Former presidential aide, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has famous that the discharge by All Progressives Get together in Cross River State cautioning aides to Governor Bassey Otu and different social gathering members from criticizing underperforming federal lawmakers from the state’s central district, is an try and muzzle real voices looking for accountability and a step towards authoritarianism
He described the transfer as “arrant nonsense” and a harmful try and protect mediocrity.
Obono-Obla, a lawyer, mentioned the order was each undemocratic and unconstitutional.
In accordance with him, no part of the APC Structure prohibits members from brazenly criticizing underperforming leaders or elected representatives.
Citing Article 21.2 of the social gathering’s structure, Obono-Obla listed acknowledged offences resembling anti-party actions, impersonation of social gathering officers, factionalization, thuggery, and submitting courtroom instances with out exhausting inner mechanisms.
Himself an APC stalwart, he famous that criticism of poor governance or incompetent lawmakers is just not amongst them.
He argued that it was disturbing that the social gathering would search to silence inner voices merely for calling out inefficiency.
“It beggars perception that the Get together would challenge such an insidious launch to protect underperforming leaders or representatives,” he mentioned.
The previous presidential adviser additional recalled that the APC’s personal targets, as captured in Article 7 of its Structure, embody selling inner democracy, defending human rights, and making certain freedom of expression and of the press.
He insisted that gagging critics contradicts the very basis of the social gathering.
In accordance with him, aides and social gathering members who demand accountability are usually not enemies however true defenders of democracy.
“The Get together needs to be eternally grateful to members who maintain these they helped into workplace accountable,” he harassed.
Obono-Obla warned that suppressing dissent below the guise of social gathering self-discipline would solely erode democratic norms and destroy public belief within the APC. He urged the management to retrace its steps and defend political discourse slightly than strangling it.
He concluded that the well being of Nigeria’s democracy will depend on the proper to critique and query leaders.
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