The All Progressives Congress (APC) will block the passage of this year’s budget until what it described as lawlessness is ended in politically volatile Rivers state in the southern oil region, it said onThursday.
The APC, which now holds a majority in the lower house of parliament, also said it would block the confirmation of twelve new ministers and four military chiefs President Goodluck Jonathan appointed this month.
“The APC hereby directs its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals, including the 2014 Budget … until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State,” an APC statement said.
PDP Spokesman Olisa Metuh responded by accusing the APC of a “devilish plot to undermine the nation’s security system … (and) cripple the nation’s economy”.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE
The APC poses the greatest challenge to Jonathan and the PDP since it swept to power in 1999, ending years of military rule.
OPEC member Nigeria is an increasingly attractive investment destination with surging demand for domestic debt and almost a 50 percent gain on its stock index last year, but political unrest risks tarnishing its image.
Most of the defecting state governors were from the mostly-Muslim north, but Governor Rotimi Amaechi from Rivers state in Jonathan’s home oil-producing Niger Delta in the largely Christian south, also crossed the divide.
His bitter rivalry with Jonathan and a spat last year with the president’s wife has led to several incidents of unrest in a state which produces more crude oil than any other. Security experts do not expect any immediate impact on oil production.
The APC say that one of its senators, Magnus Abe, was shot by the police at a pro-Amaechi rally this month, although the police deny any shots were fired when they broke up the crowd for safety reasons. Local newspapers have shown pictures of Abe being treated in a hospital in London.
The opposition also said Amaechi is harassed by the federally-controlled police and his supporters are being arrested. The police and PDP deny the allegations.
The Full Text
COMMUNIQUÉ ARISING FROM THE 8TH MEETING OF THE INTERIM NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC)
THURSDAY, 23RD JANUARY, 2014
The APC Interim National Executive Committee held its 8th regular meeting today. In attendance were General Muhammadu Buhari Rtd, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Governors of Rivers, Lagos, Edo, Nasarawa, Kwara, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto,Ekiti,Ogun and the Deputy Governors of Oyo, Imo, Kano and Zamfara and other Party leaders. The meeting was chaired by the Interim National Chairman, Chief BisiAkande and attended by the full complement of the Interim National Executive Committee along with the leadership of the APC in the two chambers of the National Assembly.
The National Executive Committee of the APC commended the courage, maturity and political sagacity of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in the face of serial unprovoked and unwarranted assaults on his person, his constitutional rights and those of the Government and People of Rivers State. The conduct of Governor Amaechi represents our Party’s maturity and compliance with the rule of law in response to escalating impunity. The APC is very proud of him.
Any cursory observer of events in Rivers State since February, 2013 will be left in no doubt as to the culture of lawlessness and impunity being promoted and supported by the Presidency, and executed by the State Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu, who has become the de facto military Governor of Rivers State and sole administrator of the PDP in the State.
A few instances of the brazen lawlessness and violations of the Constitution will suffice here – the forceful dispersal of 13,201 newly recruited teachers in the Port Harcourt Stadium using tear gas; blockading the entrance to the Government House in Port Harcourt and forcing the State Governor to use another entrance; preventing an aircraft chartered by the State Governor from taking off, alleging that the Governor was trying to smuggle out a legislator wanted by the Police, no apology was offered to the Governor, the disruption of a peaceful rally during which Senator Magnus Abe was shot with intent to kill; the several disruptions of Save Rivers Group rallies, and the unlawful detention of anybody perceived to be a sympathizer of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while allowing pro-Jonathan an Anti-Amaechi groups to organize rallies unmolested.
The National Executive Committee of the APC has now resolved that if this acts of impunity and lawlessness continue unabated and the Police persists in being as an enforcement arm of the PDP to the detriment of our members, it will have no alternative than to ask our teeming members all over the country and especially in Rivers State to take whatever steps that are necessary to protect their lives and property.
Following on the forgoing and in view of the joint resolutions of the National Assembly on Rivers State, and other constitutional breaches by the Presidency, the APC hereby directs its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals including the 2014 Budget and confirmation of all nominees to military and civilian positions to public office until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Alh. Lai Mohammed
Interim National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC).
