Barely six months into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Federal Government, it came under severe criticism yesterday over alleged unfulfilled campaign promises.
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and some other leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke at a one-day 2015 PDP National Conference held in Abuja.
However, former president, Goodluck Jonathan, former vice president, Namadi Sambo and founding fathers of the party, such as former president Ibrahim Babangida, former vice president, Alex Ekwueme, former senate presidents, Ken Nnamani, David Mark, former chairman of PDP, Ahmadu Ali, former minister of finance, Adamu Ciroma, among others, were absent.
The conference, with the theme: ‘PDP and The Sustenance of Democratic Ideals in Nigeria’, is the first since the party lost the 2015 general elections.
Ekweremadu said “it is evident that while a party may ride to power on the wings of propaganda, it takes more than propaganda to govern well and retain goodwill.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) won by promising much more than they could deliver, hoping to deliver less. Unfortunately, the chicken has come home to roost sooner than anticipated. No campaign promise, I repeat, no promise made by the present APC administration, has been kept,” he stressed.
He explained that “despite the promised Eldorado, the APC-led administration has driven our economy to the point where they confess that the nation is broke.
“Inflation has nearly hit double digits high, rising to 9.4 per cent in October from 9.3 per cent in September. Unemployment rate has hit the rooftop since May 2015, with the construction industry laying off tens of thousands of workers
There is massive job loss in the banking sector. Many businesses are being grounded because they can no longer buy spare parts or restock from Europe, China, Dubai, among others. The system is locked down.
The capital market has lost over N400 billion in recent months. “This nosedive is due mainly to the free fall of the naira, absence of clear economic direction, delay in the appointment of ministers, the cramping monetary policy of the administration and the exclusion of Nigeria from the J.P Morgan Bond Index. Indeed, recession stares us in the face,” he lamented.
Earlier, National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, noted that the conference is aimed at reliving the ideals, values and inspiration of the founding fathers of the party.
A communique at the end of the conference said PDP at all levels shall continue to ensure credible, robust and issue-based opposition, while promoting harmonious relationship among all people and ensuring that citizens’ confidence in democracy does not wane.
“Conscious of the imperative of a quick PDP rebound, the conference called for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of PDP Post-Election Review Committee Report, especially those relating to zoning, internal democracy, e-registration and the restructuring of the party at all levels, with a view to giving the party back to the rightful owners – the people.
“Condemned in strongest terms the growing authoritarianism of the APC-led Federal Government, which has been characterised by gross violation of human rights, constitutional infractions, invasion of a governor’s lodge and private homes, deliberate interference and instigation of crisis in the legislature, arm-twisting of the judiciary, undermining of democratic institutions like INEC, nepotism in appointments, abuse of power and clamp down on opposition elements.
“Denounced the prevailing selective application in the fight against corruption, targeted at opposition elements and perceived opponents of the regime, while APC members with corruption charges are being rewarded with ministerial positions and other juicy appointments, as well as APC tickets in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
“Vehemently rejected the current manipulation of the judiciary and security forces by the APC-led Federal Government in its desperate bid to subvert the sovereign will of the people and forcefully take over states genuinely won by PDP in the last general elections and ultimately impose a one-party state in Nigeria.”
