₦airaland Forum

National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has asked President Bola Tinubu to explain why he is allegedly afraid despite having over 30 governors in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at a press conference where the opposition coalition announced its displeasure with the removal of some ADC leaders from the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark who was flanked by other leaders of the party alleged that there was a plot to foist one-party state on Nigerians.

Mark, a former Senate President, called on Nigerians to defend democracy, “Stand firm. Speak out. Participate. Resist any attempt to impose a one-party state on Nigeria”.

“Since 1999, Nigeria has been under democratic rule. After 27 years, we thought we could proudly celebrate the entrenchment of democracy, believing that the country’s dictatorial past has receded into history.”

“Our experience in the past three years or so since President Bola Tinubu came to power has however confirmed otherwise. Democracy is only sustained by the quality of freedom that it offers and guarantees, especially the freedom to choose, the freedom to participate, and the freedom to associate. These freedoms are so critical to democracy that without them, democracy dies.

“Yet, in the past three years, we have witnessed a relentless assault on these very freedoms. The agenda is very clear, to create a situation where, in 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerges as the only option left for the people, despite the widespread suffering and wanton killings going on across the country. The twin challenge of deepening poverty, and worsening security situation in the country did not just happen. They are direct consequences of the failure of this government. They know that Nigerians will not want this to continue. They know Nigerians will vote them out. This is why they would do anything to hang on to power by hook or crook.

“In the past couple of months, ADC has become the only viable opposition party left in Nigeria. But this APC government does not want any opposition. While we were fully aware of all their desperate plans, we remained confident that no level of desperation would have driven the government and the INEC to take a direct action against the ruling of the court. But we were wrong.

“It was therefore to our surprise, yesterday, 1st of April, that INEC issued a press statement after the close of business hours, announcing that it had decided to withdraw recognition for both the ADC leadership, which I head, and the fictitious one purportedly led by Nafiu Bala, thereby creating a false equivalence between the parties.

“By purporting to recognizing Nafiu Bala as a faction, INEC seems to have conveniently forgotten that this individual had resigned his position, to the knowledge of INEC itself.”

Addressing the president directly, Mark said, “I speak to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: with 90% of the National Assembly and over 30 of Nigeria’s 36 Governors in the APC, President Tinubu, what are you afraid of?

“If you are convinced that you have done well for the people who voted for you, why are you afraid of a free, fair, and transparent electoral contest? If you are indeed the democrat that you claim to be, why are you bent on destroying all opposition political parties?”

tesseract:
Not completely true. For political reasons, yes it cannot work but structurally, No, it can work and has the required capacity to produce industrial grade steel. I speak based on authentic insider information.