The All Progressive Congress, APC, has described newly appointed National
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff as a big
joke over his comment that the PDP will take over power in 2019.
A statement by Mai Mala Buni, National Secretary of APC, drew Sheriff’s
attention to the 16th century English language proverb and nursery rhyme
which says “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride”, after Sheriff
boasted in Umuahia, the Abia State capital that the ailing PDP which lost
power in 2015 will regain control of the federal government in 2019.
“Ali Modu Sheriff was also quoted saying the PDP would soon come out with
its ‘master plan’ to regain power. The APC is reluctant to join issues
with Ali Modu Sheriff’s idle 2019 postulations and would rather join
issues that will bring about all-inclusive development in the country.
“However, the APC and indeed Nigerians seriously hope the touted ‘master
plan’ includes how the PDP and its cronies will return public funds stolen
under the PDP’s watch for 16 years.”
APC further stated that “Nigerians are aware that the current economic
hardship and institutional rot was caused by the PDP’s 16-year misrule and
pillage. President Muhammadu Buhari has been working assiduously to
correct the PDP’s years of damage and bring about people-centric
governance. It is baffling how the PDP expects Nigerians to abandon APC’s
smooth sailing ship for a sinking and rudderless PDP ship, come 2019.
“The 2015 elections has been won and lost. The priority of the present APC
administration is to deliver on election promises made by the party to
Nigerians who long-desired change of political leadership at the federal
level and in many states.
“Happily, Nigerians can look back, with relief and attest that since the
APC-led administration took over governance, Nigeria is back on the right
track – economically and security-wise – and has taken its right of place
among the comity of progressive nations.”
APC said the widely-acclaimed job creation, social welfare and inclusion
programmes proposed by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has
been well received.
“The full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by the
present administration has greatly plugged revenue leakages. The
presidential directive to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency
(PPPRA) to adjust its pricing template to reflect competitive and market
driven components hasý resulted in a more efficient and realistic pricing
system for petroleum products and also brought about constant availability
of fuel nationwide.
“Nigeria is winning the war against insurgency. In spite of desperate
attempts to discredit ongoing anti-corruption efforts, the war against
graft is being won. In reiterating the recent submission of the APC
National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for the first time in many
years, Nigeria now has a solidly positive international image and the
president is trying to cash in on this image to help rescue our nation
from the throes, the economic morass which the PDP 16-year misrule has
plunged Nigeria,” the party said.
It added that “these are clear indicators showing that the APC and the
President Muhammadu Buhari administration is on the right track to
delivering on its Change Agenda. With the support and prayers of
Nigerians, the APC assures that Nigeria will reach its full potential
under our leadership.”