Prominent lawyer and democracy activist Deji Adeyanju has called out the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party for failing to provide credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), urging them to rise to their responsibilities.
His remarks, which criticised the opposition parties’ leadership and their inability to hold the government accountable, have sparked threats of legal action from the acting National Chairman and Secretary of the PDP.
Adeyanju in an interview with Arise News, responded to threats of legal action by the acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over his recent remarks criticising the opposition parties.
He defended his statements, insisting they were aimed at urging the opposition to fulfil their responsibility of holding the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accountable.
“I’m happy and excited that it has gotten their attention,” Adeyanju said.
“The idea behind these remarks, the majority of these remarks, is for people in the opposition to be alive to the responsibility of holding government accountable at all levels.
“The PDP and the Labour Party have not held government accountable, and they have not been credible oppositions to the APC government, and they must do better.”
However, Adeyanju remained unshaken, describing the threats as an attempt to stifle critical voices and vowing to defend his position in court if necessary.
When asked about the PDP’s threats to sue, Adeyanju expressed his readiness to face any legal challenge. “For me, basically, I’m of the opinion that if metrical statements were made concerning people and they feel like they want to sue me, so be it. I would be glad and willing,” he stated.
“I’ve said it time and again that arrest is like public relations for me, and jail is campaign for me. Those are some of the things I enjoy.”
He emphasised that his criticism was not driven by personal animosity. “There is no malice against anyone. All I’m asking is for the opposition to be a credible one, to wake up to their responsibility, to be alive to opposing the government,” he said.
Adeyanju accused the current PDP leadership under Acting National Chairman Umar Damagun of enabling APC’s dominance. “Evidence abounds that this current PDP, led by Damagun, has strengthened the APC rule, the APC misrule, the APC’s effrontery in crushing the set and voices of opposition,” he said.
Citing specific examples, he alleged that PDP officials in Rivers State had supported efforts to unseat the governor despite legal precedents that defectors should lose their seats. “In River state, this particular chairman and executive from PDP have aided People who had wanted to remove the governor from office.
“The law is settled that when people defect that they lose their seat.
“We’ve withdrawn court cases, but of recent, which is very well commendable, he [Damagun] wrote a letter,” Adeyanju added.
Adeyanju also addressed the threats of silencing dissenting voices through legal action. “They must prove to us, critical voices like us who have courageously spoken against this government, if they feel that by silencing us with some threat of suing us, dragging us before the court or the prison, that’s the best way to strengthen democracy. We are ready. They should bring the game on,” he declared.
“We are always unapologetically ready to challenge them. Even if they have the backing of government, we would still challenge them.”
He maintained that his criticisms were grounded in facts. “I would not intentionally say things that I do not have evidence or credible intel to back up. When the time comes, we shall cross the bridge,” he assured.
Calling on all members of opposition parties, Adeyanju urged them to prioritise their duty of holding the government accountable. “Every opposition party should keep all their aspirations, ambitions, and life goals aside, and let’s take the APC as one common enemy. Let us face the APC because if we do not oppose the government, we will not have a country where we can do elections in 2027,” he warned.
Concluding his remarks, Adeyanju said, “Everyone must come together and see the ruling party as people we need to hold accountable, people we need to challenge, so that we can have a credible and wonderful country to call our own.”
Boluwatife Enome
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