The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians to brace up and adopt all legitimate means to resist the fascist and undemocratic tendencies of the government in the new year.

The main opposition party alleged in its New Year message to Nigerians issued by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary on Sunday that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is driving the country away from Constitutional Democracy and replacing it with totalitarianism.

According to the PDP, the new year offers Nigerians the opportunity to re-invent and assert themselves as a free people under Democratic Order; set aside every ethnic, religious and political partitioning and join their voices with the opposition in resisting anti-democratic forces seeking to undermine the Constitution and the Laws, emasculate Institutions of Democracy and foist a fascist regime on our nation.

The party added in the message: “Our citizens must say NO to anti-democratic actions and policies of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which are so far tilted towards the institutionalization of corruption, crippling of Democracy Institutions and sabotaging of national productivity which the PDP had earlier alerted is consistent with APC’s scheme to weaponize poverty and suppress Nigerians to surrender to totalitarianism.

“Such assault on Democracy Institutions including the emasculation of the National Assembly to prevent it from playing its Constitutional role of holding the Executive accountable; the compromising of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the appointment of card-carrying APC members as Resident Electoral Commissioners and alleged attempts to also compromise the Judiciary and anti-corruption agencies are all pointers to emerging totalitarianism.

“The exhibition of fascist tendencies in the rendition of Tinubu’s campaign tune amidst proceedings in the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly and recent unconstitutional interference by President Tinubu on political developments on the issues in the Rivers State House of Assembly contrary to subsisting Order of Court and clear interpretation of Constitutional provision by the Supreme Court further confirm a move towards authoritarianism.

“Nigerians and indeed the Civil Society must speak out against the recklessness and lack of transparency of the APC administration that led to the collapse of the Naira; the alleged massive looting of funds including proceeds from the removal of subsidy on petroleum products; the skewing of the 2024 budget in favour of luxury appetite of the Presidency and APC leaders without concrete policies and programmes to revive the economy, create jobs and address the comatose manufacturing and productive sectors.

“It is distressing that due to the counter-productive actions and policies of the Tinubu-led APC administration, including the failure to address the comatose infrastructure, major multinational giants that have established in the country for decades including GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble among others are now leaving in droves with attendant massive loss of jobs and businesses.

“The hardship, infrastructural stagnation and uncertainty occasioned by the insensitive and anti-people economic policies of the Tinubu-led APC government have led to serious ⁠social dislocation of life and family with negative consequences on our national life.

“Indeed, this is not the way to go! The PDP re-assures of its determination in leading the charge and using every legitimate mean available to protect our nation’s Democracy and Constitutional Order. The APC administration must know that the sovereignty and resources of this nation belong to all its people and cannot be appropriated by any individual or group,” the party said.

The PDP faulted the recently passed federal government 2024 appropriation bill for being skewed in favour ostentatious items rather than what benefits the majority of Nigerians.

It therefore tasks the National Assembly “to be on the side of the people by immediately reviewing and adjusting the 2024 budget by cutting all provisions for luxury items and channeling such funds to sectors that have direct bearing on the wellbeing of Nigerians.”

The party also charged leaders at all levels to use the new year to re-double their efforts in serving and seeking the good of the citizens.

It called on the International Community to assist in the sustenance and support for Democracy in Nigeria given the huge humanitarian crisis with potential negative consequences on the stability of West Africa, Africa and indeed the world should Democracy fail in Nigeria.

The PDP prayed for the nation and wished Nigerians a Happy New Year. (Tribune)

Update news