LAGOS
– President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday reacted to criticism of his
government by opposition leaders during the national convention of the Action
Congress of Nigeria, ACN, last week in Lagos, dismissing them as people who do
not have what it takes to move the nation forward.
– President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday reacted to criticism of his
government by opposition leaders during the national convention of the Action
Congress of Nigeria, ACN, last week in Lagos, dismissing them as people who do
not have what it takes to move the nation forward.
The
president who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr.
Doyin Okupe, at a press conference in Lagos condemned the ‘penchant’ of
opposition leaders to denigrate the government and the nation, and assured that
the government will not be distracted by their ‘empty’ criticisms in its unrelenting
drive to transform the nation’s social, economic and political landscape.
president who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr.
Doyin Okupe, at a press conference in Lagos condemned the ‘penchant’ of
opposition leaders to denigrate the government and the nation, and assured that
the government will not be distracted by their ‘empty’ criticisms in its unrelenting
drive to transform the nation’s social, economic and political landscape.
He described
General Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who criticised his
administration at the convention as “heavily burdened political liabilities.”
General Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who criticised his
administration at the convention as “heavily burdened political liabilities.”
He also reacted
to the decision of two nominated members of the Boko Haram committee, Mallam
Shehu Sanni and Alhaji Datti Ahmed, to reject their membership of the
committee, saying it was an unfortunate development which, however, will not
affect the work of the panel.
to the decision of two nominated members of the Boko Haram committee, Mallam
Shehu Sanni and Alhaji Datti Ahmed, to reject their membership of the
committee, saying it was an unfortunate development which, however, will not
affect the work of the panel.
Okupe said
the two were included in the committee because of their earlier personal
initiatives to help resolve the crisis, and that they should have seen their
inclusion in the committee as an honour to serve the government and their
country, as people in several other countries see such calls to service.
the two were included in the committee because of their earlier personal
initiatives to help resolve the crisis, and that they should have seen their
inclusion in the committee as an honour to serve the government and their
country, as people in several other countries see such calls to service.
His
assertions nonetheless, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, yesterday
pressed further its allegations of incapacity on the part of the Federal
Government saying the administration has wholly politicized the national
security crisis in the country.
assertions nonetheless, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, yesterday
pressed further its allegations of incapacity on the part of the Federal
Government saying the administration has wholly politicized the national
security crisis in the country.
On
corruption, the President’s adviser said it didn’t start with this
administration, adding that a problem of about 50 years cannot be wiped out
overnight.
corruption, the President’s adviser said it didn’t start with this
administration, adding that a problem of about 50 years cannot be wiped out
overnight.
Okupe also
explained that it was in a bid to reinvigorate the anti-corruption war that
President Jonathan overhauled the leadership of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission,
ICPC, saddled with the anti-corruption drive and also signed the Freedom of
Information (FoI) Bill which two previous administrations refused to sign. He
added that the President will continue to leave those in charge of EFCC and
ICPC to rise up to the challenge.
explained that it was in a bid to reinvigorate the anti-corruption war that
President Jonathan overhauled the leadership of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission,
ICPC, saddled with the anti-corruption drive and also signed the Freedom of
Information (FoI) Bill which two previous administrations refused to sign. He
added that the President will continue to leave those in charge of EFCC and
ICPC to rise up to the challenge.
Okupe also
described newly-formed All Progressive Congress (APC), which comprises
opposition political parties, as being made up of Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) renegrades, a “moribund and lack lustre” All Nigeria’s People’s Party
(ANPP), and the ACN, “a one-man owned and controlled party with no form of
internal democratic credential whatsoever and totally devoid of any form of
modern liberalism.”
described newly-formed All Progressive Congress (APC), which comprises
opposition political parties, as being made up of Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) renegrades, a “moribund and lack lustre” All Nigeria’s People’s Party
(ANPP), and the ACN, “a one-man owned and controlled party with no form of
internal democratic credential whatsoever and totally devoid of any form of
modern liberalism.”
Said Okupe:
“These sets of politicians who want to desperately supplant the Jonathan
administration are promoting an incongruous alliance of political weaklings and
dysfunctional Lilliputians out primarily to foster their ego and psyche being
repeatedly frustrated political mongers; forgetting that one million giant ants
can never muster the required strength to lift a concrete pole not to talk of a
nationally entrenched pillar and structurally established institution like the
PDP.
“These sets of politicians who want to desperately supplant the Jonathan
administration are promoting an incongruous alliance of political weaklings and
dysfunctional Lilliputians out primarily to foster their ego and psyche being
repeatedly frustrated political mongers; forgetting that one million giant ants
can never muster the required strength to lift a concrete pole not to talk of a
nationally entrenched pillar and structurally established institution like the
PDP.
Carpets APC leadership
“In 2003,
their choice was Vice President Atiku Abubakar who now knows them better. In
2011, it was a protégé of former President Olusegun Obasanjo Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
who fitted the slot although he was later betrayed and sacrificed on the altar
of self-interest.
their choice was Vice President Atiku Abubakar who now knows them better. In
2011, it was a protégé of former President Olusegun Obasanjo Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
who fitted the slot although he was later betrayed and sacrificed on the altar
of self-interest.
“Presently,
the debates within the factionalized alliance suggest that they will not mind
fielding another PDP stalwart as its Presidential flag bearer.
the debates within the factionalized alliance suggest that they will not mind
fielding another PDP stalwart as its Presidential flag bearer.
“It is clear
that a party that consistently over a period of 12 years has been unable to
find any suitable member from its own rank and file as presidential candidate
has clearly exhibited its own structural and ideological weakness and its
unsuitability as an organization capable of providing national leadership and
can therefore not run an efficient or competent federal government in a country
like Nigeria.
that a party that consistently over a period of 12 years has been unable to
find any suitable member from its own rank and file as presidential candidate
has clearly exhibited its own structural and ideological weakness and its
unsuitability as an organization capable of providing national leadership and
can therefore not run an efficient or competent federal government in a country
like Nigeria.
Okupe
carpeted the ACN national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, who spoke disparagingly
about the Jonathan administration on issues bordering on economy, democratic
governance and social security.
carpeted the ACN national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, who spoke disparagingly
about the Jonathan administration on issues bordering on economy, democratic
governance and social security.
According to
Okupe, “Senator Bola Tinubu who spoke about meager wages for public servants in
Nigeria was known to have ignored calls of Lagos civil servants for a 7,500
naira monthly wage and when he eventually buckled to the pressure of Labour
leaders, he wickedly sacked the major arrow head of the struggle in the person
of Comrade Ayodele Akele who was never re-instated.
Okupe, “Senator Bola Tinubu who spoke about meager wages for public servants in
Nigeria was known to have ignored calls of Lagos civil servants for a 7,500
naira monthly wage and when he eventually buckled to the pressure of Labour
leaders, he wickedly sacked the major arrow head of the struggle in the person
of Comrade Ayodele Akele who was never re-instated.
“The present
National Chairman of the ACN,Chief Bisi Akande as Governor of Osun State during
the same period denied workers of a 5,500 Naira minimum wage and eventually
laid off over 9,000 workers during his four-year reign. Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, who was then NLC President and now Governor of Edo State led
workers on protest march in Osun State during the period but Chief Akande
remained adamant. Where then is the credential of these people to talk about
job creation, promotion of workers interest and democratic etiquette?
National Chairman of the ACN,Chief Bisi Akande as Governor of Osun State during
the same period denied workers of a 5,500 Naira minimum wage and eventually
laid off over 9,000 workers during his four-year reign. Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, who was then NLC President and now Governor of Edo State led
workers on protest march in Osun State during the period but Chief Akande
remained adamant. Where then is the credential of these people to talk about
job creation, promotion of workers interest and democratic etiquette?
“As I speak
with you, Ekiti and Osun states which are being governed by these opposition
political parties are embroiled in one form of industrial crisis or the other
as a result of the insensitive, cruel and anti-workers policies of their
present governors.
with you, Ekiti and Osun states which are being governed by these opposition
political parties are embroiled in one form of industrial crisis or the other
as a result of the insensitive, cruel and anti-workers policies of their
present governors.
Don’t politicise national security — CPC
Pressing
further its claim on the incapacity of the PDP-led administration to address
the security situation in the country, the CPC in a statement issued by its
National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin cited the recent Boston
bombing in the United States to show how government should be run.
further its claim on the incapacity of the PDP-led administration to address
the security situation in the country, the CPC in a statement issued by its
National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin cited the recent Boston
bombing in the United States to show how government should be run.
The party
said: “After the initial Presidential reticence in agreeing to amnesty for the
Boko-Haram insurgents, and when confronted with reasoned argument,
President Jonathan decided on commencement of talks ostensibly leading to
amnesty. Yet again, Pastor Oritsejafor continued to obdurately urge the
government not to yield to the dialogue option.
said: “After the initial Presidential reticence in agreeing to amnesty for the
Boko-Haram insurgents, and when confronted with reasoned argument,
President Jonathan decided on commencement of talks ostensibly leading to
amnesty. Yet again, Pastor Oritsejafor continued to obdurately urge the
government not to yield to the dialogue option.
“As the
President’s confidante, was he projecting the President’s unexpressed desire? This
double-faced posturing by the Federal government is, undoubtedly, a show of its
insincerity, which has quite rightly alienated some of the members of the
proposed amnesty committee.
President’s confidante, was he projecting the President’s unexpressed desire? This
double-faced posturing by the Federal government is, undoubtedly, a show of its
insincerity, which has quite rightly alienated some of the members of the
proposed amnesty committee.
“Is it not a
matter of concern that the more money voted to combat insecurity brings more
insecurity, thereby giving justification for more Security allocation?”
matter of concern that the more money voted to combat insecurity brings more
insecurity, thereby giving justification for more Security allocation?”
“In the last
two years, the Nigerian government has been patronizing ex-militant lords with
hefty security contracts in a manner that showed abandonment of the constitutional
function of the Nigeria Police. This government’s action, perceived as
deleterious to the socio-political harmony of the land, is being intensified in
other regions of the cSountry, ahead of the regime’s preparation for another
election in 2015…”
two years, the Nigerian government has been patronizing ex-militant lords with
hefty security contracts in a manner that showed abandonment of the constitutional
function of the Nigeria Police. This government’s action, perceived as
deleterious to the socio-political harmony of the land, is being intensified in
other regions of the cSountry, ahead of the regime’s preparation for another
election in 2015…”
“The
regime’s Propagandist machine has caused the Boko Haram phenomenon to defy
reasonable logic. In February 2013, a French family of seven persons was held
hostage by Terrorists in Cameroon. Boko Haram was reported to be
responsible. They were allegedly brought to Nigeria by Boko- haram. The
hostages were freed last week in Cameroon and released to the French
government. Was it the ‘ghostly’ Boko haram that negotiated the hostages’
release with the French? Was any insurgent (in captivity in Nigeria) released
in exchange for the hostages? How did Boko Haram cross (at will) Nigeria’s
borders, with all the hostages, without the knowledge of Nigeria large security
apparatus? Shall we assume that Boko Haram has spread its operational base to
Cameroon? Undoubtedly, this leaves many more questions than answers!”
regime’s Propagandist machine has caused the Boko Haram phenomenon to defy
reasonable logic. In February 2013, a French family of seven persons was held
hostage by Terrorists in Cameroon. Boko Haram was reported to be
responsible. They were allegedly brought to Nigeria by Boko- haram. The
hostages were freed last week in Cameroon and released to the French
government. Was it the ‘ghostly’ Boko haram that negotiated the hostages’
release with the French? Was any insurgent (in captivity in Nigeria) released
in exchange for the hostages? How did Boko Haram cross (at will) Nigeria’s
borders, with all the hostages, without the knowledge of Nigeria large security
apparatus? Shall we assume that Boko Haram has spread its operational base to
Cameroon? Undoubtedly, this leaves many more questions than answers!”
“As a Party,
we are not unaware of the desperation of the Jonathan regime ahead of the 2015
general election. The regime, in a despicable manner that is unprecedented,
played up the fragile fault lines of ethnicity and religion for its own
aggrandizement in delusive electoral victory in 2011. A regime that is
unwilling and incapacitated in implementing none of the fundamental objectives
(entrenched in the Nation’s statute book) now seeks to use unconscionable
schemes to delude, confuse and over-awe the citizenry, ahead of the next
general election in 2015. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Nigerian
people in ensuring the noble ideals of the rule of law reign in our land. We
shall continue to campaign against the vestiges of impunity and all forms of
corruption and corruptive tendencies that are prevalent in this PDP-led
administration.”
we are not unaware of the desperation of the Jonathan regime ahead of the 2015
general election. The regime, in a despicable manner that is unprecedented,
played up the fragile fault lines of ethnicity and religion for its own
aggrandizement in delusive electoral victory in 2011. A regime that is
unwilling and incapacitated in implementing none of the fundamental objectives
(entrenched in the Nation’s statute book) now seeks to use unconscionable
schemes to delude, confuse and over-awe the citizenry, ahead of the next
general election in 2015. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Nigerian
people in ensuring the noble ideals of the rule of law reign in our land. We
shall continue to campaign against the vestiges of impunity and all forms of
corruption and corruptive tendencies that are prevalent in this PDP-led
administration.”
Source: Vanguard
