Patience Leonard, PBA Journalism MenteeA former Nigerian Senator Dino Melaye from the opposition, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Mohammadu Buhari of planning to impose a president on Nigerians as against the principles of democratic system.
Senator Melaye made the claim through a statement in reaction to President Buhari’s speech few days ago when he summoned 22 governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to support him in choosing a successor ahead of the 2023 election.
Ahead of the All Progressive Congress (APC) primaries scheduled to hold from 6th to 8th June, 2022, the president had assembled the 22 APC governors, 14 from the North and eight from the South region.
He sought for their support in choosing a successor. He however did not disclose his preferred candidate thus leaving room for speculations.
Subsequently, the APC governors released a public statement demanding for the presidential ticket to be zoned to the South. This was as a result of the condemnations PDP received from Nigerians for giving a Northern candidate the presidential ticket and other reasons.
Dino Melaye described Buhari’s address as “sacrilegious, unconditional, dictatorial and inhuman.” According to him, “If Buhari says they should support him to get a flag bearer, it’s a different matter”.
Addressing his fellow Nigerians, he argued that the president deliberately used the word ‘a successor’ and not the flag bearer or candidate of the APC.
He interpreted the statement to have some negative inputs. “We are in a democracy and will not allow any imposition. We will not allow the president to handle this country as though we are under a monarchical just or hereditary system of government. It is sacrilegious, abominable and undemocratic for the president to talk about a successor for an election that hasn’t been conducted.” Dino charged.
Dino therefore advised Nigerians to be at alert because the battle to rescue the country from economic and financial mongers is a battle of no retreat no surrender.
He then addressed the president, saying Nigerians are ready more than ever before to defend democracy with their blood. “We will not allow rigging or any tendency that is undemocratic” he concluded.
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