Politics
RevolutionNow Protest, Sign Of APC Failure -PDP
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the ‘RevolutionNow’ Protest planned to take place across the country on Monday is a sign of failure on the part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.
Spokesman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Kasim Afegbua stated this when he appeared as guest during a national television programme monitored by The Tide in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Recall that activist and Presidential Candidate of the African Alliance (AA) in the 2019 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, had called for a nation-wide anti-government protest against the President Buhari government; thought the publisher of radical online newspaper ‘Sahara Reporter’ was arrested by operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) ahead of the protest scheduled on Monday.
But condemning the arrest of the activist, Afegbua stated that a momentum was gradually building in the minds of many Nigerians to protest perceived wrongdoings of the incumbent apex administration and to press for their demands.
“So ‘RevolutionNow’ has become a word that is common in the mouth and hearts of the people. So far me, I think it is the failure of governance that is leading to this.
“Failure of governance which has led to insecurity, job loses, hunger, poverty, deprivation, name them…If things were right, if the APC could seat and provide governance and govern the country very well, people will not be agitating for things like ‘RevolutionNow’,” he stated.
Afegbua observed that the planned protest may not have garnered the expected turnout, following the convener’s arrest, but said that “In the minds and heart of hearts of Nigerians, they are making a very strong statement about their displeasure over the mis-governance in the last four years.”
He expressed dismay that with another tenure of the current administration beginning, the country is still ‘rotating on the same axis’, pointing out that it was time the government took concrete and sure steps to turn around her fortunes.
According to him, “The APC government appear so confused and clueless to the extent that there are no critical interaction, no conversation across board, no dialogue on sensitive national issues. There are crises in the country. There is hunger, poverty everywhere, deprivation, internally displaced persons, insecurity everywhere, kidnapping and all that.
“What is the APC led federal government doing in terms of concrete steps to put these issues on the front burner and articulate roadmap that will take us out from these shelve?
“We are saying that for a country that is as multi-religious and multidimensional like Nigeria seating on a delicate balance you need to begin to encourage conversation. We don’t want monologue.
“The other day they told us Atiku Abubakar was issuing statement of congratulation to Boris Johnson (New UK Prime Minister), because of that it is treasonable felony. Sowore is talking about RevolutionNow because of that you are talking about treasonable felony.
“It is because there are failures and these failures are so visible that you can see it without any prompting. So for me APC needs to seat down, get its acts right and govern and provide leadership,” the PDP Presidential Campaign spokesman said.
Dennis Naku
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
The Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Darlington Oji, has disclosed that about 15 Special Advisers to the governor were duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly before the current political crisis in the State.
Oji made the disclosure in a Television programme in Port Harcourt, recently, while reacting to issues surrounding appointments, the impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy, and allegations of financial mismanagement.
He clarified that the appointment of Special Advisers was carried out in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, and received the approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, before the crisis began.
According to the Special Adviser, the appointments did not require any further screening, countering claims that the governor violated due process in constituting his advisory team.
On the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, Oji described the process as unfounded and lacking constitutional backing.
He said that several lawmakers who initially supported the impeachment move were now reconsidering their stance after discovering that the process had no legal basis.
Oji also attributed the impeachment plot to personal and political ambitions, saying it is not motivated by the interest or welfare of the people of Rivers State.
Speaking on the financial position of the State after the Emergency Rule, the Special Adviser disclosed that the governor met about ?600 billion in the state’s coffers upon assumption of office.
He explained that the availability of funds enabled the administration to continue governance smoothly without the need for a supplementary budget.
The governor’s aide also refuted allegations of financial mismanagement against the governor, and stressed that all allocations to lawmakers and constituency projects were transparently handled.
He maintained that the Fubara administration remained focused on development, stability, and good governance despite the political distractions in the State.
Oji expressed confidence that the impeachment moves would eventually be abandoned as legislators and the public become more informed, adding that the governor’s leadership has continued to reassure citizens and sustain political stability in the State.
King Onunwor
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