Opinion: What the PDP must do

The office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has never, in the history of this country, faced such denigration as seen between 2011-2015. The total disrespect of the highest office in the country was orchestrated by the leaders of the APC, her supporters and sympathisers.

It is worthy to remind us that the holder of that office represents the country irrespective of our opinions of him. The office of the President, the National Flag, the Coat of Arms, the Pledge and the National Anthem are our National Symbols that every Nigerian must pledge to and respect.

Now that General Muhammad Buhari will, by May 29, assume office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, all Nigerians must transfer their allegiance to him, give him every support possible to succeed as his success is that of Nigeria. If there is one thing I want more than anything to happen to Nigeria is to see her grow to assume and play her role as the Giant of Africa. This can only happen if we all work as a team.

As an ardent supporter of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan government, and my belief that he remains the best President Nigeria has had since her independence, not minding my reservations about the just concluded general elections, I call on all supporters of the Jonathan government, all PDP supporters and sympathisers to lend their support and prayers to the incoming administration.

We (Nigerians) must constructively criticise unpopular policies of the Buhari government, we must politely point the Buhari government to the right direction if she derails, we must peacefully mobilise and protest unwanted government inplementations, we must remind President Buhari and the APC government of their bogus promises; to make N1.00 equal to $1.00, to reduce PMS pump price to N40.00, to pay poor Nigerians N5,000.00 monthly, to give free food to poor children etc. We must do all these things but without abusing or disrespecting the office of the president. The PDP must show decorum in her new role as the opposition party and be ready to teach the APC how a good opposition party should position itself.

The PDP must not make the country or any part of the country ungovernable for the APC. The PDP must not call the President clueless no matter how unpopular his government is. The PDP must not fabricate lies against the APC led government in order to sway citizens' sympathy. The PDP must be a party to partner with the APC to ensure that the APC government give Nigerians the leadership they deserve.

I love my country, I love Nigeria.

If Nigeria wakes up; if Nigeria works; if Nigeria grows; if Nigeria stabilises; if Nigeria treats Nigerians as Nigerians and not as Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Ijaw, Tiv, Itshekiri, Idoma etc; if Nigeria addresses political, economic and social inequalities within; they will cease to be a MASSOB, OPC, ACF, MEND, BOKO HARAM et al.

I love my country, I love Nigeria.

I believe my wishes for Nigeria are our wishes. I believe we Nigerians are tired if tribalism. I believe we are tired of politics of ethnicity, politics of religion, politics of class and social status. I believe we are tired of high unemployment rate. I believe we are tired of epileptic electricity. I believe we are tired of inadequate and decayed infrastructure. I believe we are tired of corruption. I believe we are tired of unaccountable public officers. I believe we are tired of greedy lawmakers. I believe we are tired of politicians whose only business is politics.

I love my country, I love Nigeria.

Cece Mezie Muoka