2019: APC has started physical attacks, violence, intimidating judges –Obasanjo

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of indulging in undemocratic practices.

He accused the APC government of not only intimidating Nigerians, but also causing violence and physical attacks in some states as well as intimidating judges in order to bend them to do the bidding of the ruling party in election petitions.

Obasanjo made this claims when he spoke in Abuja at a colloquium to mark the 70th birthday of Mrs. Josephine Anenih, former Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development.

He regretted that some institutions created for normal administration and dispensation of justice, like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), “Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and Ministry of Justice, are being directed to “witch-hunt and pursue political opponents”.

He said, “The use of intimidation, violence and physical attacks have started in some states. It is understood that judges are already being intimidated so as to prepare them to do the ruling party’s bidding in election petitions. All these are visible in today’s practice of democracy in Nigeria.”

Suggesting that opposing voices are being suppressed under Buhari’s government, the former president said that democracy gives room for the opposition to be heard because it remains a government of the people by the people and for the people.

“For me, that after almost 20 years of the beginning of the present dispensation, it has not been derailed, is enough a development in progress, even though there are many unpalatable practices and dangerous signs that have shown their ugly heads, which is the strongest indication that our democracy is alive.

“But it cannot be said to be hale and hearty. Practitioners of democracy must be democrats, if you have a lot to be desired,” he said.

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On women participation in governance, Obasanjo frowned that Buhari’s government still fail shot of the 35 affirmative action, and therefore asked that the 1999 Constitution be amended to include 40 per cent slots for women in government.

He said, “In this present administration, there are 15 women members in the House of Representatives. It is not only unacceptable but makes mockery of gender balance. There must be amendment of our constitution, not to allow any gender to have less than 40 per cent in any parliament.

“The health of our democracy can be judged by the participation of women. Democracy is a system of government that allows team spirit and debate before decisions are reached; it is a government for all citizens to benefit without fear or favour.”

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