By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged Nigerians to pray for the country in the New Year (2024) and brace up to use every legitimate means to resist (APC’s) fascist tendencies and defend the nation’s constitutional democracy from totalitarianism.

In a New Year message, the PDP prayed for the nation and wished Nigerians a happy New Year, saying that 2024 offers the citizens the opportunity to re-invent and assert themselves as free people under democratic order.

The opposition party said they could do this by setting aside ethnic, religious and political differences and joining their voices with it in resisting anti-democratic forces seeking to undermine the Constitution and the laws, emasculate institutions of democracy and foist a fascist regime on the nation.

It tasked the citizens to “say no” to anti-democratic actions and policies of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which are so far tilted towards the institutionalization of corruption, crippling of democracy institutions and sabotaging national productivity.

The PDP noted that the APC’s assault on democratic institutions including the emasculation of the National Assembly to prevent it from playing its constitutional role of holding the Executive accountable; the compromising of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the appointment of card-carrying APC members as Resident Electoral Commissioners and alleged attempts to also compromise the Judiciary and anti-corruption agencies were all pointers to emerging totalitarianism.

“The exhibition of fascist tendencies in the rendition of Tinubu’s campaign tune amidst proceedings in the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly and recent unconstitutional interference by President Tinubu on political developments on the issues in the Rivers State House of Assembly contrary to subsisting Order of Court and clear interpretation of constitutional provision by the Supreme Court further confirm a move towards authoritarianism.

“Nigerians and indeed the Civil Society must speak out against the recklessness and lack of transparency of the APC administration that led to the collapse of the Naira; the alleged massive looting of funds including proceeds from the removal of subsidy on petroleum products; the skewing of the 2024 budget in favour of luxury appetite of the Presidency and APC leaders without concrete policies and programmes to revive the economy, create jobs and address the comatose manufacturing and productive sectors.

“It is distressing that due to the counter-productive actions and policies of the Tinubu-led APC administration, including the failure to address the comatose infrastructure, major multinational giants that have established in the country for decades including GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble among others are now leaving in droves with attendant massive loss of jobs and businesses,” the PDP said.

It stated that the hardship, infrastructural stagnation and uncertainty occasioned by the anti-people economic policies of the Tinubu-led APC government had led to serious social dislocation of life and family with negative consequences on national life.

“Indeed, this is not the way to go! The PDP reassures its determination to lead the charge and use every legitimate means available to protect our nation’s democracy and constitutional order. The APC administration must know that the sovereignty and resources of this nation belong to all its people and cannot be appropriated by any individual or group.

“Our party again tasks the National Assembly to be on the side of the people by immediately reviewing and adjusting the 2024 budget by cutting all provisions for luxury items and channelling such funds to sectors that have a direct bearing on the wellbeing of Nigerians. The party also charges leaders at all levels to use the new year to re-double their efforts in serving and seeking the good of the citizens,” the opposition party said.