It could signal a move by Nigeria’s ruling party, APC to sit-up, baring the reality that there will be little room for complacency in governance of the people of Nigeria, going further.
About two and half years in government from May 29, 2015, the ruling APC has had a field day, approaching every aspect of the responsibility of governance in the country drably, without vibrant opposition from the PDP.
After what seemed a successful national convention of the PDP, Saturday, December 9, coupled with the likely weighty and consequential move of Atiku Abubarkar, a former vice president, from APC to the opposition PDP, the APC seemed to be toning down its hard-line against the opposition PDP – in what observers described as APC making a U-turn.
John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Chairman, Tuesday, in a statement in Abuja, congratulated Uche Secondus, on his election as PDP National Chairman at the convention. He said he would relate and work with Secondus without rancour. Odigie-Oyegun said he would expect the PDP to assume its role as a “responsible opposition”.
His words: “It is my hope that the newly-elected PDP national chairman will use his experience garnered over the years to ensure that the PDP assumes its role as a responsible opposition party in the country. Our party wholeheartedly welcomes opposition, because we believe that democracy cannot thrive without a vibrant but responsible opposition that puts the nation first”.
And added: “This will often challenge you to balance partisan interests with overall national considerations. I assure the PDP national chairman of my willingness to engage him robustly in an atmosphere devoid of acrimony and rancour”.
Working together, Odigie-Oyegun said the two parties could elevate the language and temper of politics in the country to provide the enabling environment for democracy to thrive.
