President Bola Tinubu on Thursday laid to rest any suggestions that he and his Political Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, are all out to impose on Nigeria and Nigerians, a one-party State.
For weeks, especially since the defection of many high profile members of opposition parties to the ruling APC, and more especially since the defection of two State Governors – Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and their political structure to the APC, the ante of the possibility of a one-party State has been raised to high heavens.
Not a few people have raised the alarm that a one party State means a dictatorship which will spell doom for the country.
But while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, to mark 2025 Democracy Day, President Tinubu distanced himself and Government from such a plan, and told Nigerians to perish the thought. Not on his watch, he said and assured “never”. He noted that the alarm of those who harbour such thoughts rings in error as no such thing as a one Party State is in the offing.
“At this point, I plead for your indulgence so that I may put a terrible rumour to bed.
“To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error."
"At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present, and at no future juncture shall I view the notion of a one-party state as good for Nigeria. I have never attempted to alter any political party registration with INEC. Equally, my friends, we cannot blame anybody seeking to bail out of a sinking ship even without a life jacket."
“Look at my political history. I would be the last person to advocate such a scheme. In 2003, when the then-governing party tried to sweep the nation clean of political opposition through plot and manipulation, I was the last of the progressive governors standing in my region."
“In all their numbers and false grandeur, they boasted of ruling, not governing, Nigeria for the next half century or more. Where are they now?
“Yet, I stood alone. My allies had been induced into defeat. My adversaries held all the cards that mortal man could carry. Even with all of that, they could not control our national destiny because fate is written from above. A greater power did not want Nigeria to become a one-party state back then. Nigeria will not become such a state now.
“The failed effort to create a one-party state placed progressive political forces on a trajectory to form the APC. It put me on the trajectory which has brought me before you today. I dare not do such a favour to any political adversary by repeating the same mistake of political overreach.
“A one-party state is not in the offing. Nor should it ever be. That said, we would be guilty of political malpractice if we closed the door on those from other parties who now seek to join the APC and I sincerely welcome our party’s newest members from Delta and Akwa Ibom States led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Pastor Umo Eno and other members of this National Assembly.
“Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist. For me, I would say try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you do so. It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray.” President Tinubu stated.
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