The Wanton Display Of Non-Tolerance And Intimidation Of The Oppositions:
A Red Flag!
The beauty of democracy actually lies in the guarantee of freedom of choice for the people and any situation where such freedom is infringed upon is nothing but antidemocratic.
The international human right charter as well as the Nigeria Constitution guarrantte the right of every law-abiding human being to freedom of speech and association among others.
It is therefore both unconstitutional and undemocratic to prevent any person(s) from exercising the right(s) to the above stated fundamental freedoms.
The recently disrupted planned gathering of the fast spreading and rapidly growing main opposition party, The Africa Democratic Congress, ADC in Alimosho, Lagos state by the ruling party and government is an indication of what to expect in the coming electioneering dispensations – A Red Flag!
The ruling APC did not just start this untowardly attitude. You may recall the party’s shenanigans in recent past against the then main opposition party, PDP, over the denial of access to various public spaces to conduct legitimate programme despite all duly observed protocols to that effect.
The impunity with which the ruling party is conducting this nefarious activities is an invite to anarchy as no one or group of people can ever lay claim to the monopoly of violence.
The abuse of the state powers in deploying the nation’s security apparatus to engage in otherwise unconstitutional operations is a dictatorial tendency that is only next to tyranny.
The ruling party should therefore be cautioned on its reckless abandon of the rules of engagement as enshrined in the country’s constitution and electoral laws. Failure of the ruling party to let sanity prevail may portend grave danger for our democracy, peace and unity in the nation.
The ruling party should learn how to adopt the ‘live and let’s live’ dogma as a watchword and avoid ‘gaslighting’ the already tensed atmosphere due to hardships from its misgovernance.
Meanwhile, it is somehow natural for the ruling party which is fast losing popularity due to its many flaws and the consequences on the masses to feel jittery and switch to a panicky and defensive mode in the face of the rather intimidating growth and popularity of the ADC.
The drivers of the fast rising ADC should always factor the jittery and panic mode of the ruling party whenever they are on a round table and drawing board. It is a huddle that must be scaled somehow.
Anyway, no matter what, the ADC must rise and shine light on Nigeria to rise again.
I remain committed to the cause and completely believe in our Coalition Party, The ADC.
Let’s rise and shine together!
PRINCE ADEWALE GOMEZ, ADABA-1.
