Members of the People Democratic Party in the senate say they have suspended their support for the All Progressives Congress government of President Muhammadu Buhari, because of the administration’s “belligerent attitude”.
The PDP Senate caucus said this on Wednesday.
“The PDP caucus wish to reiterate that we will no longer support APC government until they cease the belligerent attitude towards PDP members,” said the opposition lawmakers in a communique.
The speech was signed by the minority leader, Godswill Akpabio; deputy minority leader, Emmanuel Bwacha; minority whip, Phillip Aduda, and his deputy, Abiodun Olujimi.
Their position came as a response to the alleged plot to remove the senate president, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
“The deployment of state instrument of coercion to intimidate an independent arm of government like the legislature is now a major threat to the survival of our democracy,” read the communique.
They also based their decision on the “glaring witch hunt of perceived opposition elements” which they considered “invitation to anarchy”.
“The war on corruption should not be selective, must be fought with sincerity and not politics that is being played now. We therefore condemn in strong terms the sentiments displayed in fighting corruption e.g freezing account of the Ekiti State Governor is clearly a political witch hunt,” the group said.
They said since war against corruption had devolved into probing of campaign funds, the government should extend the probe to APC’s campaign funds and other parties too.
“The PDP Senate caucus wish to warn the Executive arm of government to act with caution on matters that have the potency to subvert our democracy. The Executive arm must therefore desist from these acts of lawlessness that are typical military dictatorship,” they said.
Separately, the South East caucus in the House of Representatives issued a statement on Tuesday saying that criminal charges of conspiracy and forgery slammed on Mr. Ekweremadu were birthed by “incurable hatred for the Ndigbo”.
They said the government was plotting to remove Mr. Ekweremadu “at all cost”.
Mr. Ekweremadu and three others – Mr. Saraki, former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasu, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi – are to be arraigned on June 27 for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Rules used to elect the Senate presiding officers last year. (Premium Times)
