Ola Akinwunmi
Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has responded to President Bola Tinubu’s recent jibes at the state of Nigeria’s opposition parties, acknowledging the internal challenges faced by his own People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but asserting the party’s capacity for self-correction.
President Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address on Thursday, openly expressed amusement at the disarray within opposition ranks. “It is a joy to see the opposition in disarray,” Tinubu declared, adding, “For me, I will not say, try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you to do so, either.” He also dismissed accusations that his administration was orchestrating defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to establish a one-party state.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the Democracy Day ceremony at the National Assembly, Saraki conceded that the PDP is indeed grappling with internal issues. However, he maintained a confident stance on the party’s ability to overcome these hurdles.
“I think we must take him at his words,” Saraki stated, referring to Tinubu’s comment about not seeking a one-party system. “I mean, he spoke well, saying that he’s not for a one-party state. So we must take him at his word, and he supports a multi-party. So we are all on the same page.”
Saraki further called on the PDP and other opposition groups to prioritize self-correction and reorganization. “That’s why we are going around and bringing everybody to come around,” he explained. “So those who say they are under pressure, there is no pressure anymore. So, we’re all for multi-party, and everybody should get their house in order, as he said, he’s not going to help us, so we are going to sort our own house again.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing political jostling in Nigeria, with the ruling party seemingly relishing the struggles within the opposition, while key opposition figures like Saraki insist on their capacity for revival and continued relevance in the nation’s multi-party democracy. The coming months will reveal if the PDP can indeed “sort itself out” and present a more unified front to challenge the incumbent government.