PDP SLAMS FASHOLA, SAYS HE IS A DICTATOR

ABUJA—NATIONAL leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sunday, took a swipe at Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, describing him as the new dictator for sealing off a property belonging to former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for criticising the recent deportation of Nigerians from the state.

In a statement by the party’s acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke, PDP described the development as “reminiscent of the infamous decree No 4 of 1984 promulgated by maximum dictator and supreme leader of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, with which he clamped down on the freedom of speech and victimized anybody that criticized his government.”

Okeke, who noted that the party was not surprised at the development, however, described the governor’s action as a clear signal of the dictatorial and inhuman treatment to be expected from the government controlled by the APC.

PDP stated: “Instead of accepting that it erred in expelling innocent Nigerians in total breach of their constitutionally guaranteed right of residency in any part of the country, the APC-led government of Lagos State has ignobly resorted to clamping down on those who criticized its evil deed.

“We are, indeed, not surprised. After all, what would one expect from a government controlled by a party established by dictators with a penchant for unlawful actions and dehumanization of the citizenry”?

“If the APC would approve the unjust detention and flushing of helpless citizens from a state where they have immensely contributed just to be dumped at a place like Upper Iweka Bridge in the dead of the night without any form of care, clamping down on its critics is only a signal of the draconian rule which Nigerians must rise against.

“Though Fashola was forced to release Orji Kalu’s property, the sealing of the property in the first place has only succeeded in betraying the reason for which the APC is desperate for power, which is to broaden the execution of the dictatorial, corrupt and oppressive agenda of its leaders.

“The APC leaders should borrow a leaf from President Goodluck Jonathan who, as a true democrat and statesman, has continued to maintain dignified calmness in the face of daily vituperations and unwarranted media attacks by the opposition.”

The party urged Nigerians to continue to note what it described as despotic stance of the APC and ensure that the party was not allowed to be in control at any level come 2015.

Source: Vanguard