PDP considers legal action against
asset seizure executive order
- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was
considering a legal action against President Buhari's
executive order
- PDP described the asset seizure Executive Order as
total disregard to the provisions of 1999 constitution
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) On Friday,
July 6, in Abuja, said it was considering a legal
action against asset seizure executive order
imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
PDP in a statement issued by its national
publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan described
the order as illegal, unconstitutional,
reprehensible and a dangerous step towards a
descent to fascism, News Agency of Nigeria
reports.
The party described the asset seizure executive
order as total disregard to the provisions of 1999
constitution.
“Already, our lawyers are considering a legal action against
the Federal Government on the illegality of Mr. president’s
action in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.’’
The party said that the Nigerian constitution did
not, under any section, confer such fascist
powers on the president under democracy.
It said that there could be no legitimate latitude
of interpretation placed on sections 5 and 15 (5)
of the 1999 Constitution cited as justifications for
the executive order.
PDP said that the president unilateral executive
order was a travesty of justice and rule of law
“as it vehemently seeks to hijack and usurp the
powers of both the legislature and the courts’’.
It added that the president also vest to take the
power on himself in order to use it at will, as a
political instrument, to haunt, traumatize, harass
and victimize perceived political opponents.
“Mr president wants to change our democratic governance
to a military regime, in line with his lamentation, two days
ago, that the fight against corruption will be better under a
military regime than under a democracy.
“It is instructive to emphasize that the PDP is not in any
way opposed to the fight against corruption.
“Rather, the party holds that the imposition of this
executive order, which is radically at variance with the
provisions of the constitution, is totally unacceptable.
“PDP takes this Executive Order 6 of 2018 as a re-
enactment of the obnoxious Decree 2 of 1984, which
incidentally was also an enactment under then military
head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari.
“This must not be permitted in our current democratic
dispensation.’’
PDP said that if the order was allowed, it would
confer limitless powers on Mr president.
“In a democracy, the role of the executive arm of
government is to enforce court orders/judgments handed
down based on the interpretation of existing laws.
“Any suggestion to the contrary, as clearly intended by this
executive order, is totally an aberration and inconsistent
with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’
The party urged the judiciary and the legislature
to save Nigeria by rejecting the executive order.
“Nigeria is a democratic state run by the dictates
of the law and the constitution and not by the
rule of the thumb of any elected officer,” it
added.
