‘Buhari is a dictator’ — PDP writes Merkel, May

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) has petitioned Angela Merkel, German chancellor, and Theresa May, prime minister of the United Kingdom, over allegations of dictatorship on the part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government.

In the letter signed by Uche Secondus, national chairman of the party, the PDP accused the APC of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass and intimidate opposition figures.

The party called on both women, who visited Nigeria last week, to prevail on President Muhamadu Buhari to “immediately retreat from the path of authoritarianism”.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, under this administration, has metamorphosed into a draconian agency, showing scant regard for the rule of law and respect for human rights,” the PDP said.

“The commission has turned the process of investigation into a media event to embarrass and tarnish the image of key opposition figures and sub-national governments of the federation perceived to be averse to the whims and electoral interest of the ruling party.

“President Buhari’s antecedents and current flirtation with dictatorship should not be allowed to reverse the gains of liberal democracy to which the PDP and the UK are committed.

“His recent declaration, at an event of the Nigerian Bar Association, that the rule of law will take second stage on issues involving alleged threat to national security, raises fresh concern about this administration’s attitude and respect for constitutional rule.

“At this critical moment in Nigeria’s political development we cannot afford to revert to the impunity of governance that characterised our military past.

“We, therefore, enjoin you, Madam Prime Minister, to use your immense clout to impress on President Buhari and his administration to immediately retreat from the path of authoritarianism and embrace the ideals associated with a democracy.

“Your intervention, at this time, will help Nigeria and indeed Africa to avert a looming crisis that will divide Nigeria along its emerging fault lines.”

Reacting to PDP’s petition, the APC said the opposition took “its pettiness to an embarrassing level”.

“It is unfortunate that the opposition party has taken its pettiness to an embarrassing level. They now say and write lies which they disguise as being in opposition,” Yekini Nabena, APC acting national publicity secretary, said.

“The whole world knows that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has performed better than the PDP when it was in power. This administration respects the rights of Nigerians and would not do anything to the contrary.”