The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communications, Sunday Dare, on Wednesday dismissed concerns over Nigeria drifting into a one-party state, insisting that the crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress was self-inflicted and a “classic example of how not to run an opposition.”
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye, Dare said the ruling All Progressives Congress had no reason to undermine opposition parties, stressing that President Bola Tinubu was focused on governance, not partisan battles.
Dare said, “You know, what you’re seeing here is self-inflicted. The locus classicus we’re seeing right now is that the ADC, what has happened to it in the last several months, is a classic example of how not to run an opposition, how not to hijack and how not to run a party.
“You decide to come in through the back door. You decide to ignore the fact that there are petitions and pending court cases. You decide to think that because you’re in the opposition and you can shout very loudly.”
He argued that the opposition’s internal crisis stemmed from attempts to “come in through the back door” instead of building a political structure organically.
The presidential aide said, “Rather than wait for court judgments, you decided to hire a foreign lobby firm, protest on the streets and attack the President. What has the President got to do with it? Why not go to court and prove your case?
“Assuming what happened last week, where the names of David Mark and Aregbesola were not removed based on the judgment, ADC was on cruise control. They had the floor. Nobody complained at that time. You understand, but they brought this on themselves. It is self-inflicted. Why should we worry about that? How does that shrink the political space, or the democratic space?
“Because a few adults who came together to form a party decided that, rather than do the hard work of forming a political party, building it organically, they prefer to seize another ship by whatever means. Don’t forget, it is very instructive how the APC was formed. Three parties took time, held meetings, dissolved their identities into one.”
Dare maintained that the APC was not threatened by opposition parties, dismissing claims that the ruling party was orchestrating political instability to weaken its rivals.
He argued, “APC is not afraid of anything. The President has a legitimate mandate for four years and has busied himself with the affairs of the nation.”
Reacting to concerns about shrinking civic space and fears of a one-party state, Dare said there was no deliberate plan, covert or overt, to eliminate opposition. He added that democratic freedoms remained intact, citing the ability of opposition figures to protest and criticise the government openly.
He explained, “There’s no design to have just the APC on the ballot. We have over 20 registered political parties. Every party has the right to field candidates.
“The fact that opposition figures can approach INEC, protest freely and say whatever they want shows that the democratic space is alive.”
Dare also assured journalists of press freedom under the Tinubu administration, saying, “This President is a supporter and lover of the media. So long as you carry out your job professionally, this government will protect your right to do your job.”
On the President’s absence from the scheduled inauguration of projects across Lagos, Dare explained that Tinubu remained indoors to monitor worsening security developments across parts of the country. He noted that recent attacks in states such as Plateau, Kaduna and Niger required the President’s close attention as Commander-in-Chief.
He said, “The President has been busy taking constant security briefs, working with the intelligence community and making timely decisions. You cannot take those decisions in the absence of the Commander-in-Chief.”
Despite renewed attacks, Dare insisted that the Federal Government was making progress in the fight against terrorism.
“We are winning,” he said, citing the neutralisation of dozens of top terrorist leaders and the ongoing trial of at least 500 suspects.
According to him, “67 top terrorists have been neutralised, and over 500 hardened terrorists were recently moved to Abuja for prosecution.”
He added that Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts had earned commendation from the United States and the United Kingdom, with increased deployment of drones, intelligence sharing and military hardware.
Dare said, “The net has been spread wide. Notorious terrorist leaders have been eliminated. That is how modern warfare is prosecuted; once you cut off the head, the structure will weaken.”
While acknowledging ongoing attacks, the Presidential aide said insecurity predated the Tinubu administration and warned against expecting instant results.
He explained that recent attacks were concentrated in the North-Central region due to successful military operations in the North-East and North-West.
Responding to criticism of Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State following the Palm Sunday killings, Dare argued that the President’s engagement with stakeholders was outcome-driven, not symbolic.
“He met victims, spoke to them from the heart and charged leaders to consult further. The idea that he only spent 10 minutes is bunkum,” he said.
Punch
