PDP Begs Trump, Educate Buhari On Principles Of Democracy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on U.S President Donald Trump to use the occasion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the US to educate his Nigerian counterpart on values of democracy.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to arrive the United States later on Saturday, where he will hold bilateral meetings with President Trump and a working lunch on April 30.

Both leaders are expected to discuss issues such as, promoting economic growth, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security.

But speaking at a press conference on Sunday in Abuja, ‎the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said Buhari’s government has completely wrecked Nigeria’s democratic order and roded constitutional rights.

He said Nigeria is gradually turning into a state of anarchy and fear among the citizens has now become the order of the day.

“We urge President Donald Trump to stand up for democracy and take President Buhari to task on constitutional and human rights violations in Nigeria under his watch, as already detailed in the report by the US Department of State,” the PDP spokesman said.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is on his way to the United States, the home of democracy, whereas back home in Nigeria his administration has completely wrecked our democratic order, eroded constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens while foisting a siege mentality on our people.

“Nigeria is facing a perilous time; our constitution has been technically suspended; we have now become a Police State; governance has reverted to the nightmares of the 1984 era, when draconian leaders held sway and forcefully held our people under the grips of military Decree 2.

“Currently, there is a total collapse of respect for constitutionally guaranteed personal freedom; there is no regard for natural course of justice, life in Nigeria is gradually returning to the state of nature and there is fear everywhere.

“Today, Nigerians are being hounded, arrested and directly detained on ‘order from above’, without warrant; citizens are locked up in dehumanizing detention centres without access to medical care and legal assistance, just for holding political opinions that run contrary to the views of those in power at the centre,” the party said.