APC to Nigerians: This is your last Christmas in bondage

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday assured Nigerians that today’s Christmas would be their last under the bondage of insecurity, corruption, unemployment, widespread hopelessness and poor leadership.

In a Christmas message to Nigerians, the party, however, such a desire would only be achieved if voters use the opportunity offered by the coming presidential election to choose competent leadership.

The charge by the APC came as Vice-President Namadi Sambo flayed the APC in Lagos and other states of claiming credit for the achievements of the Federal Government in their states.

In the Christmas message contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC sympathised with Nigerians who it claimed could not celebrate Christmas this year on account of the difficulties in the land.

In the message, the APC also listed out programmes it said would help to redress the gloomy situation in the country. Among the programmes were a monthly welfare scheme to cover 25 million poor Nigerians, the employment of at least 100,000 more policemen and the establishment of a properly-trained and equipped Federal Anti-Terrorism Multi- Agency Task Force to destroy Boko Haram.

Noting the fate of Nigerians under the present leadership, the APC said: “Many cannot travel home due to fears of kidnapping, ethno-religious crisis and insurgency, depending on which part of the country they are from. Many cannot celebrate due to the effects of the economic downturn, as manifested in weakening Naira and falling oil prices, both exacerbated by widespread corruption.

‘’Many will mark the holidays in darkness as the country’s public power supply seems to have fallen in a direct proportion to the huge funds ostensibly pumped into the sector in the past few years. Many will be stuck on the roads that have become clogged due to their poor state.”

‘’While there is no magic wand to solve the myriad of problems facing our country in one fell swoop, an APC government will begin to positively impact on the citizenry within its first few months at the helm, to such an extent that Nigerians will have a better Christmas celebration in 2015,’’ it said.

‘’We have, through our manifesto, entered into a honest social contract with Nigerians. But we are aware that we cannot do it alone, hence we need the consent and participation of the people.

‘’Our eight pledges for a better Nigeria, which are highlights of our manifesto, form the core of our social contract with Nigeria. During our first term in office, we pledge to create 3 million new jobs a year through public works programmes and by shifting the economy towards value-added production will be our primary economic target; we will strengthen security by employing at least an extra 100,000 police officers and establishing a properly-trained and equipped Federal Anti-Terrorism Multi- Agency Task Force to destroy Boko Haram and any form of insurgency. We will also introduce an immediate pay rise and improved conditions for all five security services.

‘’To fight corruption, the cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of our society, we will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to the vice – rooting out dishonest public servants and imposing tough sanctions including jail sentences.

‘’To position our youth for better job opportunities, we will provide interest-free loans for university/technical school students who meet the required entry qualifications, and this will be funded by providing guarantees to the banking sector and by absorbing the interest. Also, we will introduce a free daily school meal for all children attending primary school.

‘’As a first phase to battling poverty, we will introduce direct conditional monthly social security payment for 25 million of the poorest Nigerians.

To ensure a more healthy society, we will create a network of local health centres providing free services and drugs, such that no one lives more than 5km from help. And will will create a more equitable distribution of national revenue to the states and local governments because this is where grassroots democracy and economic development must be established.

‘’We know that for our long suffering people, hope springs eternal. We urge them to continue to keep that hope alive, because help is on the way,’’ APC said.