Nothing to celebrate – PDP ACF knocks Buhari on infrastructure
Our democratic institutions need strengthening – Saraki, Ekweremadu
By Agboola Bayo, Ibadan, AbdulRaheem Aodu, Kaduna, Ezrel Tabiowo, Taiye Odewale and Emeka Nze, Abuja
After 18 years of the nation’s return to democracy and two years of the All Progressives Congress in the saddle, the governing party yesterday begged Nigerians to pray and show better sense of patriotism for the country to move forward.
When viewed against the backdrop of the rot it met on ground, the party explained, the Muhammdu Buhari-led administration has fared well.
The verdict was contained in a statement by its Oyo state chapter in Ibadan yesterday.
The statement signed by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Olawale Sadare, emphasised that “Nigeria, more than before, now needs the prayers and better sense of patriotism for the country from its citizenry to achieve the needed growth and development.”
“The two years so far spent under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, since 1999 when Nigeria was returned to democracy, have been the only defining moment of hope and national rebirth while prayers and better sense of patriotism are required from the citizenry.
“However, the nation’s overall economy which took a downward turn under the PDP’s Jonathan administration, took its toll on Oyo state, but Governor Ajimobi weathered the storm by bringing to bear his wealth of experience, doggedness and patriotic zeal.”
“As Nigeria marks its 18th Democracy Day anniversary, the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state has applauded Senator Abiola Ajimobi over the governor’s renewed commitment to good governance, excellent service delivery and holistic repositioning of the Pacesetter State despite daunting challenges,” the party added.
PDP
In its comment, the Makarfi-led PDP noted that “as Nigerians mark the 2nd Anniversary (Mid-term, May 2015 to May 2017) of the APC in power, it is important to once again briefly remind us of the state of affairs in the nation as it has plunged the vast majority of the people into this two years of despondency, ambiguity, repressed and depressed condition and still ongoing.”
The statement signed by the faction’s publicity secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, said, “we would have simply wished Nigerians happy celebrations but there is nothing to celebrate from this APC government which represents confusion in its entirety. A government that formed its cabinet within 6 months of assumption of office, jokes with the country’s annual budget, led the Africa’s No. 1 economy into depression, put in place an ambiguous economic plan after 2 years in power, and the list is endless.”
ACF’s verdict
But in its assessment, the Arewa Consultative Forum scored President Buhari’s government low in the areas of power generation and road construction across the country, while lauding the administration’s efforts on security and fight against corruption.
Assessing Buhari government’s mid-term performance, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, said in the last two years, Buhari’s government has a success story in openness, transparency and accountability that were entrenched in the business of governance, as well as security and anti-corruption.
“The two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the opinion of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has been a success story. However, there is the need to strengthen the anti-corruption agencies through legislation and quick dispensation of justice by the courts.
“It should be noted that the economy cannot flourish amid insecurity and corruption; hence the emphasis to tame them.”
But, the ACF returned a verdict of non performance in the area of infrastructure.
He said: “On the infrastructure development, the government needs to do more, especially on the rehabilitation and building of roads, completion of vital projects like the Baro Port Terminal, Mambilla Power station, Kano- Maiduguri dual carriageway, Calabar-Jalingo-Biu-Maiduguri Trunk
“A road, Kano-Lagos Railway and many others in view of their economic values and direct bearing on the lives of the people.
“Government should also put in place a policy framework that will encourage private investments in the renewable energy sector to compliment the thermal and hydro-generating plants.
“On employment and the economy, government N-Power programme, Social Investment Project, diversification in agriculture and solid minerals, recruitment into the military, police force and other security agencies, are commendable efforts to reduce unemployment and also boost the economy.
“The degrading of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east, the release of over 100 Chibok girls that were kidnapped and held in captivity three years ago by the Boko Haram terrorists, and the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons, are practical achievements in the area of security. The efforts of the military and other security agencies in tackling insecurity nationwide are also commendable.
“On the anti-corruption crusade, the agencies responsible have lived up to their responsibilities with the arrest and prosecution of suspected public treasury looters. The whistle-blower policy of the government has also yielded positive results with the discoveries of stolen public funds hidden in banks, homes, farms and obscure places, and the forfeiture of such monies to the federal government.”
Saraki
Also in his assessment, the Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki said the nation’s democratic institutions, such as the National Assembly and Judiciary must be strengthened in order to ensure optimal performance in their duties to Nigerians, irrespective of the government in power.
Saraki stated this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, to commemorate the 2017 Democracy Day celebrations.
He said the real challenge to the sustenance of the democracy which the country had experienced in the last 18 years, bordered on the need to have a solid economy that would ensure that the citizens enjoy high standard of living.
Saraki thanked Nigerians for their “perseverance, patience, understanding and resilience in the face of the current economic challenges,” even as he assured that “better days are near.”
He commended the policies and programmes of the present administration aimed at repositioning the country, and called for more support for President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve his lofty economic plan.
“I want to congratulate all Nigerians for the successes we have recorded so far in our democratic journey. We cannot afford to remove our legs from the gas pedal. Government definitely is determined to make life more abundant for our people.
“All Nigerians deserve commendation. We have done well so far. We must strive more to make democracy a way of life. The successes recorded so far, demonstrate the unwavering commitment of Nigerians to sustain and grow our democracy.
“Let us celebrate with hope that the present economic challenges will soon give way to a prosperous country that we can all be proud of. Our democratic institutions need to be strengthened to perform their duties in the service of all Nigerians irrespective of the government in power.”
Ekweremadu
Similarly, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, stressed the need to uphold constitutionalism and the rule of law to speed up the growth of nation’s democracy.
According to him, the real blessing and difference between democracy and undemocratic forms of government are the guarantee of human rights and rule of law.
He said: “As we celebrate the 18th anniversary of the return of democracy, we must remind ourselves that the greatest blessings of democracy are not just good roads, hospitals, electricity, and other socio-economic infrastructure, which are still grossly inadequate anyway.
“Any government is capable of providing one, and even several dictatorships around the world have indeed provided betters ones. The greatest blessings of democracy are constitutionalism, rule of law, respect for human rights, courts, separation of powers, and the ballot box.”
He, however, called on Nigerians to keep faith alive in the nation’s democracy, as there was no alternative to democratic rule.