By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Umar Ganduje has become a threat to democracy in Nigeria.
He cautioned that Ganduje could be granted ‘persona-non-grata’ in the south west if he continues on the state capture path.
The PDP made the declaration in reaction to a statement credited to Ganduje where he stated that the ruling party will capture Ondo state during the governorship election slated to hold on November 16th.
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba in an interactive session with the press said that the statement was provocative as he reduced the Peoples of Ondo to the status of war prisoners. He said that the statement has smacks of totalitarianism intended to stifle opposition in the country.
“I just feel I should have this conversation is to react to the reckless and irresponsible statement by the chairman of the All Progressive Congress which was credit to him in Ondo State, wherein he said that the APC is set to capture Ondo and then use that as a gateway to capture Oyo state and Osun states.
“And these are the statements that we have seen over the months, talking about totalitarianism and one party state in this country.
“So what he’s saying that he’s going to take the South West State and its people as prisoners of war. So for us, it is troubling” he said.
The PDP mouth piece cautioned the APC leader to note that the people of the South West are politically aware and will allow themselves to become political prisoners. He said that the zone is independent minded and cannot be subdued by any force.
“The people of South West has a very rich history, a people that are very strong willed, that are politically educated and they know what they want. And for anybody who is a student of history, will recognize clearly that the South West has always been a bastion for democratic right.
“In the old Oyo empire, there are controls for the Oba, the Alaafin of Oyo that whenever he is acting away from the people, they can tell him to go and commit suicide as a control. So for anybody, Ganduje for that matter to come into Ondo State and say those reckless things, call for the attention of Nigerians and indeed international community that he is a threat to democracy.
“In 1983 you will recall, when the recklessness of the then NPN continue in this manner, and it is unfortunately, it looks like history is repeating itself, when they tried to impose Omoboruwuyi as governor of Oyo State by rigging election, the consequences of that can again be traced to what brought that Republic to an end in 1983. So we warning the APC, this is a warning directly to Ganduje”.
He warned Ganduje and the APC to stay clear of Ondo state and allow free and fair election to take place.
“And so to Ganduje, he should be careful about South West, because he could be declared as a ‘persona-non-grata’ in the south west for these recklessness.
“The APC should know, and I’m sure some of the leaders APC recognize that and they should stay away from Ondo State. The election of November 16 in Ondo State is a different ball game entirely. The people of Ondo state are ready, they are set to vote the PDP and any attempt, haven regards to the history of Ondo people, you can’t cow them, you cannot suppress them from whatever they believe in. So recognizing that, the APC should watch it, and they should know that, we do not take threats and te idea of capture. We’ve never been captured; we are not prisoners. If Gandhi was captured, which I think from the history they were, he can reflect that in his own area, but not in southwest.
“And it’s actually a clear signal that the APC should stay clear for Ondo State, allow to have a free and fair election”.
