, Peter Obi, who emerged as a significant challenger during the 2023 general elections.
“The APC is using Julius Abure to stifle the Labour Party’s ability to function effectively as a credible opposition,” HURIWA asserted. “By destabilizing the Labour Party from within, the APC is ensuring that the party does not pose any significant threat in future elections, particularly as Peter Obi continues to gain widespread support.”
HURIWA did not limit its accusations to political maneuvering alone. The rights group also condemned what it described as the APC’s deliberate implementation of stifling economic policies designed to impoverish Nigerians and render them dependent on government palliatives. These policies, according to HURIWA, are part of a broader plan to establish an authoritarian regime by fostering economic hardship and limiting the ability of the populace to resist or challenge the government.
“This administration’s economic policies are suffocating the Nigerian people, weaponizing poverty to ensure that millions remain poor and dependent on government handouts,” HURIWA stated. “It is as if the APC is trying to create a communist-style system where citizens are completely reliant on the state, much like what is seen in China.”
HURIWA also recalled that the APC, during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, had visited China to “understudy” the operations of the Communist Party. The association expressed concern that the current political tactics being employed by the APC, including its approach to suppressing dissent and controlling internal party dynamics, appear to mirror strategies used by China’s ruling party to maintain a one-party state.
“The APC’s actions resemble those of a communist party. The stifling of internal democracy, the suppression of dissent, and the economic strangulation of the masses are all warning signs that Nigeria is heading down a dangerous path,” HURIWA warned.
HURIWA concluded by urging Nigerians to be vigilant and resist any attempts to undermine the country’s democratic structures. The group called for immediate action to preserve fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech and association, which it believes are under serious threat.
“Nigerians must wake up to the dangers posed by this creeping authoritarianism. The APC must be called to order, and the blueprint it seems to have copied from the Communist Party of China must be discarded if we are to safeguard our democracy,” HURIWA emphasized.
The association reiterated its commitment to promoting democracy, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria and called on all citizens to join in the fight to prevent the erosion of democratic values in the country.
*Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
A.I
October 14, 2024
Tags: Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko Labour Party. PDP
