The Custodian March 19, 2014
“Yet, this government has no social security or any form of safety net for the vulnerable army of the unemployed. It should be made clear that this government encourages and baby sits corruption, stealing not only from the pension fund of Nigerian citizens, but also from the unemployed and from our collective patrimony, the NNPC.”
“That is why we are calling for an investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the deaths of those innocent Nigerians, to find out who authorised the fleecing of job seekers by a government agency, what happened to the money realised from the heist and why the relevant officials did not ensure a better arrangement that could have saved precious lives.
“The job stampede deaths constitute the latest in a series of events that have turned Nigeria into a massive killing field in recent times.”
The party faulted the insensitivity of Jonathan’s government towards the ongoing killings nationwide. It said killings were going on everywhere, while the President is attending one rally or the other.
The party said: “The orgy of killings in the past few weeks have left hundreds dead and many more maimed in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau, just to mention a few.
“Never in the peace time history of our dear country has there been such a high number of needless deaths.
“Amid all of this, the PDP-led Federal Government has been carrying on as if all is well. After presiding over a wasteful centenary celebration, President Goodluck Jonathan has been gallivanting around the country, addressing political rallies when he should be commiserating with families of the dead in the affected states, especially Yobe where innocent children were massacred by a cowardly band of terrorists, and Katsina, which he visited a few hours after hundreds of people were killed.”
The party, however, warned the Federal Government against what it described as a plot to impose a total state of emergency on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
The communique said: “Also, it has come to our notice that, in pursuant of the Presidency’s stance to label anyone who offers it any advice on how to curtail the terrorists’ attack and boost the morale of our gallant troops, the imposition of a total state of emergency is being considered for Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which is a smokescreen to remove the democratically-elected governors of these APC states.
“We condemn this move unequivocally and urge the President to jettison the idea, if indeed it is being remotely contemplated, because it will not advance the cause of peace in the affected states.
“Against the background of the daily orgy of killings, we are compelled to say that the Jonathan Administration has lost total control of events in the country, with the result that Nigerians are now being left to their own devices.
“It is clear that the situation in our country today, whether it is in the area of security, job creation, fight against corruption or even growing of the economy, is far beyond the capacity of those at the helm.
While faulting the attacks on suspended Governor of Central Bank, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for exposing the $20 billion scandal in NNPC, the party queried why the Petroleum Minister, who supervises NNPC, is still in office.
It said:”We also note, as a party, the ferocious attacks and blackmail mounted against Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of Central Bank. How someone who publicly disclosed the brazen theft of $20 billion from NNPC became a candidate for character assassination and blackmail is questionable and condemnable. Sanusi’s suspension is an affront to law and a threat to Nigeria’s institutional stability.
“This is also a government of double standard.Why is the Minister of Petroleum Deziani still in office when the major agency she superintendents is under investigation over the missing $20 billion?
“Therefore, the only salvation for Nigeria is a purposeful and focused party like the APC.
“From the road-map, which we unveiled recently, it is clear that we recognise the enormity of the challenges facing our dear country, hence we made job creation our priority, followed by security and the fight against corruption, among others.
“We urge our compatriots not to despair or give up hope, because salvation is in the horizon.
“The APC today embodies the hopes and aspirations of our long-suffering people. We have no doubt that this country can and will work again, and we are up to the task of restoring hope to our beleaguered people.”
“Finally, the party wishes to announce dates for its Congresses and National Convention.
“The Ward Congress will hold on 5th of April, Local Government Congress on the 12th of April. State Congress on the 23rd of April and National Convention on the 24th of May.”
Addressing reporters, National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said: “No office is zoned to anybody or any part of the country.”
On the ongoing National Conference, he said: “There is nothing to discuss on the conference. We have made our position so clear about why we are not attending and nothing has changed. APC as a political party is not attending.”
The meeting was attended by members of the party’s Interim National Executive Committee, led by Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).
Also in attendance were: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Ali Modu Sheriif, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator George Akume and others.
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