Ayu: Nigeria Now in War Situation

*Says media has helped prevent full dictatorship
Chuks Okocha in Abuja

National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has lamented the security situation in the country, saying the country seems to be in a war situation under President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired army general. Ayu said the opposition party provided security for the citizens, when it was in power. He called on the electorate to rally round the party in 2023 in order to save the country from further security threats.

The former senate president made the assertions at the weekend at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, during the Annual General Meeting of the PDP Press Corps. He said the level of insecurity in Nigeria under the watch of a retired general had started to threaten the foundation and unity of the country.

According to him, “We are virtually in a war situation in Nigeria today. We are fighting bandits. We are fighting kidnappers; we are fighting all sorts of bandits and extremists, who are killing, raping our mothers and daughters. None of you can’t sleep with your eyes closed, because you are always wondering whether you are going to make it to the next day. You have to keep on highlighting these problems, because government has the fundamental responsibility of protecting lives and property.

“We have a retired general as president and we thought these things will improve. We don’t need to talk as a political party or as an opposition, but you know exactly what is happening in our country is threatening even the very unity and existence of our country. I think you need accurate reporting of the events, which are not very glorious.”

Ayu, who was accompanied by members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), said he practised journalism at a younger age and challenged journalists not to be deterred by the risks around their profession. He reminded the media that the founding fathers of the profession risked their lives while fighting the military junta to ensure that democracy was returned to the country.

The PDP national chairman said the opposition party, too, was opposed to dictatorship during its days in office, adding that it would continue to partner the media to educate the electorate and the international community on the ills of the present administration.

Ayu told the media community, “What we’ve fought against all along in this country is, we don’t want any institutionalised dictatorship. We want a country, where people should be free to express their views and go about their businesses. And I believe the Nigerian media, from history, right from the time of independence, has played a very very glorious roll.

“They fought for independence. They sustained that fight, even during the military takeover. Some have lost their lives. If you remember the Dele Giwas, they lost their lives to what they believed in for the love of the profession. I call on you to be courageous to follow in the footsteps of your forefathers in the profession. You will definitely make sacrifices.

“We have to educate not only Nigerians but also the international community, with your accurate reporting, of what we are trying to do as a party, because it is only an informed electorate that makes right choices. We believe we are here to offer Nigerians an alternative to what is going on today. But I think in the first 16 years we were here, we did, let’s say, 100 or 90 per cent, but we are much more determined to do better than what we did before.”
The PDP national chairman called for more interactive sessions with the media, saying the party under his watch is determined to improve the security situation in the country. He called on the electorate to rally round the party and vote out APC during the next general election.

Meanwhile, Ayu, yesterday, congratulated Hon. Abdel-Majid Adesegun Adekoya, for winning the “the Most Outstanding Member of the House of Representatives Award” in Ogun State for the second consecutive year. Adekoya, who is Deputy House Minority Whip, representing Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency, is the only opposition federal lawmaker from the state.

Adekoya beat eight APC lawmakers from the state in the online poll conducted by an online newspaper, Amebo News Hub TV. The poll ran for seven days from 7th to 14th, December, 2021.
Ayu, in a statement, said although PDP lawmakers were doing well in the National Assembly, it was incumbent on them to double their efforts at making laws that would enhance good governance in the country. He urged other PDP lawmakers both in the National Assembly and the state legislature, to see Adekoya’s consecutive victories as a feat worthy of emulation.