APC Under Attack Over Directives to Lawmakers to Block Budget, Service Chiefs, Ministerial Confirmation

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Friday, January 24th, 2014

The Opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has come under severe criticisms for directing its lawmakers at the National Assembly to block the passage of the 2014 budget as well as the confirmation of the ministerial nominees and the service chiefs.

APC Interim National Chairman, Bisi Akande

At its National Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, APC directed its lawmakers to block all executive bills and confirmation of the President’s nominees as a form of protests for what it described as the Presidency’s complicity in Rivers crisis.

“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”, Interim Publicity Secretary of the Party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated.

Speaking against the directives, PDP in Rivers said “APC is a party founded on strife and crisis and has continued to advocate and support acts capable of creating disaffection, disharmony and commotion in the polity.

“We therefore implore all well-meaning Nigerians especially the members of National Assembly to disregard and shun any moves aimed at truncating our nascent democracy such as setting the NASS against the presidency.

On their own party, a group known as Ominira Yoruba Apapo, in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Morgon Momodu, described APC directives as “a declaration of war on the good people of Nigeria who stand to be most affected if at all the threat by the APC to block the passage of the 2014 Budget is followed.”

The group also stated “we consider the call on the National Assembly to abort the ratification of the appointment of the new Military Service Chief as not only an invitation to Anarchy but also a ploy by the APC to unleash terror on Nigerians

“This may further confirm the recent revelation on the involvement of the APC in the latest bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State where a BOT member and the Governor of the State both of APC have come out to openly accuse each other of being responsible for the spate of bombings recently witnessed in the state.

“We want the APC to know that Nigeria is bigger than any Political party or the ambition of anyone seeking to be whatever as the nation approaches another season of elections. This is also to inform the International observers to take close look and monitor these persons in case there are break down of law and order in Nigeria by denying them and their family opportunity of fleeing to foreign nations.”