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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has deplored the federal government's approach in tackling the insecurity crisis and the protracted strike by university lecturers, describing it as naive and out of tune with present realities.
THISDAY gathered that the top meeting of the party leaders was turned into a strategy meeting aimed at perfecting its approach to the 2015 elections and also for neutralising an alleged plot by PDP and the Presidency to effect changes in the leadership of the House of Representatives.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting of its leadership held late Tuesday night at the Kano Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, the APC said the Jonathan administration had failed to arrest the growing insecurity caused by the insurgents in parts of the North.
"Since the declaration of emergency in key North-eastern states affected by the insurgency, lives and property have been under severe attacks. A large number of residents have been displaced and forced to migrate to adjourning states or outside the country. These victims have been uprooted from their homes, families and jobs. They have lost hope in the ability of their country to protect them. Clearly the state of emergency has failed, it said.
The APC leaders regretted that never since after the civil war in 1970 was a major military establishment been so grounded as the onslaught on the military base in Maiduguri.
According to the party, the gradual deterioration of security and mounting civilian casualties are "symptomatic of the failure of intelligence, political naively and disconnect between Jonathan administration and current realities of the Nigerian situation.
As a way out of the security logjam, APC suggested a policy of compensation for victims of Boko Haram and implementation of relevant reports on security, including the Lemu report on insecurity in northern parts of the country.
On the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the opposition party absolved the lecturers of any blame, but urged the Jonathan administration to address key issues facing university education in the country
Still angered by the controversy trailing the recent elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), especially the Delta Central senatorial election and the Anambra State governorship poll, APC leaders said the electoral umpire had lost credibility in public eye.
"The APC communique also took a swipe at the federal government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for an alleged use of anti-graft institutions against selected perceived political enemies rather than for purpose of stamping out endemic corruption in the corruption.
The party condemned what it described as impunity where the police are used by the presidency and agents of the PDP to intimidate and violate the fundamental rights of ordinary citizens and perceived political enemies.
"We have watched the trend in which selected governors and other top political figures are being victimised. This does not bode well for a civil relationship in our body politic. It emphasises revenge over fairness and breeds malice, ran our and distrust," it said.
Present at the night long top level meeting of APC were the former Head of State, retired General Muhammed Buhari, former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, former Presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, former National Chairman of the now disbanded All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, and five former PDP governors, Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).
In another development, the Deputy Minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Suleiman Abdurrahman, popularly known as Kawu Sumaila, has disclosed that Kwankwaso is an asset to the APC.
Suleiman said the governor would add value to the party and facilitate its efforts in emerging victorious in the 2015 governorship race in the state.
“We will provide a conducive platform and create a level playing field for all aspirants to contest for whatever position of their choice. As far as we are concerned, there is nothing like ANPP, we are in APC where everybody has the right to aspire to any position of his or her choice.’’
Speaking in Kano yesterday at an interactive session with journalists, Suleiman expressed optimism that APC would clinch the governorship seat of Kano State come 2015.
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