One Party State: The Opposition Should Put Their House In Order - Tinubu
President
Bola Tinubu on Thursday said he takes pleasure in seeing opposition
parties in disarray and has no plans to help them organise themselves.
“Political
parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining
their internal processes and affairs rather than fearfully conjuring up
demons that do not exist.
“For me, I would say try your best
to put your house in order. I will not help you do so. It is, indeed, a
pleasure to witness you in such disarray,” Tinubu said during his
State of the Nation address at a joint session of the National Assembly
in Abuja on Thursday, held to commemorate Democracy Day.
Amid
recent defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress, Tinubu also
dismissed claims that his administration is pushing Nigeria towards
becoming a one-party state.
Tinubu said, “A one-party
state is not in the offing. Nor should it ever be. That said, we would
be guilty of political malpractice if we closed the door on those from
other parties who now seek to join the APC and I sincerely welcome our
party’s newest members from Delta and Akwa Ibom States led by Governor
Sheriff Oborevwori and Pastor Umo Eno and other members of this National
Assembly.”
“We must welcome and accept the diversity and
number of political parties just as we welcome and embrace the diversity
of our population. Our efforts must never be to eliminate political
competition but to make that competition salutary to the national
well-being by working across the political aisle whenever possible.”
The
President also announced national honours for dozens of Nigerians,
including the late Kudirat Abiola, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Shehu
Musa Yar’Adua, Ken Saro-Wiwa, among others.
“I shall also be
exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these
national heroes a full pardon, together with others whose names shall be
announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State,” the
President said.
Source: https://punchng.com/I-enjoy-seeing-opposition-in-disarray-Tinubu
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