PDP already conceding defeat – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is doing its best to tackle the issue of irregular migration.
While responding to criticism by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the irregular migration and trafficking of Nigerians during the visit of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, APC condemned what it said was “an attempt by PDP to politicise such a humanitarian issue.” The ruling party in a statement signed by its spokesman, Yekini Nabena, yesterday also described PDP’s complaint over its planned mode of primaries as a sign that it has already conceded defeat even before the 2019 elections.
APC said PDP in its typical insensitive and unguarded stance on matters affecting the country, “is exploiting an issue that bothers on the lives of Nigerians as it tried to politicise the problem of irregular migration by Nigerian youths.
“It is a known fact that many Nigerian families have suffered grief as a result of deaths and other inhuman treatment that have befell relatives attempting migration to Europe and other parts of the world,” it said.
APC said the federal government through support of international agreements has been making efforts towards curbing illegal migration, repatriation of stranded Nigerian migrants and addressing root causes encouraging illegal migration of Nigerians.
According to the party, the Buhari administration has demonstrated the political will to check the scourge.
It said: “The pains and suffering most Nigerians go through with the hope of reaching Europe has been well reported.
Through relevant agencies, the President Buhari administration has continued to mitigate the migration crisis, particularly in Libya and Mediterranean Sea.
“Nigerians will recall the presidential directive for Nigerians to be evacuated from Libya and other locations and be returned home safely.
Already in place are several interventionist programmes of the federal government to enable them start new and productive lives.
It said the Buhari administration is using initiatives like N-Power, Bank of Industry Youth Entrepreneurship Support, Central Bank of Nigeria support schemes, Agriculture, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country which is seen as the cause of scourge.
Meanwhile, APC has said that it was amused by the interest the PDP has shown in the mode of election it has adopted for primaries to elect party candidates for the 2019 elections.
A statement by its spokesman, Yekini Nabena, the party said with over 13million registered APC members, coupled with a large section of nonpartisan Nigerian electorate supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, it would seem that the PDP on account of its attack of APC’s adoption of direct primaries, particularly to elect its presidential candidate, has already conceded defeat even before the 2019 elections.