Gbenga Hashim, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he is not intimidated by alleged legal and political manoeuvres aimed at weakening opposition parties.
In a statement on Wednesday, he insisted that Nigeria’s multiparty democracy remains firmly rooted, adding that he was “not intimidated by the legal and political subterfuges sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”
He said Nigeria’s political history showed that no individual or party had ever succeeded in monopolising power, noting that pluralism had been central to the country’s democratic evolution since independence.
“Nigeria has always been committed to multiparty democracy. Even in the First Republic, political power was never concentrated in the hands of one man or one party, “he said
He recalled that in the first Republic, despite the dominance of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) under the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, other political movements such as Aminu NEPU (Northern Elements Progressives Union), Middle Belt Congress (MBC) and Borno Peoples Union wielded considerable influence.
Hashim said a similar pattern existed in the South West, where the Action Group competed with the NCNC, alongside regional platforms such as the Ibadan Peoples Party.
“Our democracy has never been a democracy of one star flying in its firmament. In our sky are thousands of stars,” he said.
Drawing parallels with history, Hashim likened the current political climate to the failed self-succession agenda of the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha.
“We are living witnesses to the failure of that plot,” he noted, warning that although today’s situation carried “a more sinister twist,” the outcome would be no different.
“While Abacha sought to make himself the sole candidate of all parties, the current agenda is to ensure that no major party is strong enough to field a credible candidate,” Hashim stated.
“Just as the Abacha plot ended unrealised, this infantile machination will end in disaster for its authors, by the grace of God”, he said.
Hashim also recalled his involvement in the struggle against military rule, stressing that the resistance was organised from within Nigeria.
“We fought the self-succession plot here at home, not as self-styled exiled democrats sipping cognac in foreign embassies,” he said.
He disclosed that he was part of the internal resistance delegation present at Fort IBB on June 8, 1998, at a critical moment marked by heavy military movements.
Hashim expressed confidence that history would repeat itself.
“The same God who granted us the grace to witness the collapse of the Abacha plot will also help us see the end of the APC or no-other-party agenda,” he said.
