Politics
ACN ’ll Ensure Free, Fair Elections-Tinubu
The National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has resolved to ensure free and fair elections in the country in future.
Tinubu who stated this on Saturday after his meeting with the leader and defeated presidential candidate of the Congress For Progressive Change (CPC) Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) in Kaduna said the ACN is working on how to bring about positive change to the country in 2015 and beyond,explaining that it was necessary and important to promote the cause of free and fair election as well as rule of law to ensure national development
He said: “We must promote, at any cost, the cause of free and fair election and rule of law because it is so critical to our national development and growth. This is the area that we can conquer poverty and fight so many things. It is not all about politics; it is all about progress and collaborative efforts that will result in free and fair election in this country.
“That change may be about us to form the government of our own. Every democrat must be able to work hard and sacrifice for a free and fair election. Any democrat must be able to accept and celebrate the result of a free and fair election in order to deserve the joy of victory. Every democrat must resist the abuse of power, manipulation and irregular victory in elections,” the ACN leader stated.
Tinubu noted that : “Politics is not a darkroom event; it is about openness, transparency and about how to work with one another to sell a common agenda. And that is the purpose that brought us here. We are still looking for how we can help our nation. Patriotism is defined by putting national interest above self interest.
“If we have security agencies that are charged with the protection of the sovereignty of the country at the expense of their own lives, then the leaders must be able to make sacrifice and must be flexible enough to help redirect the country. Not anybody can steer the ship of a nation but it takes exceptional leadership to chart the course to take the country to a proper destination.”
While answering questions from journalists, Buhari said; “I’m satisfied with what Senator Tinubu told you people, thank you.”
Buhari, had sometime in May, paid a similar visit to the ACN leader at his Lagos residence where the two leaders were said to have laid the foundation for collaborative political effort ahead of the 2015 election.
Sources in the ACN and the CPC said yesterday’s visit was a reciprocal gesture by the ACN leaders, and that the meeting built on discussions earlier held in Lagos.
“The meeting built on the earlier discussions held in Lagos and other meetings in Abuja. It is about the planned alliance that would include other opposition parties too,” a source said.
The ACN delegation comprising Bola Tinubu, Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Chief Audu Ogbe and Alhaji Lai Mohammed arrived at the Kaduna international Airport at about 5:40pm and drove straight to Buhari’s residence along Sultan Road in Kaduna metropolis.
Immediately on arrival at Buhari’s residence at about 6:44pm, the ACN team was received by Buhari himself in company of many CPC stalwarts including former FCT minister, Malam Nasir el-Rufa’i and Senator Abu Ibrahim from Katsina State, former Minister of Works, Alhaji Hassan Lawal and the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna State, Haruna Sa’eed Kajuru.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
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