The Nigerian ruling party is allegedly putting finishing touches to a grand plan to cripple the campaign camp of the main opposition by freezing the bank accounts of its financiers and grounding their private jets.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) deems it necessary to alert Nigerians and the international community to the dangers inherent in these tyrannical, oppressive and diabolical moves. Nigeria may be sliding into a one-party cum police state. By embarking on such desperate maneuvers after being in power for sixteen years, the Peoples Progressive Party (PDP) has exposed itself as an intolerant institution.
We cannot envision a free and fair election in an atmosphere of suppression. There can be no true democracy if the opposition cannot enjoy a level playing ground, nay, if the opposition is being strangulated. If the ruling party cannot sow seeds of nobility in its political path, it should not break the pot of integrity from where others can water a new, purer and safer political culture. We strongly condemn a political landscape that lacks the spirit of sportsmanship and totally devoid of integrity.
MURIC therefore invites the Federal Government to consider the serious implications of freezing the accounts of members of the opposition for no justifiable reason. This will amount to abuse of power. It is illegal, unconstitutional and therefore unacceptable. It is an invitation to anarchy.
Democracy is a farce when government pursues a policy of exclusiveness. No section of the community must be alienated in a democracy. Equal participation, liberty, justice and fair play are the key words in any democracy worth its salt. The founding fathers of the Nigerian nation laid emphasis on participatory democracy.
Any attempt to turn governance into the right of only one political party will be a declaration of hostilities on the citizens of Nigeria. We therefore warn against freezing the accounts of known financiers of the opposition or tampering with the flights arranged by them.
In addition, we advise the Federal Government to leave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as presently constituted until after the elections. All eyes are currently on Nigeria and the whole world will cry foul particularly if INEC chairman is removed as being contemplated in certain circles. It is like changing the referee after the game has started. It stands in contradistinction to international best practices.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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