Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a former Minister of Transport and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday lambasted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying there is nothing progressive about the policies and practices of the party.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday INDEPENDENT in Lagos, Babatope, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP also said claims by some people that the late Obafemi Awolowo would have been a member of APC if alive is a utter rubbish.
According to him, Awolowo while alive fought against oppression of the down-trodden and ensured fairness, justice and equity for all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or social background. All these, he said are lacking in APC.
“The APC call themselves progressives but in actual fact. There is no political party that is progressive in Nigeria today. Anybody who says Papa Obafemi Awolowo would have been a part of them if alive is just saying nonsense and wasting his time.
“Awolowo believed very much in the plight of the common people and ensured that they have a fair share in the governance of the country. That is why Nigerians have not forgotten the likes of Awolowo today.
“Where is the progressivism in APC today? Under their government, people are dying right, left, back and centre in this country and yet they say they are progressives. Anytime I listen to the news in Nigeria today, the first major items are issues relating to killings, kidnappings and mass murder. What kind of progressiveness is that?
“I want to plead with them that they should kindly put the interest of Nigerians at heart. I am also placing it on record that Nigeria is greater than all of us and therefore we must do everything that will aid the cause of peace, justice and fairness in the country.
“But as it is now, there is nothing progressive about the APC. They are only progressive by name, not by conduct,” he said.
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