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APC Serving Nigerians Propaganda, Two Years After – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is serving Nigerians just propaganda nearly two years in office. The party said it was now obvious that the APC was not prepared for governance as it is incapable of addressing the basic problems confronting Nigeria and Nigerians.
A statement by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party, said the APC has shown clearly it was now only capable of sustaining a regime of propaganda as it has failed to achieve anything close to what the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan achieved.
In the statement signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the PDP said: “It has been two years since the ‘Ruling Party in opposition’ took over power in May 2015 and all the APC has done since assumption of office is complaining and whining, instead of governance and delivering to Nigerians its campaign promises.
“Nigerians have not also forgotten how the APC in opposition politicized all issues of governance without proffering a single solution to any of them, but remained adamant, condemning the sincere policies of previous PDP administration.
“Nigerians thought the only reply by the APC to our statement of Wednesday, March 29, 2017, would have been for the Party to role out its achievements in the last two years instead of another shameless descent into the abyss of propaganda, blame-game and media trial of previous PDP led administration.
However, we are not surprised because the APC has no achievement to flaunt before Nigerians than the boring rehash of what the PDP did or did not do.
“We still maintained that Nigerians should take critical look at the mid-term report of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and compare it to that of the current APC-led government and access them on performance and achievements.
“On the much celebrated anti-corruption fight of the APC, it must be noted that it was previous PDP governments that created and sustained all the institutions for fighting corruption such as the ICPC and the EFCC.
Under the PDP administrations most of those who were tried by these agencies were PDP members.
There was no effort to shield PDP members from prosecution and investigation as it’s the case with the APC Government which has made it a policy to sweep all the dirt of its members under the carpet.
“Recall the grass cutting allegations against the SGF, the Awards of Contracts to ghost companies by the Federal Government Committee on North-east, allegation of attempted bribery of judges by the Minister of Transport and that of Science and Technology, the CBN forex racketeering and most recently, the DSS indictment of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu and many others.
“On the war on Boko Haram, the APC spokesman forgot to mention that it was the same weapons bought by previous PDP administration that the present Government is still using to prosecute the war on insurgency in the North-east.
He also forgot to mention that despite his corruption claim on the PDP-led Government, the PDP made Nigeria Economy the largest in Africa and the fastest growing in the world.
Where are we now? In less than 2 years, our economy is in recession.
“May we again remind the APC that the dollar under the PDP Government was 165 Naira to 1 US Dollar. Today, the difference is there for everyone to see.
The 18,000 Naira minimum wage could buy 2 bags of rice and still had some change in the PDP-led government, but today, where are we? “Nigerians have never been so hungry in their entire lives, except during the Civil War as seen in the last two years.
The APC spokesman forgot to add that, the Federal Government under the PDP created 500,000 jobs a year for our teeming unemployed youths. Since the APC-led administration took over, more than 4.5 million people have lost their jobs.
“During the era of the PDP under President Goodluck Jonathan alone, 12 new universities, and Almajiri schools were established.
What is the APC achievement in education, agriculture, sports development, job creation, economy etc.
“The APC should stop complaining and do what they promised Nigerians. The party promised to fix Nigeria and solve all the problems in less than two years. All the party has done is to blame the PDP and give excuse for its failure.
“Nigerians are no longer excited with the APC’s selective fight against corruption when its house is smelling and oozing with the stench of corruption and reckless looting of our common wealth.
This reminds us of the statement credited to Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna State, that the APC-led government is using insecticide to fight corruption when it concerns other Nigerians but using deodorant when it concerns top APC leaders and members.”
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RHI, RSG Empower 500 Senior Citizens In Rivers
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
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Expedite Action On MBA Forex Operator’s Prosecution, Rivers NUJ Tells EFCC
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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