APC slams critics of its directive on blockage of executive bills, says directive yielding results
The
All Progressives Congress (APC) has described critics of its directive
to its National Assembly members to block all legislative proposals as
those who are either ignorant of the workings of democracy or those who
have chosen to play to the gallery for pecuniary gains.
''Ether way, these critics have rushed to judgement without even
taking time to study the directive, without understanding that
governance is about people, and without caring about the principles of
fairness, justice and equity, and they should cover their faces in
shame,'' the party said in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its
Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
''We hereby reiterate the directive, which is a product of deep
thinking and robust debate within our party's NEC to save our democracy,
and we commend our members in the National Assembly for their
unequivocal support for our stand, and for understanding that
filibustering or legislative non-cooperation are veritable tools of
democracy,'' it said.
APC said the directive is already yielding result, as members of the
Save Rivers Movement (SRM) were able to stage a peaceful rally on
Saturday, for the first time in a long time, without being attacked by
hired ex-militants, because the Inspector-General of Police directed the
police to provide protection for the rally.
''This is exactly what we are saying, that Nigerians, irrespective
of their party leaning, who wish to stage a peaceful protest anywhere in
the country must be able to do so without the police looking away while
hired goons attack them. It is all about justice, fairness and equity,
without which democracy will not thrive. We will be watching to see if
what happened on Saturday represents a paradigm shift in Rivers or it is
just a flash in the pan,'' the party said
APC said there is nothing anti-democratic, anti-people or inciting
about the directive, which is aimed at ending the reign of impunity in
Rivers state before its spreads to other parts of the country and
truncates the nation's democracy, wondering why it is so difficult for
the President to act, for almost a year, as a part of the country he was
elected to govern goes up in flames.
The party said already, copy cat attacks and intimidation of APC
members have been launched by the government and the police in Gombe,
because they have been watching the impunity being committed in Rivers.
''All
over Gombe, our party flags, billboards and posters are being
vandalized by hoodlums aided and abetted by the police. Our youth
supporters are being arrested while our members are being threatened by
the police and the state government officials.
''From Rivers, this reign of impunity has spread to Gombe. Who knows
where the train of impunity is heading to next. Yet, some so-called
fickle analysts, some chameleonic activists who willingly pit their
tents with the highest bidder, some increasingly irrelevant
organisations and some political parties who are content with the crumbs
that fall off the table of the ruling party have the temerity to
condemn a directive they do not understand.
''They say the non-approval of the 2014 budget will pauperize
Nigerians, as if the yearly ritual of budget passing since 1999 has
benefitted anyone but the fat cats. In any case, of what use is a budget
when the lives of citizens are at stake? Are budgets not made for the
people? Do they understand that even the budgets are based largely on
earnings from oil, which we cannot even produce if the violence in
Rivers escalates and spreads to other oil-producing states?
''They say our directive is anti-people without understanding that
those who are being daily intimidated, beaten and shot in Rivers are
also Nigerians. They say we are anti-democratic without understanding
that democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of impunity, the like of
which we have in Rivers.
''Where were these same critics when the impudent police
commissioner in Rivers, egged on by a conniving presidency, thumbed his
nose at the Constitution by turning himself to the de facto Governor of
the state and refusing to subordinate himself to the elected Governor
who is the chief security officer of his state? Where were these critics
when a serving Senator was shot perhaps by the police? Where were these
critics when women and children were teargassed and innocent civilians
beaten black and blue? Did they raise any voice against the attack on
journalists whose offence was that they went to cover a rally?
''The APC, as a party, cannot be intimidated by the antics of those
who will have no qualms elevating self interest above public interest,
by those who believe their cheap criticism will help insert their snouts
into the nectar of filthy lucre.
''Therefore, while we acknowledge the so-called critics' right to
express their opinions on our directive, we disagree with them, in the
exercise of our own rights, and here reiterate the directive, which goes
thus: 'In view of the joint resolutions of the National Assembly on
Rivers State, and other constitutional breaches by the Presidency, the
APC hereby directs its members in the National Assembly to block all
legislative proposals, including the 2014 budget and confirmation of all
nominees to military and civilian positions to public office, until the
rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in
particular, and Nigeria in general','' the party said.
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