The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of destroying national unity through their exclusionist policies, divisive comments, disregard for rules, political witch-hunt and failure to bring perpetrators of violence to book.
The PDP, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, lamented that all efforts by well-meaning Nigerians and groups to ensure unity and harmonious co-existence in the country are being destroyed by the APC and the Buhari administration.
The party identified brazing acts of nepotism, total disdain for merit and complete disregard for the federal character principle in appointments, projects and programmes as some of the ways the administration is destroying national cohesion.
The PDP further said that President Buhari’s habitual body count and reference to the sordid experience of the unfortunate Civil War, particularly to the youth, was rather fueling disunity, adding that the administration was still perpetuating similar, if not worse injustices, inequality, corruption and impunity that lead to disunity.
The statement said, “It is sad that Mr. President is always trying to face the nation backward instead of looking ahead to a glorious future. This is a sorry situation, which further confirms that the Buhari Presidency and the APC have nothing cheering to offer to the future of our nation.
“The PDP holds that in gathering the youth to engage in civil war recounts, while failing to take concrete actions to end the injustices of his administration and prosecute perpetrators of political and sectional violence under his watch, President Buhari is indeed doing more harm than good to the psyche of young Nigerians.
“Exclusionist policies as well as repugnant protection of killers and corrupt elements, which have apparently become policies of the APC, are the very marked difference between the APC and our party, the PDP, which promotes inclusiveness, equal opportunity, justice, fairness, equity, regard for merit, federal character principle and security of citizens, which fostered national stability under the PDP.
“Alas, the APC has done our nation a lot of harm. Indeed, there is no way the unity of our nation can be guaranteed under the APC that thrives in witch-hunt, violence and division; and which has not taken any step to demand for the prosecution of perpetrators of the mass killings in Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Adamawa, Ekiti, Niger, Borno and other parts of our nation.
“If the Buhari Presidency and the APC are indeed committed to the unity of our nation, they should start by retracing their steps by adhering to rules; ending all their exclusionist polices and accord equal commitment and opportunity to all sections of our country as required by the constitution”.
The PDP charged the administration to take steps to put a stop to political witch-hunt, which it said, has become a policy of the administration.
It also charged the administration to end the reported body language that appears to guarantee protection to marauders and perpetrators of violence.
“Furthermore, President Buhari should be ready to allow the prosecution of APC leaders accused of involvement in the looting of over N14 trillion from our national coffers under his watch.
“Mr. President should also be ready to commence the arrest and prosecution of all those behind the bloodletting that has turned our nation into a large funeral palour under his administration”, the statement added.
