NATIONAL: Learn from the US, strengthen our democratic institutions, PDP tells Buhari

THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Buhari to take a leaf from the United State of America’s book and initial processes that will strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The opposition party said how postelection events in the US should be a lesson for those at the helm of affairs in Nigeria that patriotism should be placed above partisanship for a country to progress.

It added that despite having a strong man unwilling to relinquish power at the centre the will of the democratic institutions and patriotic citizens of the US still prevailed.

The statement read, “It is instructive to state that this is the only way to reposition our nation on the path of good governance, political stability, national cohesion, and economic prosperity.

“There is no overstressing the fact that for the strong institutions put in place by patriotic leaders of the United States, that nation would have been thrown into terrible turmoil or succumb to a chaotic order that would have no regard for the law and the will of the people,” the party said.

“Our party, therefore, urges the Buhari Presidency to check all acts that weaken our institutions and encourage the manipulation of our security, judiciary, legislative and electoral bodies.

“Mr President should take steps to ensure reforms that would strengthen our system, including ending all acts of nepotism in appointments into such sensitive institutions.

“The American example equally underpins the demand for public officers, particularly the APC leadership in the National Assembly, to begin to pay greater loyalty to our country and her interest over the parochial interest of their party or the executive arm.

“The patriotism displayed by American Senate Leader, Mitch McConnell, in rejecting the attempt to undermine their nation’s electoral system is a direct call on APC leaders in the National Assembly against the unpatriotic practice of putting narrow partisan interests above the national interest.

“Moreover, the APC must stop being a community of people with common selfish interests and desperation for personal enrichment, who are not ready to stand up for the truth in the face of acts of injustice, deprivation and callousness against the Nigerians people and our constitutional order.”