October 19, (THEWILL) – Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his attempt to gag the press as well as the continued detention of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Lawal, in a statement on Wednesday, in response to the APC Spokesman, Felix Morka, who tackled him on his earlier statement that Peter Obi and not Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election, said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had taken a different turn, unlike when it was founded in 2013/2014.
According to the former SFG, apart from APC becoming an Islamic party, Nigerians are deprived of their freedom of speech.
The former SGF faulted the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission’s threats to journalists under the watch of President Tinubu, saying it was unbecoming and unacceptable.
He said, “When we founded APC way back in 2013/2014, we envisaged it would be a national party that would carry along all the different socio-political and religious tendencies of the nation.
“In those days, we were careful not to sideline any of the religions or tribes of the country in the composition of the membership and leadership of the party.
“We wanted a party that will embrace all Nigerians. It was this that informed the principle that both the National Chairman and Secretary would not be of the same religion, tribe or region.
“Sadly, APC has now transitioned into an Islamic Party of Nigeria. All the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from the North and some from the South are Muslims.
“All that is now left for the party is a change of name, but even this may not take long since it already has Kadmul Islam as its national chairman and a Muslim as its national secretary.
“We want a Nigeria that works for all. We want a Nigeria that even sycophants can relate to and in which everyone is free to pursue their ambitions in peace in pursuit of prosperity and a good life.
“We want a Nigeria that guarantees freedom of speech for its citizens, just as you and I are doing right now. If Bola Tinubu claims he fought Abacha on the side of democracy and free speech, it is unbecoming and unacceptable that NBC should threaten journalists under his watch.
“It is indefensible to keep the EFCC chairman and the CBN governor under arrest for extended periods of time without or before trial, just as it is also unacceptable that political parties are used to intimidate and harass citizens exercising their opinions in the public domain.
“I am sure that no Nigerian is enjoying the national shame and embarrassment we are going through as a result of these unending revelations as to who or what our “President” actually is; or that most Nigerians cannot be sure of at least one meal a day anymore; or that we can no longer attend wedding ceremonies in Imo or Zamfara States due to insecurity.”
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