The newly installed National Chairman of the All Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has said the task before the party is to rescue Nigeria from the “mortal danger” brought upon country by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration.
Mark spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during the take over of the ADC structure from its original owners.
In his inaugural, address, the former President of the Senate slammed the current APC leadership for abandoning governance for politicking while poverty ravages the land.
“It is imperative to state that our democracy has a history, which is the reason why we all affirm that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain. Today, the labour of our heroes is under vicious attack and our Republic faces a mortal danger.
“We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications. A government more concerned with the next election rather than the survival of the ordinary Nigerians. A government so totally consumed with politicking that governance is abandoned, while the majority of our people wallow in hunger and poverty.
“Let it be known to all, that this coalition of national political opposition groups goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.
Mark said the party is fully prepared for a long, difficult and tedious journey ahead, stressing, however, that. “no price or sacrifice is too high in the service of our fatherland.”
He lamented over what he described as a hijack of all democratic institutions by the APC adminstartion, which he said, had sent the country on a creeping descent into total civilian dictatorship.
“The blatant destabilisation and infiltration of all major opposition political parties is aimed at achieving only one objective; to enhance total state capture and leave Nigerians with no alternative or options in 2027. This coalition is to prevent our country’s descent into a one-party state.
“Equally disturbing, is the total emasculation of the legislative institution. Never in our history, have we witnessed a National Assembly where legislators, the trustees of the very bastion of our democracy, saddled with the sacred duty to protect Nigerians from misuse of executive power, are reduced to cheerleaders and praise singers of the President, head of the executive arm.
“Without doubt, the transformation of Nigeria’s National Assembly to a mere appendage of presidential authority is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people. It is the reason why the government is able to get away with various whimsical, unconstitutional policies and actions or inactions that have forced more Nigerians into abject poverty and widened the boundaries of insecurity and fear.
“Our mission transcends any electoral calendar. It is a commitment to rebuild the guardrails of our democracy, to anchor power once again in the will of the people, and to hand to our children a nation worthy of their talents and their dreams.” he added.
The ADC bemoaned the rising insecurity in the land, typified by terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities, regretting that the administration appeared unprepared for the task of securing the country and its people.
Mark said, “We have never seen this level of insecurity across the length and breadth of our nation. Bandits and kidnappers kill Nigerians at will and on a daily basis. Yet, this ongoing tragedy has not moved the government to any action that would stop these mindless killings and stem the tide of needless bloodshed.
“Indeed, the Nigerian people deserve a government that protects them and make them feel safe in their own homes.
“Nigerians who share in our belief that all of us, the young and the old, man and woman, rich and poor, living with disabilities or not, town dwellers or villagers, we all have the patriotic duty to save our country.
“Accordingly, to all suffering Nigerians who are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet; for whom the next meal is not guaranteed, this coalition is for you.”
There was a long list of attendees at the meeting
The roll call: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Peter Obi; Datti Baba Ahmed; former Senate President, David Mark; former APC national chairman, Chief John Oyegun; erstwhile ADC national chairman, Ralph Nwosu former Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola; former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; former Attorney General, Abubakar Malami; factional Labour Party chairman, Esther Usman; former Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai El-Rufai; former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam; former Adamawa State Governor, Jibrilla Bindo; former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha; former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke; former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; PDP elderstatesman, Aminu Wali; former Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi; Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe; Senator Victor Umeh; former SGF, Babachir Lawal; a former Buhari aide, Lauretta Onochie; Senator Ireti Kingibe; former PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus; Senator Tunde Ogbeha; Borno strongman, Kashim Imam; Celestine Omehia; former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar; former Edo State Governor, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor.
