President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday debunked rumours and fears of his intent to have a one – party state under the All Progressive Congress ,APC,.
He said in an address at the National Assembly marking the June 12 Democracy Day and the 26 years of unbroken democracy in the country that “one-party state is not in the offing. Nor should it ever be.”
According to him: “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,” he said.
“Equally, my friends, we cannot blame anybody seeking to bail out of a sinking ship even without a life jacket.” he added.
He urged Nigerians to look at his 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,” he assured.
He observed that 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 apart, he said they would be guilty of political malpractice if they closed the door on those from other parties who now seek to join the APC.
“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.
He advised that 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.”
“We must welcome and accept the diversity and number of political parties just as we welcome and embrace the diversity of our population.
“Our efforts must never be to eliminate political competition but to make that competition salutary to the national well-being by working across the political
aisle whenever possible,” he enjoined.