Politics
PDP Writes APC, Tinubu On #EndBadGovernance2024
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has written to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the ongoing #EndBadGovernance2024 protests.
The opposition made its views known in a statement posted on its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X under the signature of its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.
The party maintained that had its patriotic counsel not entered into the deaf ears of the ruling party and President Tinubu the ongoing ugly protests would have been averted.
The PDP urged President Tinubu to urgently address the #EndBadGovernance2024 protesters.
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Ologunagba wrote, “Protests: Review Your Strangulating Policies Now – @OfficialPDPNig Tells @OfficialAPCNg Government.
. . . Laments Life in Nigeria Unbearable
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charges the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to immediately review all its anti-people policies that are asphyxiating life in the country.
“The Party notes that the nationwide protest by Nigerians would not have come if the APC government had dropped its arrogance, insensitivity and show sincere commitment to the citizens by taking steps to address the current hardship occasioned by its ill-implemented polices.
“Nigerians can recall that the PDP on several occasions offered advice on the state of the economy to the APC government, the most recent being the PDP’s statement on June 6, 2024 wherein it urged that “President Tinubu should listen to the heartbeat of Nigerians. There is hunger and destitution in the land. The reaction of a hungry people is better imagined! Mr. President, please act now”.
“Sadly, these counsels did not receive the expected consideration resulting in the current situation.
“It is alarming that instead of engaging Nigerians and addressing their concerns, the APC allegedly recruited hoodlums to instigate violence so as to justify a clampdown and killing of innocent Nigerians.
“The APC is completely insensitive to the fact that more than 120 million Nigerians have become destitute and can no longer afford their daily meals and other basic necessities of life as poverty rate soars to over 40% because of the life-discounting policies of the APC administration.
“As stated by the PDP on several occasions, any people-oriented government ought to have been wary of the suffocating effect of the hasty and ill-implemented twin policies of abrupt increase in the price of petroleum products and arbitrary floating of the Naira without due cushioning measures to ensure the wellbeing of the people.
“The PDP restates that these thoughtless policies of the APC administration are responsible for the crippling of the productive sector with the crashing of the Naira to over N1,500 to a Dollar, fuel soaring to over N1,000 per liter, which in turn triggered high costs of goods and services with over 34% inflation rate, over 40% unemployment rate with the closure of millions of businesses and mass exodus of major multi-national companies from our country.
“The APC has plunged Nigeria into a humanitarian crisis where millions of citizens are literarily starving and dying of hunger. Sadly, today a bag of rice sells for over N85,000; a bag of beans goes for N150,000; a measure of garri now sells for N1,500 while a measure of cooking oil which sold for N1,200 now sells for N12,000 with prices of all food items increasing daily.
“More provocative is that while Nigerians are crying for food, the APC officials in government are busy looting the national treasury to fund their luxury appetite, including acquisition of luxury jets, expensive holidays abroad, renovation of official residential mansions and other profligacies, without regard to the feeling and the pains of majority of Nigerians.
“Also disturbing is the scandalous revelation that the APC administration is secretly paying a whopping N5.4 trillion as fuel subsidy for 2024 even after the President announced an end to fuel subsidy.
“What Nigerians expect at this time is for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally address the nation, announce major policy reviews and order investigation into the alleged looting of subsidy and palliative funds.
“Mr. President should also review all luxury items and purchases in the APC government and channel the resources for immediate intervention in the provision of food and other essential commodities to Nigerians.
“The PDP calls on Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding in the pursuit of good governance in our country.”
As Edo State prepares for its governorship election on Saturday, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has urged political parties to ensure a peaceful and fair voting process.
In a statement issued Wednesday, CTA Executive Director Faith Nwadishi expressed concern over reports of potential violence and intimidation from some party supporters, based on recent stakeholder engagements.
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The CTA acknowledged the proactive stance of security agencies to protect citizens and property.
However, it stressed the need for politicians to avoid violent tactics, warning that such actions could compromise the democratic process and threaten the stability of representative government.
“Events of the past and Matters Arising Despite the preparations, events in recent past in Edo State political landscape has left much to be worried about by concerned Nigerians.
“There was reported violence among some politicians, their agents, and supporters, with each seeking supremacy with counter-accusations that have left Edo State bleeding, especially with the killing of police personnel near the Benin Airport on the 18th of July, 2024.
“According to recent reports, there has been an increase in violent conflicts, intimidation, and attacks against political opponents, which have left casualties, destroyed properties, and claimed lives. This is an undesirable trend that jeopardises the basis of our democracy.
“The CTA strongly denounces these violent activities and urges all parties involved to stop forthwith, show restraint, and eschew violence in all its ramifications, while the security agencies must act right now to stop the situation from disrupting the election.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has endorsed Asue Ighodalo as the preferred governorship candidate for the Edo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Makinde’s endorsement was made during a ceremony marking the start of the upgrade of Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan to international standards on Wednesday.
In his address, Makinde urged PDP members to fully support Ighodalo in the forthcoming Saturday election.
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Additionally, he voiced his backing for Umar Damagum, the PDP Acting National Chairman, amid uncertainties about his leadership position.
Makinde also reiterated his commitment to the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Damagum, calling on all party stakeholders to work together for the party’s success.
He said, “Tongues have been wagging about my absence at the campaign grand finale, let me declare that Seyi Makinde is 100 per cent with our candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo and if Edo people want to know the difference between delicious and nutritious, they should vote for Asue Ighodalo for them to get what is nutritious.
“And I am glad that our acting national chairman and members of his National Working Committee (NWC) are here. I read yesterday that there is another meeting in Bauchi by some NWC members, let me say clearly, I have been discussing with my brother on our way here, that we are 100 per cent in support of the Iliya Damagum-led NWC.
“Whatever decision you take, we will support you, to reposition our party. Let me also say I don’t think this is the right time, even if we have issues with ourselves, we have an important election on Saturday, so we should all rally around and deliver our candidate.”
The National Working Committee of the Labour Party, led by Julius Abure, has once again criticized Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, along with Abia State Governor Alex Otti and other party leaders for establishing a caretaker committee to take over the party’s leadership.
This latest criticism, detailed in a statement from National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh on Wednesday, follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to acknowledge Abure as the party’s chairman.
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The INEC had stated that Abure’s tenure as National Chairman ended in June 2024.
The statement from Ifoh accuses Obi, Otti, and other Labour Party leaders of collaborating with INEC to harm the party.
The Abure camp claims that INEC mismanaged the 2023 elections to the party’s disadvantage and questions why those affected by this mismanagement are now supporting the commission against the party.
The statement partly reads, “Every Nigerian alive today knows the ignoble role INEC played in the 2023 general election and how the electoral will of the people were dashed. It amazes us that those who suffered from this INEC’s ineptitude in 2023, are now joining forces with the Commission against the Party leadership.
“For these leaders, there is no qualms to leverage on the INEC’s standpoint of illegality to attempt to seize the leadership of the party. We sincerely want to advise these our leaders that INEC is and can never be the model on which to launch their annexation agenda.
“The 2023 saga is still fresh. In one breath, we demonised INEC, in another second, you are fraternizing with them. Is it not paradoxical that some of these leaders who were victims of INEC’s dereliction and mismanagement of the 2023 general election are now the ones quoting INEC, and joining forces with it, just to victimize the leadership of the Labour Party.
“Is it not seemingly absurd that the INEC you are embracing today and welcoming with open arms is the same INEC, which betrayed us during the last election.
“I ask, where was this loyalty when INEC failed to protect the will of the people in 2023? Let us not be fooled, my friends. INEC has not changed, and come 2027, they will once again serve you the portage with the same dish.”
Ifoh emphasized that the Federal High Court in Abuja, under Justice J.K. Omotosho, had ruled that the Labour Party’s national convention held in Nnewi on March 26, 2024, was valid and conducted according to the 2022 Electoral Act and the Labour Party Constitution.
He asserted that there is no current vacancy in the Labour Party’s leadership, stating that a new executive will not be appointed until another convention in 2028.
Recently, in a meeting organized by Governor Alex Otti and attended by Peter Obi, some elected Senators, and House of Representatives members, Senator Nenadi Usman was appointed as the Chair of a 29-member caretaker committee.
Senator Darlington Nwokocha, the immediate past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, has been appointed as the Secretary of the committee.
The leaders have stated that this committee will manage the process of electing a new party leadership within the next 90 days.
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