•George, Tinubu and Trump
Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that the suppression of opposition and erosion of democratic institutions can lead to Venezuela experience.
The Atona Oodua of Yorubaland in a press statement yesterday warned that Nigeria is at a critical junction in its journey, stressing that democracy thrives on a plurality of ideas, not the silence of the graveyard, reports Daily Independent.
The statement reads, “We stand at a critical junction in our nation’s journey. The air is thick with apprehension, not because of a lack of potential, but because of a systematic erosion of the democratic values that bind us together.
“First, we must address the alarming pattern of hostility directed toward dissenting voices.
“The harassment of Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde of Bauchi and Oyo States respectively, is not merely a political skirmish; it’s a calculated assault on the federalist structure of our nation. “When state executives are intimidated for holding different views, it signals a dangerous slide toward a one-party state.
“Democracy thrives on a plurality of ideas, not the silence of the graveyard. While our people grapple with unprecedented hardship, we see a jarring disconnect in the corridors of power. The massive contributions toward a private library for the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, represent a profound insensitivity to the current economic climate. In a land where millions go to bed hungry, such funds would have been better utilized in ameliorating the biting poverty that has become the daily companion of the average Nigerian.
“Leadership must be about service and sacrifice, not the curation of legacies while the people suffer.
“Furthermore, we call upon the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN)
“The credibility of our democracy rests squarely on your shoulders. You must be just; you must be fair. The era of ‘miracle results’ and technical glitches must end. Nigeria deserves transparent, free, and fair elections where the ballot — not the ‘arrangement’ — determines the victor.”
While reacting to the new tax law, George said, “To the government of President Bola Tinubu, we urge a rethink of current trajectories. The prevailing taxation policies are suffocating the very businesses and individuals they should be empowering.
“While revenue is necessary, it mustn’t come at the cost of the people’s survival. More distressing is the apparent effort to create an environment that infringes on the right to existence of opposition parties. A democracy without a viable opposition is a dictatorship in disguise.
On why Nigeria should learn from the Venezuela experience, the PDP leader said, “We live in a global village, and we must learn from the shadows of history. We need only look at the Venezuela experience to see the consequences of hyper-taxation, the suppression of opposition, and the erosion of democratic institutions. Venezuela serves as a stark reminder that even the most resource-rich nations can crumble when leadership prioritizes power over the people.
“Let’s choose a different path. Let’s protect our governors, respect our citizens’ pockets, and ensure our electoral process is beyond reproach. The soul of our nation depends on it.”
