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PDP Tasks Buhari, APC On US Corruption Charge …As Wike Urges Youth To Vote Out APC In 2019
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to quickly respond to the damning report by the United States government on increasing corruption and abuse of human rights in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the party in Abuja, yesterday, it said the report further exposed the festering corruption, impunity, gross violation of rights and killings under the watch of the Buhari Presidency.
According to the statement, this report by the US Department of State further vindicates the opposition party’s stand that the Buhari-led APC government is “overtly and inherently corrupt, vengeful and has been engaging in smear campaign against the opposition to divert public attention from its atrocities.”
The party observed that the US report directly indicted the APC-led Federal Government of official corruption, secretiveness, high-handedness, restriction of personal freedom and rights, executive influence on the judiciary, wanton arrests, detention and persecution of opposition as well as extra judicial and arbitrary killing of citizens by state-controlled security forces.
It pointed out that the report also directly discredited President Buhari’s fight against corruption as targeted against opposition members while government officials and APC members, openly indicted of corruption, especially those close to Mr. President, are not prosecuted.
The statement added: “From the report, the world can now see that the PDP has not been raising a false alarm on the unbearable savagery and massive corruption of the APC administration, which has proven to be the worst in the history of our country.
“The world has now known why the APC-led Federal Government has been fixated at silencing opposition voices using the tyrannical instruments of intimidation, arrest, detention, trumped-up charges and media trial while emasculating free speech and press freedom in our country, all designed to hide their atrocities from the world.
“Today, it is clear to the world why Nigerians are leaving their country in droves to other parts of the world even at the peril of slavery and death.
“Under President Buhari and the APC, our country is in great pain. Our constitution appears to have been technically suspended. Citizens now live in fear; bloodletting by marauders and extra judicial killings have become the order of the day; billions of naira meant for the rehabilitation of victims of the insurgency are daily frittered by government officials while fundamental human rights have become essential commodities.
“While we urge Nigerians to remain calm, we are surprised that the Buhari Presidency has suddenly become dumb in the face of obviously overwhelming allegations, believing that the tide will flow by.”
The PDP, therefore, challenged the Presidency and the APC to end “their arrogant disdain for the people and immediately respond to all allegations raised in the report.”
It said these are weighty issues and they can no longer hide under the canopy of politics to dismiss them with a wave of the hand as they did in the past.
The PDP called on United States President Donald Trump to note the damning finding in the report by the US Department of States and review his earlier invitation to President Buhari until the issues raised are addressed.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has stated that Nigerian youth have a responsibility to vote out the failed All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government in 2019 that has destroyed the country.
This is as the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association; Rivers State Branch endorsed the governor for a second term, citing his performance as the reason behind their decision.
Speaking during a solidarity visit by the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association, Rivers State Branch, last Monday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike said that the APC-led Federal Government has no plan for the future of the country, hence it has destroyed all viable sectors.
He said: “A government that has no plan for the people, does not think of their welfare and security, goes ahead to say that the youth are lazy.
“Having collapsed the country, they want to blame it on others. Things were not like this before they worsened the situation. I am happy that we now know our mistakes, and we are not going to continue with that mistake in 2019”.
The governor said that contrary to the presidential declaration, Nigerian youth were not lazy.
“I know that our youth are not lazy. The only power we have is our Permanent Voter Card. If you don’t have your Permanent Voter Card, then you are lazy. We must use our PVCs to chase away this lazy party out of Nigeria”, Wike said.
Speaking further, Wike said that his administration has a deliberate policy to grow the state’s economy and empower the youth.
“Members of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association, Rivers State Branch will benefit from the monthly N200million interest free loans set aside by the state government. The funds will be released to different traders and young entrepreneurs on a phased basis”, Wike said.
He added: “Once you get the loan, apply it to your businesses and trades to grow the state’s economy. I also plead with you to work with the state government to ensure that your members don’t ply your trade on the main road”.
On national security, Wike stated that the APC-led Federal Government should be held responsible for the unbridled killing of innocent Nigerians across the country.
“APC is responsible for the bloodshed in the country. This is a party that believes in sucking blood. If the party does not believe in sucking blood, they would have checked the shedding of innocent blood”, he said.
News
Elele Etche community Gets Interim Youth Leaders ….As traditional rulers Warned Against land grabbing

Elele Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state has inaugurated an interim Youth Executive to run the affairs of the Elele Central Youth Association for the next six months.Among those inaugurated are, Comrade Godspower Anaele as the youth leader, Godspower Nwala, deputy youth leader and Barrister Nnamdi Abel as General Secretary/Legal Adviser.Also inaugurated are,Mr Ifeanyi Emmanuel as Assistant General Secretary,Chibuike Nwamkpa as financial secretary, Michael Ogundu , public Relations officer,Miss Faith Nwaobilor , welfare officer and Charles I K.Agugoesi as provost.The Ochimba of Elele community Etche local government Area ,HRH Eze Innocent Anaemeje who inaugurated the youth executive warned them against involvement in anti social behavioursEze Anaemeje particularly warned them against involvement in land grabbing stressing that having eliminated land grabbing from the area, the community will frown at any attempt to bring it back.He said though the interim youth executive has six months to run the affairs of the Elele central youth Association, the community might return them if their performances are satisfactory.In an interview with newsmen, The Elele Etche monarch said his kingdom has only one youth body which is the Elele Central Youth Association, warning that private youth bodies will never be allowed to operate in the kingdom.He said his kingdom is laying a foundation that will promote hardwork and respect to constituted Authoritaties especially from the youth, adding that nobody irrespective of his position will be allowed to hold the community to ransomAccording to him, the youth of Elele Etche must respect their elders , the government and cultivate the virtues of hardwork and honesty, stressing that nobody will be allowed to bring shame to the kingdom.Anaemeje who is the chairman welfare committee of The Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers used the occasion to call on both the Rivers state Government and Etche Local Government Council to assist the community with the rehabilitation of its dilapidated health centreHe said the health centre which was constructed through communal efforts has become dilapidated leading to its abandonment.Eze Anaemeje also called for Government intervention on the epileptic power situation in the area and congratulated Governor Siminalaye Fubara for his reinstatement after six months of emergency rule in the state.Also speaking the Ezeoha of Etche ethnic nationality,HRH Eze Chima Nwagha called on youths in the community to respect their eldersHe warned that no indigene in the area should be allowed to use his position to destroy the kingdom and advised the newly inaugurated youth association to rule with the fear of God.
By: John Bibor & Birane progress
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Stop blaming leaders, take responsibility, CAN tells Nigerians

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Borno State chapter, has urged Nigerians to make the right choices and take responsibility for the nation’s progress instead of blaming leaders for its challenges.
Borno CAN Chairman, Bishop John Bogna Bakeni, made the call in Maiduguri on Saturday, stressing that national renewal requires both accountable leadership and responsible citizenship.
He said the transformation of Nigeria’s economic and political systems depends on deliberate moral choices and collective action by citizens.
“As I said in my message on the pulpit, Nigerians must make the right choices. We must hold our leaders accountable at all levels, but we must also take responsibility,” Bishop Bakeni stated.
He added that it is not enough to desire a better country without consciously choosing good over evil and making efforts to build it.
Bakeni noted that problems such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and corruption stem from the failure of families to instill discipline and values in their children.
“We cannot continue to blame the government alone. Parents must monitor their children and instill discipline and honesty in them. Evil thrives when families abandon their moral duties,” he warned.
News
NUJ hails DSS for releasing detained journalists

The Nigeria Union of Journalists has commended the Department of State Services for the prompt release of two journalists, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, who were recently arrested while covering the funeral of the late mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
The NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, in a statement on Sunday, said the union welcomed the intervention of the DSS Director-General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, which led to the immediate release of the journalists.
Our correspondent gathered that the journalists had captured footage showing DSS operatives preventing some pastors from gaining access to the church premises where the funeral service was taking place.
Security officials were screening attendees, and in the process, some clerics were denied entry.
Marcus and Jang had been detained after posting a video report on social media showing a confrontation between a cleric and security operatives at the funeral, an incident that raised widespread concern over press freedom and the right of journalists to perform their lawful duties.
The statement partly read, “We are encouraged by the decisive intervention of the DSS Director-General, who not only ordered their release but also personally reached out to the Union to tender his apologies. He has also reiterated his directive to DSS operatives to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests.”
The NUJ president described the gesture as a positive shift in the culture of Nigeria’s security institutions.
“The willingness of the DSS leadership to admit errors, apologise where necessary, and commit to reforms is an important step in strengthening public trust and confidence in the agency,” he stated.
While commending the development, Abdullahi urged the DSS and other security agencies to sustain the new approach and respect the rights of journalists at all times.
“Press freedom is the bedrock of democracy, and journalists must never be treated as adversaries for performing their constitutional duties. We call on the DSS to institutionalise accountability by sanctioning officers whose actions undermine democratic values and constitutional rights”, he said.
He stressed that only by enforcing discipline within the ranks can such progress be consolidated.
Abdullahi further assured that the NUJ remains committed to constructive engagement with security institutions to strengthen mutual understanding, promote professionalism, and safeguard both press freedom and national security.
“We urge our members across the country to remain vigilant, courageous, and professional in the discharge of their duties,” the NUJ president added.
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