Politics
PLATEAU APC’S IDES OF MARCH
PLATEAU APC’S IDES OF MARCH
BY CHRIS GYANG
Saturday, March 11, 2023, is judgement day for the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in Plateau State. It is a date many citizens have anxiously waited for with so much expectation and high hopes.
As things stand, the inevitable verdict of the people is bound to be justifiably, proportionately, damning. The long-term outcome shall be the rebirth of the state and its citizens.
The past eight years of the APC have left in their wake a forlorn populace and a devastated landscape devoid of the kind of development other states of the federation have experienced.
Plateau State citizens have never before been subjected to the kind of rudderless leadership, accompanied by an almost complete absence of infrastructural, economic and social development, the way the current APC administration has done.
Today, it has the negative distinction of being the fourth poorest in the country. You see this in every corner of the state.
The tragedy of the state is best appreciated when it is also realised that the Lalong government has so far incurred a debt of more than N200 billion – one of the largest in the entire country. And there is virtually nothing on ground to show for it!
This sort of bleak record is vastly replicated in other sectors of the economy, governance and general administration of the state.
The full extent of the damage the APC administration has wrought will only become clearer when the next governor takes office. They have substantially succeeded in reducing the stat to a shadow of its once glorious and robust self.
The APC government here loves to flamboyantly tout itself as The Rescue Administration. By the way they have misapplied and corrupted this concept, it is either they accidentally picked this fanciful notion by the road side or they never got the hang of what its original fabricator had in mind.
Whichever way, it has become apparent that Plateau State never needed rescuing in the first. Since it set out on this self-serving and delusional mission, the APC administration has, rather, plundered and destroyed the immense and palpable gains made by its predecessor.
It is Governor Lalong himself and his misguided administration that are in dire need of rescuing. They have completely lost all sense of direction and cannot find the way out of this stifling morass into which they have dragged the state.
Today, a majority of the people who are not blinded by their political allegiances to the APC are yearning for a return to those good old days of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Broken promises, outright lies, fabrications and missed opportunities are some of the derelict mementoes the APC administration will leave for Plateau people. Citizens are still asking about the 400 tractors the government said it procured in its first tenure.
No one has seen one of them. So local farmers still toil on their farms using the most rudimentary tools and methods, reminiscent of their forebears in the 1960s. The state’s huge comparative advantages in the areas of Irish potatoes, cabbage, carrots and exotic fruits production have been squandered.
The Agriculture Services and Training Centres (ASTC), which was the touchstone of the Jonah Jang (PDP) administration’s agrarian revolution, has been systematically destroyed by the APC. They could not simply sustain the incredible vision and determination that went into bringing cutting edge Israeli technology to bear on the state’s mainly subsistence agricultural sector.
That phenomenal quantum leap, which became the benchmark for other states, even the Federal Government, has been brutally killed.
Questions are still being asked about the humongous loan facility said to have been procured for the completion of the Olympic size Zaria Road stadium, which has remained uncompleted. But because this administration does not care a bit about accountability and transparency, nothing will be known about this shady deal until a new government takes over. The same with the mysterious case of the 400 tractors.
The APC’s attack on, and disregard for the rule of law, is unmatched in the political history of the state. They orchestrated the wholesale exclusion of the main opposition PDP in the 2021 local government election which it went on to ‘win’ in all of the 17 local government areas of the state.
In October 2021, the same party masterminded the impeachment of the Speaker of the state legislature by six of its twenty four members. That move has remained controversial.
The Speaker had dared to question the governor’s sincerity in the fight against herdsmen’s bloody attacks on indigenous communities of the state. The APC found that offensive and contrary to its code of conduct and moved against the Speaker. The scars have refused to heal.
The presidential election has come, gone and left its sour taste in the mouths of majority of Nigerians. But that should neither dampen their morale nor deter them from performing Saturday’s necessary exercise of purgation, especially in Plateau State.
Citizens should trudge on with determination. Purge this APC scourge that has sucked the life out of the state so perniciously in the last eight years. It is now stranded, motionless, in the national race towards greatness.
The people must return to that golden era where the overall good and interests of the masses are the overriding concerns of government.
For Plateau APC, here comes your inevitable Ides of March – the damning verdict of the people.
PLATEAU APC’S IDES OF MARCH
Senator Lawan condoles APC Northeast Youth Forum chairman over the demise of his father
By: Yahaya Wakili
President of the Ninth Senate, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan PhD, GCON, Sardaunan Bade, Yobe North Senatorial District, has paid a condolence visit to the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Northeast Youth Forum, Haruna Adamu Sardaunan, over the passing of his beloved father, Mallam Adamu Isa Bulama, at Potiskum.
During the visit, President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, prayed for the repose of his soul.
Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, PhD, GCON, urged his son, Haruna, to draw strength from his father’s memory and continue along the path of dedicated services to our people.
Mallam Adamu Isa Bulama, until his demise, was the chairman of the Yobe State Hunters Association.
Senator Lawan extended his deepest condolences to Haruna and his family and prayed that Allah (SWT) grants them the fortitude to bear this great loss.
“May the soul of Mallam Adamu Isa Bulama rest in Aljannatul Firdaus Amin, Sardaunan prays.
Senator Lawan condoles APC Northeast Youth Forum chairman over the demise of his father
Edo Election: ActionAid Nigeria Calls for Prosecution of those involved in Electoral Fraud
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria has called for the prosecution of those that were involved in electoral fraud in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Edo State
A statement on Thursday by the NGO Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said:
“it is important that those responsible for undermining the will of the people are held accountable. The government must be unequivocally reminded that its foremost duty is to serve the interests of the citizens, not to facilitate or condone actions that silence their voices.”
Mamedu said: “For over 15 years, ActionAid Nigeria has been consistent in her work around electoral processes in Nigeria including observing elections in the 36 states and FCT, although not physically present to observe the just concluded Edo State governorship election, we stand firmly in solidarity with our fellow Civil Society organisations and partners who have reported significant irregularities throughout the electoral process. This election has been marred by serious allegations of manipulation and rigging, as thoroughly documented by multiple civil society groups within the state. Disturbing accounts of disruptions at collation centers, including intimidation of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and attempts to manipulate results contrary to established electoral provisions, have raised profound concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
“We recognise that INEC has acknowledged reports of result tampering and has pledged to investigate any proven violations but their track record in conducting free, fair, and transparent elections has been severely undermined by persistent accusations of inefficiency, manipulation, and undue political influence. While the investigation is a step in the right direction, it is important that these investigations translate into swift and effective action.
“Also, beyond the investigation, it is important that those responsible for undermining the will of the people are held accountable.”
He added that: “The time has also come to critically reassess INEC’s role in our electoral system. When an institution entrusted with safeguarding democracy continuously falters, we must explore alternatives. Nigerians deserve an electoral body that is genuinely independent, transparent, and accountable. There is a need to reform INEC as a commission in order to make it more efficient, effective and accountable in carrying out its mandate as an electoral umpire.”
Mamedu said: “A comprehensive electoral reform in Nigeria is urgently needed. First, there must be a complete overhaul of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create a more transparent, accountable, and independent body, free from political influence and led by individuals of proven integrity.”
He called for more roles for civil society organisations and international observers in Nigeria’s electoral process, stating that: “Civil society organisations and international observers should play a more significant role in observing elections, ensuring that their recommendations are taken seriously, with mechanisms in place for swift action against misconduct.”
He added that: “The adoption of more robust electoral technologies, such as biometric voting systems and real-time result transmission, is crucial to minimizing fraud.
“Security personnel must also be deployed impartially to prevent violence and intimidation, ensuring that party agents, the media, and observers have full access to maintain electoral integrity. It is essential to incorporate technologies like the BVAs and IREV into the Electoral Act.
“The judiciary must uphold its role as the guardian of democracy, prioritising electoral cases with swift, evidence-based verdicts. Any officials found complicit in electoral fraud must be held accountable, necessitating comprehensive reforms in the judicial sector to ensure just outcomes.”
Edo Election: ActionAid Nigeria Calls for Prosecution of those involved in Electoral Fraud
Ize-Iyamu congratulates Edo deputy governor-elect Dennis Idahosa
By: Michael Mike
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has extended his warm congratulations to Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa on his election as the Deputy Governor of Edo State. In a congratulatory message, Ize-Iyamu praised Idahosa’s victory as a reflection of his dedication to public service, noting that the people of Ugboko in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Idahosa’s maternal hometown, are particularly proud of his achievement.
Ize-Iyamu highlighted that Idahosa’s success represents not only his hard work but also his deep connection with the aspirations of the people of Edo State. He expressed confidence in Idahosa’s ability, alongside Governor-elect Sen. Monday Okpebholo, to drive significant progress in the state, given his wealth of experience and passion for development.
He further prayed for wisdom, strength, and courage for the newly elected leaders as they take on the challenges ahead, emphasizing the hope that Edo State would experience peace, unity, and prosperity under their leadership. Ize-Iyamu also expressed optimism about the positive impact the duo would have on the advancement of Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
Ize-Iyamu wished Idahosa success in his tenure as Deputy Governor and looked forward to the transformative leadership he would bring to Edo State.
Ize-Iyamu congratulates Edo deputy governor-elect Dennis Idahosa
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