President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said he takes pleasure in seeing opposition parties in disarray and has no plans to help them organise themselves.
“Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist.
“For me, I would say try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you do so. It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray,” Tinubu said during his State of the Nation address at a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday, held to commemorate Democracy Day.
Amid recent defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress, Tinubu also dismissed claims that his administration is pushing Nigeria towards becoming a one-party state.
Tinubu said, “A one-party state is not in the offing. Nor should it ever be. That said, we would be guilty of political malpractice if we closed the door on those from other parties who now seek to join the APC and I sincerely welcome our party’s newest members from Delta and Akwa Ibom States led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Pastor Umo Eno and other members of this National Assembly.”
“We must welcome and accept the diversity and number of political parties just as we welcome and embrace the diversity of our population. Our efforts must never be to eliminate political competition but to make that competition salutary to the national well-being by working across the political aisle whenever possible.”
The President also announced national honours for dozens of Nigerians, including the late Kudirat Abiola, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Ken Saro-Wiwa, among others.
“I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon, together with others whose names shall be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State,” the President said.
The Punch
