By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has lauded what he called the ‘fearless resistance of Osun people’ who stood their ground against the APC’s rampaging foot soldiers on Monday in the State.
Atiku noted that if not for the strong resistance put up by the people, democracy in the state would have been trampled under the boots of political marauders acting at the behest of their party’s overlords.
The former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Proples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election in the country, was reacting to the act of lawlessness displayed by some persons believed to All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in their desperation to retain power at all cost by orchestrating a full-scale assault on the democratic process, attempting to hijack the local government elections through brute force.
Some persons were reportedly killed in the process.
Atiku made it pointedly clear that Osun State will never bow to anti-democratic forces.
The people of Osun State, he stressed, have shown beyond doubt that they will not allow their electoral rights to be stolen, no matter the level of intimidation.
He demanded that security agencies deployed for Saturday’s elections should uphold their constitutional duty with professionalism, refusing to be used as enforcers of APC’s criminal agenda, saying “The world is watching”.
The statement, personally signed by Atiku, reads, “Nigerians bore witness to a chilling display of lawlessness yesterday (Monday), as the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) exposed the depths of its desperation to retain power at all costs — through sheer political brigandage and the subversion of democracy.
“In Osun State, the APC orchestrated a full-scale assault on the democratic process, attempting to hijack the local government elections through brute force.
“Armed thugs and mercenaries, operating under the party’s protection, launched an audacious bid to seize control of all 30 local government area council secretariats. And yet, the so-called national leadership of the APC and the presidency watched in complicit silence.
“Had it not been for the fearless resistance of Osun people — who stood their ground against the APC’s rampaging foot soldiers — democracy in the state would have been trampled under the boots of political marauders acting at the behest of their party’s overlords.
“Let this be clear: Osun State will never bow to anti-democratic forces. The people have shown beyond doubt that they will not allow their electoral rights to be stolen, no matter the level of intimidation.
“We demand that security agencies deployed for Saturday’s elections uphold their constitutional duty with professionalism, refusing to be used as enforcers of APC’s criminal agenda. The world is watching.
“These are dangerous times. The APC has abandoned any pretence of democratic legitimacy, resorting instead to brute force in its bid to cling to power — even as the people have overwhelmingly rejected it.
“We commend the brave citizens of Osun for standing up to the tyranny that sought to break them. Their resilience is a beacon of hope in the face of unrelenting oppression.
“Tinubu’s APC has left no doubt — it will stop at nothing to subvert democracy and impose itself against the will of the people. But Nigerians must resist.
“The time-honored warning remains true: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
“President Bola A. Tinubu, @officialABAT, and his dwindling band of enablers must cease their reckless acts of political sabotage — not just in Osun or Lagos, but across Nigeria.
“The people demand governance, not chaos. Nigerians will not sit idly while their democracy is hijacked by a power-drunk regime intent on setting the country on fire.Enough is enough”, Atiku said.
