PDP Slams ACN Over Amaechi, Says Tinubu Is A Despot

SAN FRANCISCO, June 30, (THEWILL) – The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for asking President Goodluck Jonathan to probe reports that security operatives prevented the Rivers State governor, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, from personally exchanging pleasantries with him at a Presidential Dinner hosted by female Ministers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Wednesday.

PDP also lambasted the ACN leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, describing him as a despot for imposing his daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, who is not a full-time trader to succeed his mother, late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, as President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men.

Acting National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Tony Caesar Okeke, in a statement issued on Sunday, described ACN’s demand for a probe as “irresponsible meddlesomeness and foolish scandal-mongering, ” saying ACN and its co-traveller, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), were merely embittered by the on-going reconciliations in the PDP and were, as such, crying wolf where there is none.

Stating that such protocol issues are understood by all, PDP said ACN and CPC have, overtime , “ showed that they are quarrelsome parties which derive pleasure in causing disaffection among Nigerians.”

According to the statement, “The ACN and the CPC are merely embittered by the reconciliations so far achieved in the PDP and seek to use all means to undermine it. That is why they are crying wolf where there is none. Protocol issues are understood all over the world. Therefore the demand by the ACN smacks of irresponsible meddlesomeness and foolish scandal-mongering aimed at causing disaffection among our leaders and party members.”

Maintaining that President Jonathan has a good relationship with all state governors including that of Rivers State and commended him for the reconciliations so far achieved in the PDP, the ruling party said Tinubu, “who parades himself as a democrat” has clearly shown his despotic tendencies with the installation of his daughter as the leader of traders without recourse to democratic processes.

“Nigerians have clearly seen that the so-called democrats and self-styled messiahs in the ACN are indeed wolves in sheep's skins. The ACN leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who has been parading himself as a democrat has, once again, shown his despotic tendencies with the installation of his daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, who is not a full-time trader to succeed his mother, late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, as President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men in utter disregard to democratic principles.

“This shows the level of disdain the ACN and its leaders have for democracy. It shows the type of leadership that is obtainable within the ACN where members have been gagged just as it indicates what form of leadership Nigerians should expect if such leaders are allowed to hold power at any level in the country.

“We challenge the ACN which always harps on democratic principles to examine this issue and come out with its verdict. We also call on Lagos Sate governor, Babatunde Fashola, to listen to the people and ensure that

the right thing is done by allowing the traders to choose their leader through a democratic means,” PDP said in the statement.