The Action
Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has accused the Federal Government of promoting
policies that will plunge the country into crises and as well shuttle election
in 2015.
Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has accused the Federal Government of promoting
policies that will plunge the country into crises and as well shuttle election
in 2015.
The party also in a press conference addressed
by the Nation Publicity Secretary said the the oil pipeline protection contract
is a smokescreen.
by the Nation Publicity Secretary said the the oil pipeline protection contract
is a smokescreen.
Below is the text of the Press Conference
addressed by the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos on
Sunday, April 7th 2013)
addressed by the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos on
Sunday, April 7th 2013)
We are compelled to once again raise the alarm
about some disturbing developments in the polity. To be sure, this is not the
first time we are raising concerns about what seems a deliberate ploy in
certain quarters to plunge Nigeria into a deep crisis, by instigating
widespread violence and insecurity and engaging in scaremongering tactics
about some disturbing developments in the polity. To be sure, this is not the
first time we are raising concerns about what seems a deliberate ploy in
certain quarters to plunge Nigeria into a deep crisis, by instigating
widespread violence and insecurity and engaging in scaremongering tactics
On January 8th, 2013 we issued a statement which
said inter alia: ”For the Jonathan-led Administration, and not minding its
deceptive aloofness from it all, the race for 2015 has started in earnest and
it is a do-or-die affair, and all means foul and unfair are on the table to
cripple the opposition, by ensuring that nothing will be left of the integrity
of its key leaders even if they are fortunate to make it to 2015.”
said inter alia: ”For the Jonathan-led Administration, and not minding its
deceptive aloofness from it all, the race for 2015 has started in earnest and
it is a do-or-die affair, and all means foul and unfair are on the table to
cripple the opposition, by ensuring that nothing will be left of the integrity
of its key leaders even if they are fortunate to make it to 2015.”
As recently as April 2nd, 2013, we issued
another statement calling attention to the plan by the Federal Government to
frustrate the coming together of progressives by targetting key leaders for
intimidation and harassment. We also said the Federal Government intends to
ensure that elections do not hold in 2015 or they will be held under curfew.
another statement calling attention to the plan by the Federal Government to
frustrate the coming together of progressives by targetting key leaders for
intimidation and harassment. We also said the Federal Government intends to
ensure that elections do not hold in 2015 or they will be held under curfew.
Today, the situation is even more alarming, and
it is also not unconnected with the politics of 2015.
it is also not unconnected with the politics of 2015.
It is no longer a secret that the PDP-led
Federal Government has failed the nation in all ramifications. In the provision
of social amenities and standard infrastructure, ensuring the security of lives
and property, provision of jobs for our teeming unemployed youths and generally
ensuring better life for our people, the party that has presided over the
affairs of our nation since 1999 has fallen short. To make matters worse, the
party itself is imploding as a result of its own failings, and its tattered
umbrella can no longer provide shelter from the elements for its increasingly
disenchanted members.
Federal Government has failed the nation in all ramifications. In the provision
of social amenities and standard infrastructure, ensuring the security of lives
and property, provision of jobs for our teeming unemployed youths and generally
ensuring better life for our people, the party that has presided over the
affairs of our nation since 1999 has fallen short. To make matters worse, the
party itself is imploding as a result of its own failings, and its tattered
umbrella can no longer provide shelter from the elements for its increasingly
disenchanted members.
Against this background, the PDP is keenly aware
that it has totally lost the confidence of all Nigerians, and the
long-suffering people of this great country are now ready and eager to vote out
this clueless party. Keenly aware of this fact, the PDP has now realized that
if indeed the 2015 elections are free and fair and conducted in a conducive
environment, there will be no chance for the party.
that it has totally lost the confidence of all Nigerians, and the
long-suffering people of this great country are now ready and eager to vote out
this clueless party. Keenly aware of this fact, the PDP has now realized that
if indeed the 2015 elections are free and fair and conducted in a conducive
environment, there will be no chance for the party.
What is the way out for the PDP? The party has
decided to go for broke: Either there will be no elections in 2015 or the polls
will be conducted in an atmosphere of chaos, thereby paving the way for the PDP
to do what it does best – rig the elections!
decided to go for broke: Either there will be no elections in 2015 or the polls
will be conducted in an atmosphere of chaos, thereby paving the way for the PDP
to do what it does best – rig the elections!
Recent events corroborate this, and I will
elaborate on them.
elaborate on them.
Since the Boko Haram crisis broke out in some
parts of the north, it has been largely restricted to those parts. This has
made it possible to say to prospective foreign investors and others that the
whole country has not been engulfed in violence and insecurity. But now, the
areas that have been largely peaceful are being targetted by those who will
only be happy when the whole country is in turmoil.
parts of the north, it has been largely restricted to those parts. This has
made it possible to say to prospective foreign investors and others that the
whole country has not been engulfed in violence and insecurity. But now, the
areas that have been largely peaceful are being targetted by those who will
only be happy when the whole country is in turmoil.
Let’s take the South-west for example.
Three recent events, all at the instance of the
Federal Government, raise the red flag.
Federal Government, raise the red flag.
1. A multi-billion naira contract has suddenly
been awarded for the protection of oil pipelines in the region.
been awarded for the protection of oil pipelines in the region.
2. The main beneficiary of the contract has
suddenly realized that the Unity Party of Nigeria, formed by the respected
statesman Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is no longer in existence, and has thus
decided to revive it.
suddenly realized that the Unity Party of Nigeria, formed by the respected
statesman Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is no longer in existence, and has thus
decided to revive it.
3. Just about the same time, suspected Boko
Haram members have been arrested in Lagos, specifically at a house belonging to
the government of Bayelsa state.
Haram members have been arrested in Lagos, specifically at a house belonging to
the government of Bayelsa state.
The questions that arise are:
What is the real intention of the Federal
Government in awarding this oil pipeline protection contract?
Government in awarding this oil pipeline protection contract?
Is it a mere coincidence that the main
beneficiary of the multi-billion naira oil pipeline protection contract is also
the same fellow who is promoting the revival of the UPN?
beneficiary of the multi-billion naira oil pipeline protection contract is also
the same fellow who is promoting the revival of the UPN?
Could the huge contract have been meant to
provide the seed money for the promoters of this party?
provide the seed money for the promoters of this party?
Is it true, as it is being alleged in certain
quarters, that the essence of the contract is to recruit 30,000 youths who will
ostensibly protect the pipelines, but in the real sense are ready hands to
foment violence on demand in the South-west?
quarters, that the essence of the contract is to recruit 30,000 youths who will
ostensibly protect the pipelines, but in the real sense are ready hands to
foment violence on demand in the South-west?
Is it true that the so-called revival of the UPN
is to provide a platform for anarchists and end-gamers in the South-west to
infiltrate the ranks of the progressives and throw the region into chaos?
is to provide a platform for anarchists and end-gamers in the South-west to
infiltrate the ranks of the progressives and throw the region into chaos?
Why is it that suddenly, Boko Haram suspects are
popping up in Lagos, and some of those who have been arrested were residing in
a building owned by the Bayelsa state government? Is the Bayelsa state government
aware of this and, if so, what has it done to evict them from the building? Who
are the ragamuffins paraded by security agencies as Boko Haram suspects working
for?
popping up in Lagos, and some of those who have been arrested were residing in
a building owned by the Bayelsa state government? Is the Bayelsa state government
aware of this and, if so, what has it done to evict them from the building? Who
are the ragamuffins paraded by security agencies as Boko Haram suspects working
for?
Why have some people in the South-west been
engaging in Boko Haram baiting in recent times, vociferously warning that if
Boko Haram comes to the region, they will be crushed? Is it a coincidence that
this Boko Haram baiting has become stronger since the oil pipeline contract was
awarded?
engaging in Boko Haram baiting in recent times, vociferously warning that if
Boko Haram comes to the region, they will be crushed? Is it a coincidence that
this Boko Haram baiting has become stronger since the oil pipeline contract was
awarded?
Who are the brains behind the continuous efforts
to sabotage the merger of the progressives? Who bankrolled the tatterdemalions,
the disreputable people who are parading themselves as African Peoples
Congress? Only this morning, it was reported that a new group is trying to
register APCN, in continuation of the sabotage attempts. And who are the real
faces of the so-called ANPP stakeholders who have been making spurious claims
concerning the All Progressives’ Congress (APC)?
to sabotage the merger of the progressives? Who bankrolled the tatterdemalions,
the disreputable people who are parading themselves as African Peoples
Congress? Only this morning, it was reported that a new group is trying to
register APCN, in continuation of the sabotage attempts. And who are the real
faces of the so-called ANPP stakeholders who have been making spurious claims
concerning the All Progressives’ Congress (APC)?
Gentlemen of the press, ponder these pertinent
questions, and place the stated developments in the South-west against the new
threat of resurgence of violence by MEND in the Niger Delta, the worsening Boko
Haram crisis in the north, and the unrelenting attempts to stop the APC, and
you will understand why we have decided to raise this alarm once again.
questions, and place the stated developments in the South-west against the new
threat of resurgence of violence by MEND in the Niger Delta, the worsening Boko
Haram crisis in the north, and the unrelenting attempts to stop the APC, and
you will understand why we have decided to raise this alarm once again.
We are also concerned by the allegation that the
Federal Government may be promoting a policy of inciting some parts of the
country against the other, as well as Christians against Muslims. We sincerely
hope this is not true.
Federal Government may be promoting a policy of inciting some parts of the
country against the other, as well as Christians against Muslims. We sincerely
hope this is not true.
May we also use this opportunity to restate our
stand, that the Boko Haram crisis – which by the way is a social rather than a
religious problem – has festered either due to the ineptitude of the Federal
Government or because it fits into the game plan of those who are bent on
erecting a road block on the path of free, fair and peaceful polls in 2015.
stand, that the Boko Haram crisis – which by the way is a social rather than a
religious problem – has festered either due to the ineptitude of the Federal
Government or because it fits into the game plan of those who are bent on
erecting a road block on the path of free, fair and peaceful polls in 2015.
CONCLUSION
1. We make bold to say that the stand of the PDP
is that having seen the handwriting on the wall, the party realizes it cannot
win any free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2015. PDP and its stalwarts are
therefore perfecting a sinister plan that will make free and fair elections
impossible in 2015, or if at all the elections will be held, they will hold
under curfew to give the party the cover it needs to rig the polls.
is that having seen the handwriting on the wall, the party realizes it cannot
win any free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2015. PDP and its stalwarts are
therefore perfecting a sinister plan that will make free and fair elections
impossible in 2015, or if at all the elections will be held, they will hold
under curfew to give the party the cover it needs to rig the polls.
2. Also being considered is a plan under which
emergency rule will be imposed on most parts of the country, following which
elections will
be put in abeyance, paving the way for tenure elongation. Instigation of
violence in hitherto peaceful parts of the country is one of the means to
achieve this plan.
emergency rule will be imposed on most parts of the country, following which
elections will
be put in abeyance, paving the way for tenure elongation. Instigation of
violence in hitherto peaceful parts of the country is one of the means to
achieve this plan.
3. We are therefore alerting the good people of
Nigeria as well as friends of the country around the world to closely monitor
events as they unfold in the days ahead, along the lines that we have
enunciated above.
Nigeria as well as friends of the country around the world to closely monitor
events as they unfold in the days ahead, along the lines that we have
enunciated above.
4. On our part, we will be keenly watching
events as they unfold, either in the South-west or elsewhere. After all, it is
said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. In this regard, we call on
all our supporters, all progressives and indeed all Nigerians to be vigilant.
We will also like to warn that no nation can survive a combination of ethnic
and religious conflagration, and that those who will instigate crisis to push a
personal and selfish agenda risk being consumed by it.
events as they unfold, either in the South-west or elsewhere. After all, it is
said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. In this regard, we call on
all our supporters, all progressives and indeed all Nigerians to be vigilant.
We will also like to warn that no nation can survive a combination of ethnic
and religious conflagration, and that those who will instigate crisis to push a
personal and selfish agenda risk being consumed by it.
5. We say NO to violence! We say NO to do-or-die
politics! We say NO to any anti-democratic measures as a means of retaining
power at all cost.
politics! We say NO to any anti-democratic measures as a means of retaining
power at all cost.
6. And lest we are misunderstood, the
constitution of our great country allows freedom of association and anyone who
so desires can form
a party. But where the purpose of the party being formed is to instigate chaos
and scuttle democracy, every right thinking person must be concerned!
constitution of our great country allows freedom of association and anyone who
so desires can form
a party. But where the purpose of the party being formed is to instigate chaos
and scuttle democracy, every right thinking person must be concerned!
I thank you for your attention.
Source:
Vanguard
Vanguard
