By Ishaya Ibrahim
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday assured Nigerians of more democracy dividends even as it joined other Nigerians in ushering in the the New Year.
But the opposition Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has cautioned Nigerians to be wary of such promises, asking the people not to expect any positive changes from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
But the ruling party said with the country’s landmark return to the January-December budget cycle, a feat which it claimed was achieved by the APC-led National Assembly and Executive after 16 years of the PDP failure, “Nigerians are assured that the ongoing massive infrastructural development covering the rail, road, agriculture, aviation, port, education and health sectors would be given further fillip.”
APC said the Buhari government was vigorously tackling and solving the social, economic and security challenges Nigeria faces one after the other.
A statement by the national publicity secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu said; “Government’s successes in plugging revenue leakages, checking violent extremism, oil sector reforms, anti-corruption, economic diversification, curbing waste, infrastructure development among other achievements are profound testament.”
The party assured “all compatriots that the faithful execution of policies and programmes of this current administration would be further intensified in this New Year.”
“We acknowledge and hold dear the trust and faith Nigerians have placed in the APC-led Federal Government. We will not let Nigerians down. We urge Nigerians to also play their part by cooperating with the government to achieve its development plans for our shared progress.
“Finally, to our teeming members and supporters, our great party remains a progressive, strong, formidable and popular political unit delivering pro-people policies and repositioning our country through our elected and appointed officials at federal, state and local government levels. We urge our members to support and cooperate with the recently-constituted National Reconciliation Committee which is empowered to address grievances of party members and resolve existing conflicts, all with a view to fostering unity and oneness within the party across the country.”
But the CUPP said such may not be the case unless the president stops what it called “continuous mismanagement of the economy and divisive tendencies.”
CUPP, in a New Year message, through its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said it “regrets to remind Nigerians that what lies ahead of the country in 2020 is a cloud of uncertainty due to the continuous mismanagement of the economy and the deliberate assault on the nation’s unity by the administration of the All Progressives Congress led by Muhammadu Buhari.”
“The Coalition of United Political Parties joins Nigerians in welcoming the New Year 2020. It is heartwarming that we all made it into the new year despite all the odds associated with 2019, especially in our dear nation, Nigeria.
“The CUPP regrets to remind Nigerians that what lies ahead of the country in 2020 is a cloud of uncertainty due to the continuous mismanagement of the economy and the deliberate assault on the nation’s unity by the administration of the All Progressives Congress led by Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is almost certain that 2020 may be more disastrous for the country except the present administration ends its divisive tendencies and improve on its competence.
“The CUPP holds the view that the option to make 2020 prosperous for us all and make Nigeria a better place lies in the hands of every Nigerian citizen.
“The sure way of achieving this is to resolve to stand up against the excesses of this administration in 2020. We should be ready to hold this government accountable and force it to do all those things that are good and right for the benefit of this generation and the coming generation.
“We must wake this government up from its slumber to its responsibilities of ending unnecessary shedding of blood across the country, poverty, kidnapping and armed robberies among other numerous challenges facing our dear country.
“Despite all the bad things staring us in the face however, we urge our compatriots to keep hope alive and resolve to stand for the progress and unity of this country.
“May the new year bring with it good tidings for the country. Prayer alone cannot however achieve this. It will take concerted efforts from all of us.”
