Banner Online News

Delta North All Progressives Congress (APC) has been faulted over claims of “mature and adroit handling of the affairs of the country” by President Muhammadu Buhari with which it gave him a thumbs up and a vote of confidence.

Faulting the claims, Mr. Malachy Obi, a trader, who hails from Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government of Delta state said some people have thrown the serious issue of governance overboard and made it of no value. “How can anyone pass a vote of confidence in President Buhari with all the problems which his lackluster style of administration has created in the country?”

Obi was reacting to a wildly reported eight-point communiqué issued by after a crucial meeting of leaders and stakeholders, held at Agbor, Ika South LGA, on Saturday, June 12, 2021, of Delta North APC.

Part of the communiqué reads: “Delta North Senatorial District of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has unanimously passed a Vote of Confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari for his mature and adroit handling of the affairs of the country and therefore called on Nigerians, irrespective of party affiliation, to shun inflammatory statements so as to give the President, the needed support to lead the country to peace and prosperity.”

Obi, while taking a disapproving look at the communiqué observed however that these are politicians who belong to the ruling party in government at the federal level, and could not have done otherwise, but picked holes in their decision,  saying: “is it the reason they could not speak truth to power, by calling attention of the president to issues that are of serious concern to the people and help ameliorate their sufferings?”

He argued that the issue of insecurity seemed not to make meaning to these people, who seemed blinded by party loyalty than seeing the anguish that people are passing through from North to south of Nigeria with bandits and terrorists ravaging everywhere, and the country being driven to the brinks heading for disintegration.

Mr. Fred Akpewe, a public analyst and commentator observed that the communiqué is symptomatic of people who repress the sensibilities of Nigerian citizens.

Akpewe said: “The general consensus today is that the Buhari administration has failed Nigerians in all the three point Agenda of the APC-led Buhari administration – security, fight against corruption and Finance.

“Today the naira has become so battered that it exchanges for more than 500 naira against the dollar. Prices of commodities are at the roof tops. The security situation in the country has reached boiling point while there is no evidence that the anti-corruption agencies are on course having failed to arrest and prosecute major offenders.”

He continued: “In Nigeria today corruption still stinks to high heavens and the ICPC and EFCC have merely applied deodorants rather than strong antiseptics to the offensive odours emanating from their corridors. For Delta North APC to score the Buhari adminstration high, therefore, is the gravest injustice to the Nigerian people,” Akpewe said.

For a lawyer in Asaba, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Delta North APC seemed to have glossed over the disturbing level of poverty in the country with the government having no economic blue print. He said: “The Buhari-led federal Government has led Nigeria twice into recession, with no headway in reviving the economy, increasing support to education and promulgation of policies that will lift people out of poverty,” he said, adding that “having failed to protect lives and property, the Buhari government has been more of a dictatorship, trampling on individual rights that are enshrined in the constitution.”

On the legal horizon the lawyer quipped: “Is Delta North APC saying that it approves of the president’s disdain for the judiciary by his contemptuous attitude of not obeying court decisions? Are they saying with their vote of confidence in Buhari that they did not see anything wrong with the brutal killing of unarmed #ENDSARS protesters at Lekki? Are they also saying that they approve and support the lukewarm attitude of Mr. President to agitations against open grazing by South-South Governors, but a resolution that Buhari is kicking against and not ready to come to terms with? Are they saying that they are in support of the continued stay in and occupation of our bushes by AK 47 wielding Fulani herders that are committing murder, kidnap and rape of women, thus making farms no go areas to farmers?” the lawyer remonstrated.

“This vote of confidence in Buhari is insensitive. Delta North APC ought to have been more sensitive than this”, the barrister said.