The attention of the Abia State, Labour Party has been drawn to yet another emotional, propaganda filled and self-contradictory press release issued by the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), wherein they attempted unsuccessfully to paint themselves as victims of intimidation simply because they were challenged to substantiate reckless allegations made against the government of Abia State.
Ordinarily, the Labour Party would have ignored such hollow political noise, but for the sake of setting the records straight and educating the Abia APC on what responsible opposition politics truly means in a democratic society, this response has become necessary.
First, let it be stated clearly that Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, remains one of the biggest products of opposition politics in modern Nigerian democracy. Before becoming Governor, Dr. Otti spent years in opposition challenging bad governance, exposing failures and presenting alternative ideas to Ndi Abia. At no point did he descend into the culture of reckless propaganda, baseless accusations and empty media blackmail that has now become the trademark of the Abia APC.
Iroegbu Emenike, Publicity Secretary
Abia State, Labour Party, in a statement, said the major problem with the Abia APC today is simple: they do not understand what opposition means.
-To the Abia APC, opposition means manufacturing falsehood.
-To them, opposition means blackmail.
-To them, opposition means waking up daily to throw around corruption allegations without facts, evidence or proof.
-To them, opposition means making wild claims on social media and running away when asked to defend such allegations legally.
Recently, the same APC publicly alleged that the Abia State Government spent N5 billion to destabilize their already fragmented and crisis-ridden party. Till today, they have failed to provide one single piece of evidence to support that laughable claim.
It is important to remind the Abia APC that nobody is intimidating them.
-Asking people to provide evidence for allegations is not intimidation.
-Demanding proof for accusations is not oppression.
-Inviting those who defame others to defend their claims in court is not harassment.
The court remains a constitutional and legitimate institution recognized by democracy. Responsible opposition figures all over the world understand that freedom of speech does not mean freedom to lie, defame and destroy reputations without consequences.
A responsible opposition party presents alternatives.
A responsible opposition party critiques policies with facts.
A responsible opposition party provides solutions.
A responsible opposition party earns public trust through credibility.
Unfortunately, what Abians currently see in the APC is a party addicted to sensationalism and propaganda.
Governor Alex Otti and many members of his administration are individuals who built solid reputations in the private sector long before joining politics. These are professionals and accomplished individuals who came into government to serve and not to loot public resources. Naturally, they will defend their names and integrity whenever reckless accusations are thrown at them without evidence.
The APC must therefore stop behaving as though being in opposition places them above accountability.
Nobody is stopping them from criticizing the government.
Nobody is stopping them from asking questions.
Nobody is stopping them from presenting themselves as an alternative.
But if they choose the path of reckless allegations, they must also be prepared to defend such allegations with facts and evidence.
Finally, we advise the Abia APC to properly study what opposition politics means in a democracy. Opposition is not about noise making, bitterness, blackmail and daily propaganda. Opposition is about responsibility, credibility and presenting a better alternative to the people.
If they have facts, they should present them.
If they do not have facts, they should stop misleading the public with cheap propaganda.
Abians are wiser today and can clearly distinguish between governance and political desperation.
