ADC National Chair Calls For United Opposition Against “Creeping Tyranny”
By Ibrahim Idris, in Abuja
The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Senator David Mark, has enjoined opposition groups to form a united front to confront what he described as “ creeping tyranny” of the All Progressive Congress (APC) led federal government.
He said only a united and determined approach will rescue Nigeria from the bad governance that was now foisted on the nation by the ruling party, which has brought pain and sorrow to the people, against the real change that they promised.
Mark, who spoke at the just concluded national convention of the ADC yesterday, said, “Our objective is not merely political success or a mere quest for power. We see it as a duty to ourselves and to posterity to demonstrate to all Nigerians that something good can come out of politics, and that democracy can actually deliver a better life that they seek. This is the fundamental goal of our party.”
More Read
He posited that the current struggle for enthronement of true democracy has a generational coloration, as the need to bequeath a development oriented and sustainable democratic values to the next generation was more imperative ever than before.
“We view this as a generational challenge. And this is why we say to all opposition leaders in the country, regardless of your political party, come, let us work together to save our country.
“The challenges that we are confronted with goes beyond partisanship, it is a patriotic duty to rescue our country from creeping dictatorship and exploitative government ,” said.
He pointed out that his acceptance to serve as national chairman of the ADC was with a clear sense of duty and an unshakable commitment to reposition the ADC as the platform through which Nigeria will be rescued and rebuilt.
He described the journey to rescue the country as one laced with betrayal and deliberate obstacles, saying that these setbacks were only temporary barriers that have combined to strengthen the resolve of the opposition party.
“Since we started this journey, we have faced many challenges, and faced many hurdles. Our party has faced fierce and unprecedented betrayal. Let us not pretend otherwise.”
“ Recent developments involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have raised fundamental questions about the process that govern our democracy.”
“Forces that feared what a united ADC represents came for us; through the courts, through institutions, through bureaucratic obstruction. They sought to stop this convention from happening. They removed our names from official portals. They denied us preferred venues. They deployed every instrument available to them to ensure that you – the delegates, the members, the owners of this party – would never gather”, he said.
He reiterated that strong political movements were not built in moments of ease and comfort, but “built in times like this, when a broken nation cries out for change and the people look for those who would lead with commitment and honesty.”
He vowed that the movement will not surrender no matter the amount of intimidation or threat, as the essence of what ADC represented was the survival of democracy and nothing else.
“We will not surrender, because what is at stake is not just about the ADC or the opposition. It is the very survival of our democracy. To surrender, therefore, is to yield to tyranny and therefore become complicit in the destruction of our democracy.”
“The ADC cannot be wished away. The ADC cannot be litigated into silence. The ADC belongs to the Nigerian people – and the Nigerian people have spoken by showing up today.
“I say to those who orchestrated these obstacles: you have not weakened us. You have welded us together. Every attempt to suppress this party has only deepened the resolve of our members, widened our coalition, and reminded Nigerians why a strong opposition is not optional; it is essential to democracy’s survival.”
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, in his speech reminded the ruling party that ADC was in the battle to win, just as they fought the military to bring democracy.
He charged members of the party to stick and work together in confronting the challenge ahead to bring redemption to the country.
“People like me, we must rise and make sure that there is change, genuine change, a serious change to rectify all these challenges that are happening in the country. I am in this game. We are going to win.
“Because of you, the young men and women, our children and our grandchildren, this country has been good to us. We don’t believe that this country is being good to the current generation, to the youth, to the women, and to the future of this country. That is why we are here today.”
