Still On Abubakar Malami And APC’s Politics Of Victimization -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

After my last syndicated article on the travails of Abubakar Malami, the country’s erstwhile Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, a friend has called me to query about my interest in the nation’s former number one law officer. And as accordingly, I told him in unmistakable terms that the issue is not about Malami but about Justice, the survival of our Democracy and the growth of the nation. As expected, I drew his attention to my series on, “A vote for A Coalition Against Bad Governance and Inept Leadership”, where I hinted about the plot by the APC government to destabilize the opposition and hold on to power at all costs. I highlighted some of their insidious strategies. And sadly all that I identified as their strategy is coming to pass.

It is clear that Tinubu is fixated about turning the country into a one-party state. The first strategy of the ruling APC was to infiltrate the opposition parties in order to destroy them. You can see that playing out currently in the PDP that Wike, one of Tinubu’s hatchet men has hijacked and the Labor Party that has been torn apart by moles from the APC. The second strategy of the ruling APC is the induced defection where people are influenced by gratification to join their party. The current gale of defection to the APC that is going on in Nigeria is the result of inducement in the form of monetary reward, promise of appointment and promise to drop charges on corrupt politicians.  Arm-twisting and intimidation is another dangerous weapon with which the Tinubu government is using against the opposition. The aim is to cow and muzzle the opposition so that as to leave them weak and disorganized. There is also the plan to use court cases from within and outside the parties to distract and disorganize the opposition. Again, the most dangerous plan of the Tinubu’s APC it seems is to use violence against the opposition. We have seen that already happening. We read about Mr. Peter Obi, one of the ADC chieftains being attacked in Benin by thugs loyal to the APC, Rotimi Amaechi convoy attacked in Port-Harcourt, the ADC office in Bakassi attacked by the APC thugs and threats of violence from the APC stooges in different places.

Since the advent of this regime in 2023, I have searched and found nobody in the APC that is being harassed by the anti-graft agencies the way they do with those that are not in Tinubu’s camp. Does it mean that it is only those in the opposition that are corrupt? Does it mean that all supporters and stooges of the current government are righteous? Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the former APC chairman told the nation years ago that when you join the APC your sins are forgiven you. The implication of this statement is that if you join to the APC all your corrupt charges would be dropped. But if you don’t you will be harassed and even if you don’t have corrupt cases, you might be arraigned on trumped-up charges. We have seen those facing the EFCC cases only to have their charges dropped after joining the ruling party. Some visibly corrupt individuals have even been rewarded with political appointment because they are in the camp of the president. And we have seen those who have no corrupt cases suddenly being molested by the government agencies because they decide not to work for the government in power.

No doubt, the significant of the APC’s plot to destroy the opposition is an indication of failure of governance. It is an open acknowledgement of its woeful performance. In truth, the Tinubu administration has no achievement to campaign with and hence the grand design to silence opposition and hold on to power. The desperation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to hold on to power beyond 2027 is visible and it is heating up the polity. The energy and the resources that should be used for governance is channeled to fighting the opposition and stifling civil advocacy.

The effect of all of these is that tyranny is unhinged in Nigeria now as the opposition is under siege. The democracy is imperiled. Now there is induced apathy because many have concluded that the ruling APC has perfected plans to disenfranchise the people and rig the forth-coming general election. The antics of the ruling APC is creating instability, distrust and disunity in the country. Can Nigeria survive the onslaught on Democracy unleashed by the Tinubu-led APC?

Nigerians can only survive these assault on democracy by the APC by resisting their antics. The APC is not only fighting the Opposition; they are also fighting the citizens using poverty and insecurity as a weapon. Nigerians must unite, bury their differences, support the opposition and speak out against oppression and injustice. Abubakar Malami and all victims of political persecution must be released unconditionally. Nigerians, the decision to reclaim our country must be done now or we will remain enslaved in the hands of power-hungry political drones.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK