By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister, Barr. Nysome Wike has declared that Nigeria’s democracy is not under threat as he slammed the Turaki – led PDP faction’s
call for foreign intervention.
Wike reacted to the factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tanimu Turaki’s recent claims that Nigeria’s democracy is threatened as a reckless political statement intended to ignite national tension.
Wike stated this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja by the board and management of the newly established South-South Development Commission (SSDC), led by the board chairman, Prince Chinudom Nwuche and managing director, Ms. Usoro Akpabio.
The minister used the occasion to address what he described as a “dangerous and irresponsible political statement ” following Turaki’s televised allegation that Christians were facing genocide in Nigeria and his claim that the country’s democracy needed foreign intervention to survive.
According to the minister, such statements amount to a national security threat and misrepresent the country before the international community.
“Look at what someone said yesterday. You have internal crises in your party, yet you go on national television, and you are telling the world that this government is committing genocide. And when security agencies invite you to clarify your claims, people shout, ‘They want to kill him!’
” This is a national security threat. Some are even calling on Trump to ‘save their democracy.’ How can you call an outsider to save you when you can’t obey a simple court order?” Wike queried.
The minister emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy is stable and not in danger, adding that the real threat lies in political actors who deliberately cause conflict.
“You cannot keep your house in order. Then you blame others for your failures. Impunity cannot continue,” he said.
