The leadership of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the President Bola Tinubu led government against deploying troops to Niger Republic.
The Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS), had issued a seven-day ultimatum, which expires today, for the country to return to democratic rule or face military action.
Issuing this warning after a meeting in Abuja on Saturday, the opposition stalwarts said it is risky to deploy troops to Niger Republic.
The party urged Tinubu to consider dialogue as a means to resolve the ongoing political impass.
Present at the meeting were the party’s sitting governors, its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by the Acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
The parry leadership also urged the Tinubu led government to consider reducing its number of ministers to cut the cost of governance.
The opposition argued that it is excessive to appoint 48 ministers and several advisers considering the prevailing economic hardship in the country.
The party also reiterated its commitment and support to the Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and vowed to rescue their stolen mandate in the tribunal, adding that they would do everything lawful towards achieving their mandate.
However, former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his allies were absent from the meeting.
The party also warned its members and leaders that they will no longer tolerate anti-party activities and sabotage.
The party spoke on the need for party discipline and re-iterated zero tolerance for anti-party activities and sabotage.
“The meeting emphasised the need for party discipline and re-iterated zero tolerance for anti-party activities and sabotage. No individual or group of individuals will be allowed to undermine the unity of the party and its processes,” the party’s communique partly read.
“The meeting is committed to repositioning and stabilising the party. To this end, the healing and reconciliation process are in progress and yielding results. The meeting signalled that unity and loyalty are still core values of the PDP and would be rewarded. To this end, all the governors and organs of the party solidly support the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, to rescue the stolen mandate in the tribunal and would do everything lawful towards achieving this,” it added.
Recall that the leadership of the Nigerian Senate had on Saturday turned down Tinubu’s request to invade Niger.
Tinubu led ECOWAS had earlier asked the Nigeria senate to give it the go ahead to invade Niger as it looks to oust the country’s military leadership that siezed power from the country’s democratically elected government
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