PDP’s confession of shame
The recent description of President Muhammadu Buhari as a true democrat by former Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu can only be described as a confession of shame. He was also reported to have confessed that as a true democrat, President Buhari means well for the growth of democracy, also, that the President’s action would encourage healthy rivalry among contending political parties. He further made the assertion that the President’s gesture reassured the PDP that it could compete in the future elections without the fear of being muzzled by the ruling APC administration.
All these are privileges which President Buhari or any other opposition party never got from the erstwhile PDP administration. Former Governor Aliyu has so soon forgotten that he vehemently denied President Buhari and all other opposition parties campaign ground in Niger State in 2011 and 2015, while his ruling PDP were using the same venue anytime for the occasions. He must have forgotten that opposition party election agents were always arrested and maltreated during general elections while the PDP was in Government. He also must have forgotten that election results during their reign were not the true results from free and fair elections conducted at the polling units, but were arrogantly written and declared.
It should not be forgotten, that the former Governor is now facing high profile corruption charges and is presently under bail. When he was initially arraigned before the court, the PDP shouted foul that it was intimidation by the APC Government. For any PDP stalwart in the caliber of former Governor Aliyu to make any complimentary confessions on President Buhari now is due to the lack of any other option.
We are disappointed by the former Governor for not mustering the courage to also complain of intimidation against his person now that he can make public statements. These are indications that all the charges leveled against him are true. We therefore consider his complimentary statements on PMB as lip service, antics and ploy; perhaps the corruption charges against him could be relaxed. We wish to state that this is not possible due to the resolve of the Buhari Government to fighting corruption.
PMB’s style of leadership is a demonstration of good governance that was lacking in the 16 years of the erstwhile PDP regime; he does not require any reassurance from the PDP in order to be fair to all. PMB and all of us that suffered injustice intimidation and cruelty under the PDP administration, most especially in Niger State, under the former Governor, do not expect anything less than open lamentation and public apology. Also, if he is sincere on his complimentary statements on PMB, we expect him to plead guilty to the corruption charges against him, not to attempt any form of defense on what is glaringly indefensible.
Umar Shuaibu is the Coordinator Niger State and National Chairman of the Buhari Support Organization (BSO) BSO State Coordinator’s Forum, also Niger State Chairman of the defunct CPC