Kehinde Fajobi
A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being responsible for Nigeria’s drift toward a one-party state, dismissing criticisms directed at the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as misplaced.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Okechukwu argued that the PDP’s 16-year rule from 1999 to 2015 planted a “culture of impunity and banditry” in Nigeria’s political system, which he believes undermined democracy.
He stated, “The PDP should be held responsible for the slide of Nigerian democracy to a one-party state.
“They inflicted and planted a humongous culture of impunity and bandits of multi-colours on our political culture.”
Okechukwu urged Nigerians to recall how the Tinubu-led defunct Action Congress (AC) and the Buhari-led defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) endured with only one governor each despite the PDP’s attempts to sway them with enticing offers before the APC merger in 2013.
He accused the PDP of abandoning principles of resilience and patience, instead treating the APC as a “rehabilitation centre” for its members, including its presidential candidate, who switched allegiances rather than strengthening the opposition.
Okechukwu criticised the PDP’s breach of its rotational presidency convention, citing it as a critical misstep that contributed to the current political imbalance.
He said, “The PDP leadership jettisoned the rotation convention, even ignoring Section 7 of their constitution, erroneously believing that His Excellency Atiku Abubakar could unlock the northern electorate for the PDP in the 2023 presidential election. This misjudgment is one of the collateral damages leading to a one-party state.”
He also referenced the actions of Minister Nyesom Wike, describing them as part of the PDP’s ongoing political miscalculations.
When questioned about economic hardships under the APC government, Okechukwu insisted that the PDP bears responsibility for the challenges but expressed optimism about ongoing reforms.
He noted, “I am in league with IPMAN, TUC, and others for the reduction of fuel pump prices, and luckily, NNPC has started the reduction process. President Tinubu is also negotiating with investors in electricity, railways, and seaports, while regional development commissions are seeking foreign investment to address economic hardship.”
Okechukwu concluded by reiterating his belief in the APC’s efforts to deliver economic relief and address longstanding challenges, stating there is “light at the end of the tunnel.”