Politics
N’East Govs Reject Move To Postpone 2015 Elections
Governors Murtala
Nyako, Kashim Shettima and Ibrahim Gaidam of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states respectively, whose states are currently under the siege of Boko Haram insurgency, have rejected the move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude the states from the 2015 general elections.
The governors, in a statement jointly issued on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, by their spokespersons, Ahmad Sajoh for Nyako, Isa Gusau for Shettima and Abdullahi Bego for Gaidam, challenged INEC to take a clue from war-ravaged Afghanistan where presidential and provincial elections were held last Saturday in spite of threat of insurgency by the Taliban terrorist group.
INEC had recently gave indications of excluding the three states currently under a State of Emergency, from the 2015 general elections on account of Boko Haram threats.
The governors also pointed out that the Afghan government provided adequate security for the conduct of the polls and therefore urged the Federal Government to emulate the Afghan government.
According to them, Afghanistan and her people were celebrated worldwide for liberating themselves from the scourge of fear, thereby sending a strong signal that no amount of threat could stop them from choosing their leaders through a democratic process.
The statement which was made available to The Tide reads in part: “Our Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should please learn from the landmark election that took place in Afghanistan at the weekend, during which election officials took the bold step of going on to conduct election in spite of threats by the Taliban to send end the country into extinction if the elections were held.
“The central government in Afghanistan provided adequate security for the conduct of the polls. It was also reported that there was a 53 per cent voter turn-out during the elections and it went on peacefully in most places.
“We all know that the unfortunate insurgency affecting this country has a similar attribute to the Taliban doctrine in Afghanistan even though ours is now assuming a complicated character.
“The INEC should as a matter of counter-insurgency approach, ensure that no part of Nigeria is excluded from the 2015 elections on account of threats.”
The governors warned that suspending elections in their states on account of threats by insurgents and other sundry social miscreants would amount to succumbing to the Boko Haram doctrine as well as conceding victory to the insurgents.
“Should INEC go ahead with its initially considered exclusion of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno State from the 2015 elections, all criminal gangs need to do, is to extend the attacks to other parts of Nigeria and have more places excluded from future elections. This will then imply that crime and criminality will be victorious in suspending constitutional democracy in Nigeria,” the statement said.
The governors also rejected the move by the Federal Government to extend the State of Emergency in their states, saying there was “absolutely no reason to even contemplate an extension” in any of the three states.
“It must be noted that a counter-insurgency strategy that lasted one year without achieving the desired result required a redefinition rather than extension. The Federal Government should always remember that it has the obligation of protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians in all parts of the country without necessarily putting them under any special condition. It has the option of putting a security structure in place that can continue and intensify ongoing counter-insurgency operations without an extension of emergency rule,” the governors stated.
Boye Salau
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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