Former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Mutuh, has warned that attacks on government officials such as the one directed at the Chief of Staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, in recent times, are dangerous to the nation’s democracy.
Recall that an allegation has surfaced particularly in social media that about N10 billion has been voted in the 2024 budget for the renovation of the house of the former speaker of the House of Representatives, which he has flatly denied.
Weighing in on the allegation in a statement on Thursday, Metuh, recalled how he had been a victim of media trial and persecution, saying that there appears to be a descent into gossip, lies and outright falsehood by anti-democratic forces.
He observed that the attacks on the chief of staff are deliberately orchestrated to tarnish his image, admonishing that people should focus on issue-based engagements.
Asserting that he did not know whether Gbajabiamila’s trivial is sponsored internally or externally, Metuh urged his critics to be guided by the truth and patriotism.
While calling for constructive opposition based on facts and offering alternatives, he praised the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last election, Peter Obi, for the way he voices his belief.
The statement reads: “I have just read the clarification by the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila on the widely circulated and very damaging report alleging the allocation of N10 billion to renovate his official residence.
“From all indications, there appears to be a clear and present plan to attack, vilify and tarnish the image of the Chief of Staff to the President.
“It is indeed alarming that our democracy has descended to the realm of gossip, lies and outright falsehood machinated by anti-democratic forces seeking to further breed resentments, bitterness, division disagreements in the polity.
“While not holding brief for any interest, I believe, especially from my standpoint as a non-partisan advocate for the deepening of participatory democracy and its tenets of social justice and good governance, such participation must be devoid of falsehood, political, creed and ethnic undertones. It must be guided by the demands of truth, justice and patriotism at all times.
“Targeting a government official such as the Chief of Staff to the President with gossip, lies and outright falsehood is not the way to go. No matter how strongly one feels about any issue, lies cannot yield the desired result for nation development we all yearn for; only the truth will.
“Having suffered from one of the worst media trials and persecution, albeit state-sponsored, I know what it means to be confronted with a web of lies built on conspiracy.
“In my days of partisan politics, I never shared the same political ideology with Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila but I have always known him to be from a very respectable pedigree with family values, way back in Mercy Eneli Street, Surulere, Lagos and we know him to be from a wealthy background.
“Just a few months ago, Mr President himself made a clear confirmation of confidence in his Chief of staff in the light of the rumours and falsehood of his demanding money from people.
“I do not know whether Femi’s attacks are sponsored internally as a case of intense rivalry or externally as a way of disorganising the government, but I know that our present style of pull-him-down politics is too destructive and does not add any value to nation building.
“The idea of mostly young Nigerians to embrace and feast on destructive engagements may ultimately destroy our democracy. I hope this is not the intention of the sponsors.
“To deepen our democracy, we need to engage in constructive opposition built on facts and offering of alternatives and options to government policies and programmes. I will always appreciate the style of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, in always offering his own opinions on major policies.
“I strongly believe that this is the time for all Nigerians, irrespective of partisan affiliation to embrace best practices in participatory democracy by proffering and focusing on solutions for the unity, cohesiveness and economic prosperity of our nation.
“I urge all government officials at all levels to reassure Nigerians by intensifying efforts in their respective tasks while remaining transparent, accessible and accountable at all times.
“Meanwhile, Let Femi Gbajabiamila breathe!”
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