The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have accused President Muhammadu Buhari of hijacking the National Assembly by fostering Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively on federal lawmakers.
According to the opposition parties, President Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have allegedly installed stooges who would do the Presidency’s bidding without any proper legislative scrutiny.
Both parties warned that the supposed imposition of the APC preferred candidates as the leaders of the federal parliament would impact negatively on the country.
Diran Odeyemi, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, claimed that President Buhari has also captured the judiciary in addition to the legislature and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Odeyemi alleged that the EFCC is being used by the current administration to intimidate its perceived political opponents and critics.
“This kind of arrangement does not portend a sign of good things to come. The President and the APC started the ‘total capture’ and dominance of the democratic set up in Nigeria with the judiciary, reference to Justice Walter Onnoghen saga, in anticipation of their plan to rig the 2019 elections,” Odeyemi told the Punch.
“They have followed it up with super imposition of the National Assembly leadership, having threatened some potential leaders with the EFCC, cajoled some with appointments, intimidated and frightened others out of the race. It is logical to say Buhari now owns Nigeria or has captured Nigeria.
“Let us now wait and see what will be the product of this well-planned democratic abracadabra. PDP will no longer be blamed and we wish him good luck.”
In his own assessment of the country’s political landscape, Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesperson, said Nigerians should not expect the dividends of democracy from the current Federal Government as it has failed to make strategic appointments.
He said: “If any Nigerian is expecting something dramatic, something inspiring with a combination of Buhari, Lawan and Gbajamiabila, that person needs to think twice.
“There is nothing good that will come out of this arrangement.
“We have a government that has not made a strategic appointment because the President) does not understand the urgency of time in addressing national issues.”
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