A Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba, has walked away from the All Progressive Congress (APC), stating that he cannot watch as the party ruins Nigeria.
The former speaker wrote an open letter to the Chairman of Sharada ward in the Kano Municipal local government area of Kano state
The letter read: “This is to notify you of my resolve to resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC), effective today 5th December 2018. My decision to resign from the party follows the cavalier manner in which both the Federal Government, States controlled by the APC and the APC itself are being run, as a result of which anybody who has eyes to see only sees doom and not prosperity for our dear country.
“Events in the last few months, particularly the way and manner the congresses and primary elections were conducted bear witness to the opprobrium that led me to this conclusive determination.
“There is clearly no doubt in my mind, and the minds of visionary Nigerians that the APC administration is characterized by lack of consultation, crass incompetence, lack of vision, arrogance, and dangerous fixation.
“It is a measure of the incompetence of the APC government that after all is said and done, it has lost a Senate President and a Speaker of the House Of Representatives and many others for reasons that border on meanness, lack of simple management skills and capacities and a great measure of arrogance.
“It is also a measure of the incompetence of the party that there is almost no State in the Federation where there is no conflict. While it is generally accepted that no human organisation can be rancor free, it is disheartening that these conflicts in the party are inflicted by its leaders, some of whom can be said to be poorer in human qualities than the poorest of men.
“Governors and some Party leaders have hijacked the party, doing with it as they wish; from the imposition of party leaders to subversion of internal democracy and inclusive governance. In their endeavor to perpetuate themselves on the system, they not only snatched away the political rights of the people, but also blocked all avenues with which and within which they would be held to account.
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“Because under these conditions no person can be politically mobile except he becomes a sycophant, it becomes necessary for me to speak up. This, I did many times, unfortunately only to be met with complicit silence.
“The malcontent within the party portends a grave danger to the stability and even existence of our dear nation. The situation is not helped by a President under whose watch all these negative traits are recurring. He instead prefers to give the country a lethargic and insular leadership informed by grudges, hatred and a general lack of understanding of what democracy and compassion are all about.
“All these masqueraded as war on corruption. Meanness, malevolence, narcissism and self-conceitedness are never virtues, and cannot and should not therefore be the guiding philosophy of any leader. Whenever these adjectives are applied to statecraft, they not only undermine faith and confidence, but also multiply suffering. Leaders must be kind, listening, generous and caring. Above all, they must demonstrate empathy and compassion.
“This country has dangerously been suffering from a deficit of democratic norms and culture. Successive leaders since 1999 have neglected to create the necessary conditions under which democracy may thrive and become long lasting.
“Today, we are in a situation where leaders, instead of practicing democracy, are instead running round it. Democracy has not, historically, been determined in Nigeria. It is therefore not only incumbent on leaders to ensure that the citizenry learn how to operate and use it, but it is also their responsibility to facilitate the enabling environment for its practice and growth. Instead, they choose the easiest way out. This current administration is no different.
“For the above reasons and more, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot continue to belong to an organization that is clearly preparing the country for disaster. When I left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC, this was not what I bargained for. This comes with the assurances of my highest consideration and personal respect.”