- Safiu Kehinde
Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressive Congress (APC) of desperation to retain power in Osun state.
The 2023 People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential candidate, accused the APC of attempting to hijack the local government elections through brute force.
Reacting to the political violence reported across Osun state yesterday, Atiku, in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, held that Osun will never bow to the anti-democratic force of the APC.
While commending Osun indigene for standing up against APC’s alleged plot to forcefully take over the state, Atiku called out Tinubu over his silence on the ugly incident which has claimed over six lives and injured several others.
“Nigerians bore witness to a chilling display of lawlessness yesterday, as the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) exposed the depths of its desperation to retain power at all costs — through sheer political brigandage and the subversion of democracy.
“In Osun State, the APC orchestrated a full-scale assault on the democratic process, attempting to hijack the local government elections through brute force.
“Armed thugs and mercenaries, operating under the party’s protection, launched an audacious bid to seize control of all 30 local government area council secretariats.
” And yet, the so-called national leadership of the APC and the presidency watched in complicit silence.
“Had it not been for the fearless resistance of Osun people — who stood their ground against the APC’s rampaging foot soldiers — democracy in the state would have been trampled under the boots of political marauders acting at the behest of their party’s overlords.
“Let this be clear: Osun State will never bow to anti-democratic forces. The people have shown beyond doubt that they will not allow their electoral rights to be stolen, no matter the level of intimidation.” Atiku wrote.
While demanding the deployment of of security agencies ahead of the local government election on Saturday, Atiku charged Nigerians to resist the ruling party’s intimidation, adding that Tinubu’s APC will stop at nothing to subvert democracy and impose itself against the will of the people.
“We demand that security agencies deployed for Saturday’s elections uphold their constitutional duty with professionalism, refusing to be used as enforcers of APC’s criminal agenda. The world is watching.
“These are dangerous times. The APC has abandoned any pretence of democratic legitimacy, resorting instead to brute force in its bid to cling to power — even as the people have overwhelmingly rejected it.
“We commend the brave citizens of Osun for standing up to the tyranny that sought to break them. Their resilience is a beacon of hope in the face of unrelenting oppression.
“Tinubu’s APC has left no doubt — it will stop at nothing to subvert democracy and impose itself against the will of the people. But Nigerians must resist. The time-honored warning remains true: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
“President Bola A. Tinubu, @officialABAT, and his dwindling band of enablers must cease their reckless acts of political sabotage — not just in Osun or Lagos, but across Nigeria. The people demand governance, not chaos.
“Nigerians will not sit idly while their democracy is hijacked by a power-drunk regime intent on setting the country on fire.” He added