Politics
Buhari Doesn’t Deserve A Second Term -N’Delta Agitators
A coalition of ex-Niger
Delta agitators has said that President Muhammadu Buhari does not deserve a second term, accusing him of tribalism and lack of political will to end killings in some parts of the country.
The ex-militants in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt accused the president of shielding members of his government allegedly found culpable in corrupt offences.
The statement was signed by General John Duku, for the ‘Niger Delta Watchdogs’/Convener, ‘Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators’, General Ekpo Ekpo on behalf of ‘Niger Delta Volunteers,’ General Simple Benjamin for the ‘Bakassi Strike Force’ and eleven other militant groups.
The groups also slammed dreaded militants: “The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers” (RNDA) for adopting President Buhari for re-election in 2019, saying such decision is self-serving and did not represent the opinion of the Niger Delta people.
The Tide recalled that the RNDA had recently endorsed President Muhamadu Buhari for re-election in 2019, claiming that he has performed better for the Niger Delta than any of his predecessors.
But the coalition of ex-agitators said, “While we acknowledge the right of the RNDA to adopt, support and vote for any candidate of their choice, we want to state categorically clear that the RNDA did so in their own selfish and pecuniary interest.
“It is not in the overall interest of the Niger Delta people or militants as they did not consult or seek opinion of the people that matters in Niger Delta struggle before their hasty adoption of a person who has divided the country along the ethnic lines than he met it.”
They said the incumbent federal administration has reneged on many of its promises, including the lack of infrastructure in the country.
The statement reads, “We want to ask the RNDA and the federal Ggvernment the following questions: where is the much publicised coastal rail Line they promised that would link the Niger Delta states with Lagos? Where are the modular refineries they promised? Why is it so hard for President Buhari to implement the 16-point demand of the PANDEF that led to our cease-fire in 2016 till now?
“How many years would it take the federal government to complete the East-West road? Why are the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NDDC and the Amnesty Office underfunded? While we acknowledge that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan did not do much for the Niger Delta people, we commend him for the massive projects he executed in the North: his fair distribution of appointments, respect to the rule of law and upholding the unity of the country when it matters most.
“The present administration under Buhari is a total failure without any infrastructure, the country’s debt profile under him has skyrocketed within three years and killings across the country has become a norm.
“With all sense of responsibility, President Buhari does not deserve a second term and should be shown a way out. The recent appointment of a retired officer from the North, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, in preference to Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, a Niger Deltan, is a case in point.
”The treatment of indicted members of his government found culpable in various corrupt and criminal offences as sacred cows has also proven the President as very tribalistic and self-centered.”
The ex-militants however called people of the Niger Delta to remain calm, focused and disregard the endorsement by the RNDA, saying “At the
Appropriate time we shall consult widely and adopt a candidate that shall ensure that the resources of the Niger Delta people are properly utilized and fairly distributed for the overall benefit of the region.
”A person that has the mental capacity, charisma and political will to bring Nigeria out of the present failure, “it concluded.
Dennis Naku
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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