APC Warns Of Grave Consequences Over Impunity In Rivers

The APC held the 7th regular meeting of the Interim National Executive Committee of the party today, under the chairmanship of Chief Bisi Akande. Notable party leaders including Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Ogbonayya Onu, and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff graced the meeting. The meeting happily welcomed for the first time the Governors of Kano and Rivers States, representatives of the Governors of Adamawa, Sokoto, Kwara and Alhaji Kawu Baraje to the Interim NEC of the APC. Sadly, in the course of the meeting, the APC learnt that another deadly attack was perpetrated against the Rivers Government House where the office of the Deputy Governor was partly destroyed. This and other acts of impunity clearly show the PDP, its agents and governments to be lawless. The APC warns that these acts demonstrate clearly that this government is anti-people, dictatorial and would go to any length to plunge the country into chaos. At the conclusion of the meeting: 1. The APC has noted with concern the threats of the PDP to procure a pliant judge to declare the seats of the G-5 governors vacant in spite of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Atiku in 2007. It is of note that several times governors, including their legislatures from other parties have decamped from the ANPP and PPA to the PDP even when their former parties were not factionalized without any consequence. The APC will not only resist this lawfully but hereby warns the PDP to desist from words and deeds of impunity that threaten our stability and democracy. We also hope that the judiciary will not be a party to the deliberate promotion of lawlessness and impunity in our country. APC will give its governors and lawmakers the necessary support in defence of their rights and freedoms of association. 2. The APC has earlier alerted the nation of the strategy of the Jonathan administration to depopulate areas where our party has strong followings and suppress voter turnout in the Northern and South-West states through deliberate exacerbation of insecurity. We suspect that wittingly or unwittingly the recent declaration of INEC that elections are not likely to take place in states under state of emergency is in furtherance of this agenda. 3. The APC hereby warns that it will not accept the deliberate disenfranchisement of large swathes of our citizenry. APC will fight to defend the right of every eligible Nigerian voter to vote. We also want to alert the Federal Government that any attempt to extend the state of emergency without any justification will be resisted by every lawful and constitutional means. 4. The APC has always believed that it is a combination of carrot and stick that will resolve insurgencies that parts of our nation face. President Jonathan should therefore live up to his responsibilities by ensuring that every part of Nigeria is safe enough for elections, as our citizens expect nothing less. 5. The APC has alerted the nation of the gross abuse of the ecological funds and other illegal funds through the selective and unjust disbursement of funds to only Non- APC states. We also note the revelation of the diversion of revenues that ought to have been paid into the Federation Account running into trillions of Naira. Other budgeted amounts for parastatals, pensions, and the fuel subsidy that ought to have been properly accounted for are being similarly plundered with impunity. We call on the National Assembly to commence the immediate investigation of these constitutional violations and act in consonance with Nigeria’s constitution. This has become necessary to save our nation from falling off a fiscal cliff caused by excessive theft and corruption. 6. After the serial failures on the part of INEC to conduct bye-election and elections in Imo, Delta, Jigawa and Anambra States, the APC has expressed concern about the ability of the electoral umpire to conduct the forthcoming elections in 2014 and 2015. In Abia, the unprovoked harassment and intimidation of APC members continues unabated. Nevertheless, we support that INEC be adequately funded provided that biometric registration and accreditation be made conditions precedent for the required financial support. Democracy is not sustainable without free, fair and credible elections, and the APC warns that those that threaten this foundation are trying to destroy an edifice that they never built, but of which they are the biggest beneficiaries. 7. The APC is concerned with the situation in Rivers State. This display of impunity and the Faustian bargain between the police commissioner and a handful of rebel legislators has gone on for a full year. It must stop. Now is the time for all men and women of goodwill to speak up against the assault on an elected government and violations of the right of Rivers citizens. The international community is hereby put on notice that Nigeria’s democratic journey unravels and Rivers State might be the lightening torch for Nigeria’s descent into impunity. We wish to re-state once again that whatever touches one APC state affects the entire party. Our party will therefore not stand idly by and watch democracy desecrated in Rivers State or elsewhere in the country for that matter. Being an APC Draft Communique on 17th December 2013 Signed: Chief Bisi Akande Interim National Chairman