18th November, 2010
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has raised an alarm over plans by the PDP to instigate chaos and instability in Ekiti state to justify the action being spearheaded by a PDP top brass in the South-west to use his clout to force the federal government to impose a state of emergency in the state.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the plans involve using the recent dissolution of local government councils in Ekiti as a pretext to foment trouble throughout the state.
”In fact, we learnt that the PDP top gun, who is behind the devilish plans, has urged the PDP council officials who were lawfully sacked by the state government to return to their posts, hoping this would help trigger enough trouble that he will now use as an excuse to prevail on the President to impose a state of emergency on the state,” it said.
ACN warned, however, that whoever tries to go along that dangerous path must be ready to impose a state of emergency on all of Nigeria.
”Ekiti, under the rule of the ACN, has never been more peaceful. Any attempt to foment trouble, therefore, will be resisted by the peace-loving but courageous and indefatigable people of the state. If the government has not deemed it fit to slam emergency rule on states like Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Abia where militancy and kidnapping are thriving, or states like Ogun and Oyo which have become hotbeds of political thuggery, why would anyone even brood such for a peaceful state like Ekiti?
”The only answer we can find right now is that the PDP is trying to get through the back door what it has failed to secure through the front door,” the party said.
ACN said if anyone or group feels that any law has been broken with the dissolution of the Ekiti councils and the appointment of caretaker committees for the councils, such person or group should head to court rather than taking to the streets.
It advised the PDP to emulate it (the ACN), which has always resorted to the courts to resolve any political logjam.
”For over three years, we were in court in Ekiti and Osun states, seeking to use legal means to get back our mandates that were stolen by the PDP. All through those years, we never caused any trouble even for the illegitimate governments in place. This is how to grow democracy, ” the party said.
ACN criticised the PDP lawmakers in Ekiti, who boycotted a session at which the Governor’s lawful action was ratified by the state House of Assembly. According to the law, the governor can dissolve the councils and put in place caretaker committees in concurrence with the state House of Assembly. This has been done!
”The decision by the PDP members of the Ekiti House of Assembly to boycott that sitting is in line with what the PDP has been doing in Edo state, where lawmakers have been boycotting assembly sessions for the past six months, hoping this will grind the machinery of state. This is sheer irresponsibility and a manifestation of politics of brigandage on the part of the PDP. If any member of the house anywhere refuses to attend sessions, he or she should be recalled, and possibly charged with treason!” the party said.
”But we want to put it on record that the sitting at which the Ekiti Governor received the nod of the state assembly was properly conducted by the Clerk of the house and in accordance with the law. Any party that feels otherwise should emulate the ACN and head to court, not to the streets.
”That is how the ACN has been growing our nation’s democracy. For example, our party is outnumbered in Osun State House of Assembly, but we have always ensured that we will have our say, even if we can’t have our way. Ditto for the National Assembly and many other states.
This is the way to go, and we call on the PDP to follow suit, instead of threatening fire and brimstone,” ACN said.
