The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is becoming increasingly intolerant to opposing views.
The party said the Federal Government is using the apparatus of state power to harass, arrest and detain its members in various parts of the country in APC’s desperate bid to cling to power. In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the lives of its members and supporters were increasingly at risk as the government was becoming more intolerant of opposition.
“Today, there is thoughtless abuse of human rights in our country and the people now live in fear. Opposition members are now being arrested, manhandled and detained, with some of them having their family houses demolished for holding and expressing opinion even under a democracy.
“Currently, our members and supporters in many states, including Edo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kogi, Borno, Adamawa and others are being hounded for expressing opinion, particularity on the exposed corruption, abuses, constitutional violations and incompetence of the APC administration.
“As we speak, our Edo State chairman, Chief Dan Orbih was summoned, questioned and his personal freedom curtailed by the police in Edo State for daring to speak against corruption in the state, an action which the officers at the command boasted will teach him and PDP members in the state, a lesson.
“We commend Chief Dan Orbih for his forthrightness even in the face of harassments and intimidation by the APC,” the statement added. It said there were reports of APC agents in Kogi State attacking and destroying property belonging to opposition members and supporters. The party further recalled the demolition of property belonging to opposition members and perceived political opponents in Kaduna and Adamawa states, as well as destruction of PDP secretariat in Borno State.
“We decry this raging intimidation of our party officials, members and supporters and call on all good-spirited Nigerians and the international community to stand up and condemn this drift towards a stone age despotism.
“Nigeria is a democratic state and we reject any attempt by anybody to suppress the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people, particularly regarding the choice of how they can be governed. “The APC has failed and should not be allowed to vent its frustration on innocent Nigerians,” PDP stated.
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