18th February, 2016
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has mocked the newly-selected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff, describing as laughable comments credited to him after his emergence as PDP national chairman.
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 has 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.”