The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the directive by the APC National Executive Committee that their members in the National Assembly should stall the passage of the 2014 budget and the confirmation of new service chiefs as a clear and direct call for anarchy and a vindication the ruling party’s earlier position that the opposition is out to destroy the institution of democracy and the unity of the country.
Similarly, the Ominira Yoruba Apapo described APC’s assertions as not only unpatriotic but also a clear-cut indicator that further confirms the party as a group of insidious and desperate politicians.
According to National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, APC’s anti-people directives will help Nigerians to now see that PDP was not crying wolf when it alerted that APC does not mean well for the nation.
“In asking that service chiefs should not be confirmed by the Senate, APC has revealed its devilish plot to undermine the nation’s security system, create a state of anarchy and pave way to unleash mayhem on the people”, read a part of a statement signed by Metuh.
“In trying to frustrate the passage of the 2014 budget, APC has also exposed its plot to cripple the nation’s economy and plunge the people into untold hardship. By attempting to cause confusion in the National Assembly, which is the citadel of democracy, it is now clear to all Nigerians that APC has commenced the implementation of its orchestrated plot to truncate the nation’s democracy, push the country into a state chaos and achieve its doomsday predictions — a plot that must be stopped”.
In its own statement, the Ominira Yoruba Apapo OYA strongly condemned the threat by the leadership of the All Progressive Congress APC to use its membership in the National Assembly to block further executive proposals, including the 2014 Appropriation bill which is pending before the National Assembly for consideration.
Observing that APC also went further in directing its members to embark on every possible avenue, including illegitimate means, to oppose what the party views as the victimization of Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, it declared APC’s move not only unpatriotic but also a clear-cut indicator that further confirms the party as a group of insidious & Desperate Politicians.
“Whereas we see the latest dimension being taken by the APC in his war against the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan as a Declaration of War on the good people of Nigeria who stand to be most affected if at all the threat by the APC to block the passage of the 2014 Budget is made real”, the group wrote in a statement signed by Morgan Omodu, its director of publicity.
“As an organisation, we strongly believe that a truly progressive party will always consider the overriding interest of the citizens before arriving at its decisions. In the case of the APC, the party has become more desperate in its inordinate quest to control the resources of this nation without the requisite patience to secure such authority at the polls; and knowing their antecedents, they should be stopped now.
“Furthermore, we consider the call on the National Assembly to abort the ratification of the appointment of the new military service chiefs as not only an invitation to anarchy but also a ploy by the APC to unleash terror on Nigerians in an eventual case of no-leadership for the Nigeria Armed forces.
“This may further confirm the recent revelation on the involvement of APC in the latest bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State where a BOT member and the governor of the state both of APC have come out to openly accuse each other of being responsible for the spate of bombings recently witnessed in the state. We will like to state fundamentally that the National Assembly is a sacred institution owned and funded by the Nigerian people and is not in any way an arm of the machinery of any political party that could be used to perpetuate selfish political interests at the detriment of Nigerian tax payers. All efforts to use the seventh assembly to achieve this must be stopped”.
OYA added that APC has further shown Nigerians that it does not possess the established structure capable of sustaining, enhancing and nurturing the democratic culture evolving in Nigeria that will be acceptable to all.
“May we hereby restate the strong disapproval of the Yoruba Nation for the ego-driven agenda of truncating our nascent democracy, as we also want to sound a note of warning to the APC desperate politicians and their collaborators to henceforth desist from this evil plot. Yorubas, as usual, shall lead other nationalities to resist vehemently any attempt to stampede the passage of the 2014 budget, with the confirmation of service chiefs and in extension the ministerial nominee by the APC leadership for their self-serving political motives.
“We by this medium call on members of the National Assembly and all lovers of democracy to continue to disregard the ego call by the APC and also join in condemning the attempt to create anarchy aimed at truncating our Democracy. We, as an organization and as a race, will not fold our arms and allow these characters to truncate our Democracy for political ends, knowing full well that they are usually the first to seek asylum in foreign lands if the state become ungovernable.
Finally, OYA warned APC that Nigeria is bigger than any political party or the ambition of anyone seeking to be whatever, as the nation approaches another season of elections.
“This is also to inform international observers to take close look and monitor these persons in case there is breakdown of law and order in Nigeria by denying them and their family opportunity of fleeing abroad”.
Also reacting, pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere APC’s move, describing it as tantamount to shutting down the country.
“The most dangerous of APC’s recommendation is encouraging its members to engage in things that may lead to instability”, spokesman of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin said in Lagos.
“The APC fails to think of the implications of not passing the budget and its effect on Nigerian masses. Also, if approval for the service chiefs is not given by NASS because of political disagreements in a state, it may lead to mutiny. This recommendation is also coming at a time when Boko Haram is intensifying its activities in Nigeria. We condemn this directive in its totality because it is a threat to our democracy”.
In a separate reaction, Lagos State Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Mr Ehi Omokhuale branded the directive insensitive.
“Politicians should limit their selfish fights to themselves”, he said. “APC wants to use its political interest to affect the welfare of Nigerian citizens. We do not support it and we demand that the party retraces its steps on this issue immediately”.
Another group, the Patriotic Vanguard, condemned the directive, observing its powers to precipitate anarchy.
“It is unfathomable how a party leadership could meet and issue such directive”, its national chairman, Mr. Adesina Animashaun said. “The masses will definitely be at the receiving end and it will put Nigeria in a big crisis”.
Meanwhile, another group, the Rivers Redemption Group described APC as a body of politicians who have suddenly come out to behave as though they love Rivers people more than Rivers people themselves, by issuing a declaration that they will shut down executive orders in the National Assembly should the Federal Government not intervene in what they term the ‘political crisis’ in Rivers State.
“On behalf of the leadership of the Rivers Redemption Group and all good and peace-loving Rivers people who have witnessed the gradual decline of a once robust state due to the dictatorial and ego-driven antics of [a] paranoid governor who now sees himself as a self-appointed emperor who runs the Rivers State Legislature from his bedroom and has put a question mark on the ability of the Rivers State judiciary to function effectively”, the group wrote in a release.
“In furtherance thereof, we wish to declare that should the All Progressive Congress (APC), in any way attempt to shut down the activities of the National Assembly, we shall oust Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi from Rivers State Government House, lock down the Rivers State Government House and then shut down the Rivers State Government for a period we shall agree on in a couple of days.
“It is laughable that APC, with its hound of failed political leaders, former dictators and renowned conmen will seek to act as though they love Rivers State more than Rivers people. It is shameful that these band of sectional leaders will conspire to continue to mislead a failing, recalcitrant and arrogant governor when they will not condone such act of recalcitrance in their own domain.
“Will APC leader Tinubu condone such recalcitrance from Governor Fashola? Where were these so-called APC leaders when Governor Amaechi used the Police to disrupt political gatherings, arrest the participating politicians, charged them with trumped up charges and then tossed them into police detention cells?
“Where were these so-called APC leaders when Governor Amaechi revoked the Certificate of Occupancy of buildings were opposition elements in Rivers State held meetings? Was this not also reported on Sahara Reporters which has suddenly become Amaechi’s mouthpiece? Where were these so-called APC leaders when Governor Amaechi ordered the shutdown and lock up of the then opposition ACN head quarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State?”
It observed that the Senate sent representatives to visit Senator Magnus Abe in a Clinic in the United States, and wondered if those representatives have released the full details of the report so that Nigerians will know whether Senator Abe was truly shot or if it was a recurrence of a medical condition that Senator Magnus Abe has had for a long time?
“Rivers people and indeed Nigerians who have been fed with all manner of misleading and mischievous information would like to know”, the statement continued.
“Rivers people will also like to see the medical report on Senator Magnus Abe published in all national dailies just as he found it worthy to have his personal letter to the senate president released to media houses across Nigeria so that the reign of impunity will end and all those who fed Nigerians with false information be punished immediately.
“While we remain committed to keeping the peace in our beloved Rivers State, we will not allow emergency lovers of Rivers state to take us for a ride and use the situation in Rivers State as an opportunity to undermine the democratically elected government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR), a man who lived a greater part of his life in Rivers State and a full-fledged son of the land. We will continue to watch the unfolding scenario and see if APC and those that run it will put us to the test”.
