We Will Take Over Government In 2015–Says APC

The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano on Monday boasted to take over government in 2015 with the intention to right the wrongs the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has committed in 16 years.

The speaker was Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, first civilian governor of Abia state who was chairman, second Progressive Governance Lecture Series held in Kano Government House, northern Nigeria.

He declared that the only remedy to the lingering socio-political cum economic crisis in the country is a change of leadership at the centre in 2015.

According to him, for the past 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has been on the saddle of leadership, “but to my utmost dismay Nigeria as a country has been stagnated in terms of meaningful development all this while.

“The ruling party has called our party, the party of one person; but it is clear that the APC is the party that belongs to all of us. The APC is open to all Nigerians. The APC is indeed, the only national party.

“APC is the only party that controls, at least, a state in the six geo-political zones of our country. The ruling party cannot claim to have that, if they do, they should tells us the state they are controlling in the South-West.

“APC is the biggest opposition party in the history of our country; and ready to respond to the needs of our people. APC is no longer just a party, but it has become a movement. Whatever we do, we must listen to the cries of our people.

“We must constantly study the mood of the nation—we must move along instead of trying to move against the collective will of our people. We should never think that we already won an election that is yet to be contested.

“So, over confidence never helps, but rather it hurts. The stability, unity, peace and progress must always guide every single important step that we take. The provision of our will be achieved when we respect the rules we make by ourselves. Our party constitution must remain supreme in the conduct of party affairs,” he stated.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State also noted that the difference is clear in terms of leadership style and governance between the PDP and APC, adding that if APC had been in government, the spate of corruption would have been curtailed and billions of Naira stolen from national treasury would have been used to provide free and qualitative education for Nigerians.

Amaechi frowned at the crisis in education insisting that corruption is the cause of bad leadership in Nigeria.

The chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) also pointed out that if there is no poverty, unemployment and illiteracy, there certainly will be no Boko Haram, insurgency and insecurity.

Kano state Governor and the Chief Host, Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso in his welcome address enumerated his land mark achievements in the education sector.

According to him, apart from establishing over 24 institutes across the state which has graduated about 40, 000 young men and women, Kwankwaso noted that his government has sponsored hundreds of Kano indigenes to bag their masters abroad.

He also used the occasion to reveal that Kano state government has declared free education for Kano indigenes from primary to university level, adding that even within the country hundreds of Kano state indigenes have been given scholarship to study in universities like the Bells University and Crescent University, both based in Ogun state.

Owelle Rochas Okorocha who is the Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and the Governor of Imo state condemned the spate of insecurity in the country and called on politicians irrespective of party affiliation to come together and fight the scourge.

“As Progressive Governors Forum, we had planned this lecture series but we never knew that the Chibok incident will take place. Those children have not been rescued as at this time (Monday morning). Many of us may not know what the parents are going through right now. This is time for Nigerians to pray for the rescue of those children.

“This is not the time to say who is right or who is wrong; but this is the time to close ranks and come together to rescue the Chibok children. It is obvious that no political party, not even the PDP can benefit from this crisis. This is the time for the government in power, the PDP to reach out even to their perceived enemies to all work together to rescue the ugly situation that we find ourselves,” he stated.

Okoracha also stated that PGF has already donated the sum of N100 million to the families of Nyanya bombings, adding that the progressive governors have also decided to help in rebuilding destroyed schools in Borno state

Okorocha spoke particularly about the abduction of over 200 girls at Chibok, Borno state, while insisting that   now is the time for all Nigerians to come together and ensure the release of the innocent students.

According to Okorocha, the theme of the lecture was decided in line with the mandate of the Progressive Governors' Lecture series to bring to the fore and work towards eradicating certain national problems.

Former Vice President Atiku Aabubakar also spoke at the forum stating that the collection of the progressives should be translated into a political will whereby the governors should implement the educational policy discussed in other the rescue the sector from further decay, adding that the APC should lead in this agreement so as to have a clear-cut difference between APC and PDP.

Dr. Ahmed Illyasu of the Department of Education, Bayero University Kano, BUK, presented a paper entitled Crisis In Nigeria's Education Sector: Addressing The Connect Between Unemployment and Insecurity.

Dr. Ahmed described education as, “an instrument for national development,” adding that with qualitative education and job creation, the problem of insurgence and militancy would have been solved.

Party leaders who graced the occasion include General Muhammadu Bbuhari, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Aisha Alhasan, Senator George Akume, Senator Mohammed Bingo, Senator Ibrahim Kabiru Gaya, Governors Adam Oshiemol (EDO), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Senator Bola Ajimobi (Oyo), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara),  Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ibrahim Giadem (Yobe), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Masari among other APC big shots.