The Labour Party (LP) raised accusations that the APC wanted to create a one-party state, but Arodiogbu denied them. While stressing that democracy welcomes a range of viewpoints, he issued a warning against being too optimistic. He emphasized the APC’s dedication to democratic values by drawing comparisons with previous administrations where “Garrison Democracy” predominated and bringing up examples such as the impeachment of governors during PDP rule.
He reminded critics of the need for robust competition in a multi-party democracy, emphasizing that accusations of one-party ambitions stem from the inability of other parties to match the APC’s organizational prowess and grassroots appeal nationwide. He cited historical instances, including Peter Obi’s actions in 2013, to illustrate his point, questioning the credibility of parties like the LP in their accusations against the APC.
That reminds me, LP has also accused APC of plotting to make the country a one party state, can you react to their allegation?
You see, the fact that democracy affords everyone an opportunity to voice his or her own opinion does not mean we should entertain cynicism. The All Progressives Congress, APC, as a party has employed the most democratic of postures in this multi-party democracy of ours? This was not possible when the PDP was in power, or have we forgotten so quickly, the concept of “Garrison Democracy” when governors were impeached at the whims of the sitting president? Did you see that during the Buhari years? The same Labour Party talking should be reminded that in 2013, Peter Obi denied Labour Party the Nnewi Local Government seat and appointed a sole administrator in Emeka Ojukwu Jnr, despite the party’s victory at that election, now the same Obi is now painted as a flawless democrat. What Labour Party failed to understand is that in a multi-party democracy there is need for avid competition amongst the parties, now if in such avid competition you cannot square it out with the other party owing to the fact that maybe your ideology isn’t as superior as the other or that your structures are poor and non-existent, how then can you wake up and accuse the party that has bested you in terms of organisation, structure and it’s appeal to the grassroots and stakeholders all over the country and not a section that it wants a one party state? What would they have said then under the Obasanjo regime, where opposition party crises were sponsored by the ruling administration then? CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
