APC opposes plot to shift 2015 elections

The All Progressives Congress has warned those nursing the plan to postpone the 2015 general elections to perish the thought, saying Nigerians will not accept, under any guise whatsoever, any scheme by desperate elected officials to get tenure elongation by subterfuge.

Lai Mohammed, APC

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said those who are flying the kite of pushing forward the election ostensibly because the nation is at war are trying to imperil the nation’s democracy.

”Election is the lifeblood of democracy, the mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates. It is the only way for the citizenry to renew and refresh the governing process so they can get the most benefits out of democracy. Therefore, anyone that tries to sabotage this mechanism is aiming a dagger straight at the heart of democracy,” it said.

APC said the statement credited to Senate President David Mark, that ”there is no question of elections, it is not even on the table now. We are in a state of war,” reflects the thinking in government circles, even though the Senate President, having run into a wall of opposition over his unfortunate statement, has tried to step back from the comments.

”We in the APC saw this coming, and we have said it at several fora: That the Jonathan Administration has deliberately allowed the insurgency in the North-east, an opposition stronghold, to fester so he can cash in on it to get re-elected. Simply put, the Administration has been playing dirty politics with Boko Haram, at the expense of the lives and property of the citizenry and the well-being of the nation.

”However, the Administration is being too clever by half to think that Nigerians will reward it for its failure in its main reason for existence, which is the protection of the welfare and security of the citizens. There is just no way this government will be allowed to profit from its ineptness and its conspiracy to prolong an insurgency that should have ended a long time ago,” the party said.

It said the statement by INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, that the commission has started preparing for elections even in the North-east, represents a ray of hope, but warned the electoral body to remain steadfast and not to cave in to what will be massive pressure from the Jonathan Administration and its gong beaters to scuttle the 2015 elections.

APC said just like Jega has said, countries like Afghanistan and Iraq successfully held elections even though they are in a state of war, hence there is no reason why Nigeria cannot organize elections because of the insurgency in a part of the country.

Viewed 1 times
APC opposes plot to shift 2015 elections

GDI/PDP plan to rig 2015 general elections uncovered

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State Chapter says it has uncovered a noxious, criminal and satanic scheme by the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the 2015 general elections in Rivers State.

The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone said the allegation followed credible intelligence the APC received from their members who operate within the hierarchy of the GDI/PDP, detailing the modus operandi of the rigging plan.

“Part of the plot is the on-going collation of 100 names per unit across Rivers State by the GDI under the facade of arranging Federal Government SURE-P payments for their members. The report indicates that the real reason for collating the names is to submit same to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for supply of permanent plastic Identification (ID) Cards which will be a compulsory condition for voting in the 2015 general elections.

“The report reveals that INEC will deliberately work to cause a mix-up with the state voters register and permanent plastic voters’ cards whereas those of the PDP members earlier submitted by the GDI will receive all their permanent voters’ cards to enable them vote in the forth-coming elections.

“Part of the report reveals that the plan was hatched by the founder, grand patron of the GDI and leader of the PDP in Rivers State, Bar. Nyesom Wike in collusion with highly placed INEC officials working to safeguard the interests of the PDP and the Presidency” the statement explained.

APC warned the PDP and INEC to abandon such an evil plan as the APC would take all necessary and legal steps to ensure that the 2015 general elections in Rivers State are not rigged by the PDP.

Continuing APC said, “We are also aware that the PDP’s plan ‘A’ is the use of the Army, Police and other security agents to influence votes for the PDP but we can assure the PDP that the APC in Rivers State will ensure that it fails as we have our own suiting antidote for their criminal agenda.

“We urge INEC to call its personnel, no matter how highly-placed, to order and to resist the temptation of colluding with the PDP and its agents to rig the 2015 general elections. We also urge all well-meaning Rivers people to always resist impunity and vigorously protect their rights under any and every circumstances.”

Viewed 1 times
GDI/PDP plan to rig 2015 general elections uncovered

Manifesto: APC reveals their plans for Nigeria

State police, free education, jobs and a solid anti-corruption battle.

These – and many others – formed yesterday the major highlights of the 10-Point Road map unveiled in Abuja by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is planning to win power at the centre in 2015.

From left: APC Interim National Chairman Bisi Akande, National Leaders Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Chief Ogbonaya Onu at the summit … yesterday

The party said it would give independence to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies.

Besides state police, there will be a Serious Crime Squad to curtail insurgency.

Highlights of the roadmap presented at the party’s Inaugural National Summit in Abuja are: jobs; anti-corruption fight; free; relevant quality education; agriculture; housing plan; and healthcare plan for children and adults.

APC plans a social welfare scheme for the less advantaged and build roads and power plants. It will manage better our natural resources, the party said, adding that it will strengthen peace, security and foreign policy.

The Road map reads in part: “Roughly, one in four Nigerians, and half of young job seekers are unable to find work. The number of people whose jobs do not cover the cost of food and housing is even greater.

“In addition, major industries that pay higher wages account for just over five per cent of the economy.

“The lack of jobs is the most critical challenge facing Nigeria today, hurting every community and preventing us from being the truly vibrant and prosperous nation we deserve. Building a diverse economy that allows every Nigerian to earn a living and better care for his or her family is our number one priority.

“APC road map for jobs includes: Create 20,000 jobs per state immediately for those with a minimum qualification of secondary school leaving certificate and who participate in technology and vocational training.

“Encourage state governments to focus on employment creation by matching every one job created by the State Government through funding with two jobs created by the Federal Government in the same state.

“Direct conditional monthly cash transfers of N5,000 to the 25million poorest and most vulnerable citizens upon demonstration of children’s enrollment in school and immunisation to help promote job empowerment.

“Establish technology/Industrial Estates fully equipped with ICT, power and other support across the country to attract and encourage small-scale technology businesses and other entrepreneurs.

“Provide allowances to discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for 12 months while they seek jobs or acquire training and skills for job placement or entrepreneurship.

“Establish plants for the assembly and ultimately the manufacture of phones, tablets, computers and other devices.

“Pay a guaranteed indexed-linked price to farmers to ensure that there is always a ready market for their produce, which will create more jobs, agricultural related employment and sustain existing jobs.”

On corruption, the APC said it was worried that “corruption is crippling Nigeria”.

It assured Nigerians that it would “create a vibrant economy where jobs and opportunities are more readily available.” “Every individual, civil servant, business and government leader must play by the same rules, obey the law and reject the temptation of bribery and corruption.”

The party was specific on its anti-corruption agenda. It plans to: “show zero tolerance for official and/or private sector corruption. Place the burden of proving innocence in corruption cases on persons with inexplicable wealth.

“Pursue legislation expanding forfeiture and seizure of assets; laws and procedure with respect to inexplicable wealth, regardless of whether there is a conviction for criminal conduct or not.

“Strengthen legal provisions to prevent stay of proceedings and other delays in corruption trials.

“Guarantee the independence of anti-corruption and financial crimes agencies by legislation, charging their budgets directly to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“Stop corruption in our elections, in part by making the Independent National and State Electoral Commissions truly independent and free from political interference.

“Improve the ability of citizens to keep an eye on their government, with more open access to government data, greater disclosure of government contracts prior to awards and during implementation, and ensuring the people’s business is done in an open and transparent way.”

Regarding security challenges facing the nation, the APC said it would allow states to own local police forces.

It promised to establish a serious crime squad to fight terrorism.

The road map added: “Peace and security are fundamental to Nigeria’s social and economic wellbeing. Every Nigerian should be safe and free to work in any part of the country, regardless of tribe, ethnicity, or religious beliefs.

“Our law enforcement agencies face significant challenges on many fronts: terrorism, especially in the Northeast, unresolved high-profile homicides and the rise in new crimes, such as kidnapping, abductions and cyber-crime. The result is an international perception of Nigeria as a failing state where violent crime, corruption and fraud are rife.

“APC’s roadmap for peace, security and foreign policy includes: Enable states to have their own local police forces that address the special needs of each community, including community policing initiatives that restore trust among local citizens.

“Establishing a serious crime squad with state-of-the-art training and equipment to combat terrorism, militancy and ethno- religious crisis, clashes.

“Provide a comprehensive compensation plan for victims of ethno-religious crisis, communal clashes and terrorism.

“Initiate a national reconciliation and healing plan, beginning with a truth and reconciliation commission on ethno-religious clashes, ensure the teaching in our schools of religious tolerance and public demonstrations of religious and ethnic tolerance by public officials.”

On Education, the APC plans to “make the right of every Nigerian child to receive a free, relevant and quality education a reality, based on free and comprehensive primary and secondary education.

“Provide free tertiary education to students pursuing Science and Technology. Engineering and Math (STEM).

“Create incentives and dedicate special attention to the education of girls.”

Shedding light on the road map at a follow-up round table, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: “We commissioned a survey on what exactly is wrong with Nigeria, what exactly Nigerians need. Unemployment, corruption insecurity are the major problems confronting Nigeria today. So, the roadmap is a result of what Nigerians need.

“What we have done today is to show that there is a big difference between the PDP and the APC. We are after a new Nigetia. This is a new Nigeria we are creating in which the people will be the beginning and the end of all development programmes.”

The Chairman of Anti-Corruption Network, Otunba Dino Melaye, said: “The road map has lucidly elucidated the palliative measures against corruption. What the PDP is practicing now is greedocrcracy, the government of the greedy by the greedy and for the greedy. The road map, which is to correct corruption, is coming at a time when we are getting to the brink. The APC is the solution to the challenges facing the country. Once I was blind but now I can see.

“Nigeria is like a car being driven by a drunken-driver. What we have now is that corruption is being massaged and promoted. What we have in the road map is to make every Nigerian a change agent. In 2011, I was in the National Assembly where a budget of N250billion was passed for fuel subsidy but this reckless government increased it to N2.3trillion.

“This roadmap will produce a President that will not just commission projects but supervise projects; a President that will execute projects that are people-oriented. N149billion has been used in the last three years for politically exposed persons for medical tourism. We are setting an agenda. The President APC will produce is going to attend hospitals in Nigeria. We are going to bring back our medical experts deposited in Saudi Arabia and in the United States.

“APC wants a Nigeria where you will not need to manipulate or commit immoral sins to get political appointments.”

A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, said: “The best way to differentiate the APC from PDP, not only in terms of corruption but in many ways is to look at the leaders of APC. PDP cannot produce or present an incorruptible leader like Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. If they have any, let them produce such a person. I think the results are there on ground; if the APC leaders are credible. We have the history to show us and we have the performance of our leaders to speak for us.

“The last time the PDP produced a manifesto was in 2007. It has been pursuing one agenda or the other since then. We challenge the ruining ruling party to produce its own roadmap.”

A former National Secretary of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), George Moghalu, said: “The road map is all about Nigeria, doing things at the right time and in the right way. It is a reflection of the wish of average Nigerian.

“It is an agreement we are going to sign with Nigerians so that at the end of the day, we can account to them.” (0)

Manifesto: APC reveals their plans for Nigeria