AFTER meeting for about five hours in Abuja,
All Progressive Congress (APC)leaders issued
yesterday a damming verdict on the state of
the nation.
The party scolded President Goodluck
Jonathan for handling security and the Boko
Haram insurgency with “political naivety”.
It urged the President to dust up the Lemu
Panel’s Report and compensate victims of the
insurgency.
Besides, the party advised the President to
show leadership by working with striking
university lecturers instead of threatening
them.
It accused the Federal Government of using
anti-graft agencies to persecute governors and
perceived political enemies.
The party expressed regrets that the police
had been turned into a wing of the Presidency
and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to
deal with opponents.
It said the deployment of the police for
intimidation and coercion in some states is
against the principle of federalism
The APC, which made its position known in a
communiqué at the end of a strategic session
at the Kano Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro
District, Abuja, said Nigeria was becoming a
neo-fascist state.
The session, which began at about 8.30pm on
Tuesday, ended at about 12.20am yesterday.
In the communiqué, read by its National
Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, the APC leader
said while corruption has remained endemic
under the Jonathan’s administration, the
government is compounding the situation with
abuse of anti-graft agencies.
The party said: “Since the declaration of State
of Emergency in key Northeastern states
affected by the insurgency, life and property
have been under severe attacks.
“A large number of residents have been
displaced and forced to migrate to adjoining
states or outside the country. These victims
have been uprooted from their homes, families
and jobs. They have lost hope in the ability of
their country to protect them.
“Clearly the State of Emergency has failed. To
make the matters worse, the elected governors
and the other stakeholders of the areas are
ignored and totally excluded by the Federal
Government agencies.
“Never since the Nigerian Civil War has a
major military establishment been so
grounded as the onslaught on the military
base in Maiduguri on December 2nd, 2013.
“This gradual deterioration of security and
mounting civilian casualties are symptomatic
of the failure of intelligence, political naivety
and disconnect between the Jonathan
administration and current realities of the
Nigerian situation.”
The APC demanded compensation for victims
of insurgency.
It said: “The issue of compensation should not
be one of negotiation. The government must
compensate victims. The Lemu Report with its
template for an interim escape route provides
the basis for constructive engagement.
“We urge the government to dust it up along
relevant reports on Nigerian security to assist
it in its strategy towards effective national
security.”
On the university lecturers’ strike, the party
said Nigerians should blame the Federal
Government.
It urged President Jonathan’s administration
to show leadership by working with the varsity
lecturers to salvage the system.
Said the APC: “The protracted strike is not so
much the fault of the lecturers but that of
Jonathan administration to confront key
issues of university education and
administration today.
“The current impasse has paralysed tertiary
education nationwide, compromised security
by creating idle youth, potentially foreclosing
prospects for a bright future.
“Now is the time for Jonathan administration
to show leadership by working with university
lecturers to find a lasting solution to the
challenges confronting university education, in
terms of funding, infrastructure, standards,
welfare and administration.
“This is not the time for threats but
partnerships and compromise because the
youths are our best resources for tomorrow.
“As a political party, as parents and
guardians, our heart goes out to millions of
our youths who have been deprived their right
to education for over half of an academic
session through no fault of theirs.”
The APC accused the Federal Government of
using anti-graft agencies to persecute
governors and perceived political enemies.
It said: “The abuse of public institutions by
the Federal Government and the ruling party in
persecuting perceived political enemies
undermines the integrity of these institutions
and subverts the rule of law.
“We have watched the trend in which selected
governors and other top political figures are
being victimised.
“This does not augur well for a civil
relationship in our body politic. It emphasises
revenge over fairness and breeds malice,
rancour and distrust.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, we will wage a
consistent and persistent war against
corruption and plug wastages. Corruption
under the current Federal Government is
endemic and Nigeria’s rating has never been
this bad.”
The party faulted how the Police had been
turned into the “Rottweiler” of the Presidency
and the ruling party.
“The Presidency and the ruling party have
deployed the police against the highest
principles of federalism,” the APC said, adding:
“Examples of Rivers and Abuja governors’
meeting at Kano Governor’s Lodge where even
subordinate police officers act with impunity
that has turned Nigeria into a neo-fascist
state.
“This contradicts the very basis of democracy,
violates the fundamental rights of citizens and
elected officers who do not belong to the
ruling party and perceived as enemies of the
Presidency.”
The APC restated its demand for the overhaul
of the Independent National Electoral
Commission(INEC).
It said: “Less than six months to elections in
Ekiti and Osun, with 2015 looming ahead, we
are burdened with an INEC that has been de-
robed in the public eye, unprepared,
compromised and does not inspire faith in the
electorate.
“The scale of electoral fraud witnessed in Delta
and Anambra portends grave danger for our
democracy. INEC needs an urgent and
necessary overhaul.
“The APC calls for full implementation of
Justice Muhammadu Uwais Report on
electoral reforms. Rather than a selective
approach, we demand a wholesale
implementation of the recommendations
submitted.
“The independence of INEC, the institution of
full biometrics that can guarantee the
protection of one man, one vote and the
integrity of the election process are
cornerstone of a credible electoral system.”
Some of the APC leaders at the session were
former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari; former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu; former Borno State Governor
Modu Ali Sheriff; former Bayelsa State
Governor Timipre Sylva and former EFCC
Chairman Nuhu Ribadu. National Publicity
Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed was there.
Others included Governors Ibikunle Amosun
(Ogun); Rotimi Amaechi(Rivers); Aliyu
Wamakko(Sokoto); Kayode Fayemi(Ekiti);
Murtala Nyako(Adamawa); Abdulfatai Ahmed
(Kwara); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Babatunde Raji
Fashola(Lagos); and Rabiu Kwankwanso
(Kano).
House of Representatives Speaker Aminu
Tambuwal was seen at the lodge, but his
mission was unclear at press time.

Why can't these parties stop talking sef

If na apc be d ruling party, dem go do worse things.

shadydeals: If na apc be d ruling party, dem go do worse things.

Yet APC justified Fashola’s sacking of all Doctors in Lagos.

All this APC aka boko's party are in to frustrate PDP with there every move, them not no say we Nigerian Don wise up

Team gej
2015

Hahahahaha!

ASUU is a pet dog of the APC or what?

Emm, in that case all South East and South South ASUU members should leave the useless union with immediate effect.

It is obvious that they have become a pressure group for the Boko Haram Party!
What nonsense!

When all well meaning Nigerians were pleading with ASUU to shift ground, where was APC?

noblezone: Hahahahaha!

ASUU is a pet dog of the APC or what?

Emm, in that case all South East and South South ASUU members should leave the useless union with immediate effect.

It is obvious that they have become a pressure group for the Boko Haram Party!
What nonsense!

When all well meaning Nigerians were pleading with ASUU to shift ground, where was APC?

Tribalism is a dreaded disease without known cure.

Is this not the same APC that defended fashola for sacking more than 1000 doctors that went on strike? Smh for Naija polithiefcians sha

Its a shame that APC has reduced themselves to the mouth piece of ASUU

dirifred: Its a shame that APC has reduced themselves to the mouth piece of ASUU

can't stop laughing as in the mouth piece of the gods in movies, APC rant as you like gej for 2015