The
All Progressives Congress on Wednesday in Abuja unfolded a
seven-point cardinal programme that would ensure that electricity
generation hit 40,000 megawatts within four to eight years of its
leadership.
The party, in a 31-page manifesto,
which was presented to Nigerians listed the other components of the
cardinal programme as war against corruption, food security,
integrated transport network and free education.
Others are devolution of power, accelerated economic growth and affordable health care.
According to the party, the programme will transform Nigeria into a progressive state anchored on social democracy.
“Our government shall vigorously pursue
the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000
megawatts in four to eight years,” the APC said.
Last Tuesday, the Presidential Task Force on Power put the nation’s power generation at 3,311.40MW.
But the APC said it would also work at making power available from renewable energy sources such as coal, solar and wind.
The party said, “The country can only
succeed when all of us have equal rights, where no one is above the
law; where the culture of impunity is abolished and where there is a
level playing field.”
It stated that as a change agent, it
would “halt the dangerous drift of Nigeria into a failed state; with a
conscious plan for a post-oil-economy.”
The party stated that it would restructure the country and devolve powers to the units with the best practices of federalism.
It said that its government would muster
the political will to wage a stringent war against corruption. The
party warned that without successfully waging war against corruption,
Nigeria’s post-oil-economy would be disastrous.
Explaining its agenda on agriculture,
the APC noted that Nigeria, which used to be a leading exporter of
agricultural produce, had become import dependent.
It stated, “APC will embark on a massive and progressive re-organisation and revolution of the agricultural industry.”
The party also stated it would
embark on a national infrastructural development programme through a
private-public sector partnership.
According to the party, through this, it would construct 4,000 kilometres of “supper highways.”
It said that it would revatilse the railway system through the modernisation and rehabilitation of tracks.
The party added that it would build 200
kilometres of standard railway lines annually an carry out a thorough
review of the education sector.
It said that it would allocate up to 10 per cent of the country’s annual budget to the education sector.
The party promised to re-introduce technical and vocational education and review the 6-3-3-4 system.
In the health sector, the APC said that
it would work to reduce infant mortality rate by 2019 to three per cent
and reduce maternal mortality by more than 70 per cent.
The APC said that it would make free
ante-natal care for pregnant women and provide free health care for
babies and children up to school going age.
According to the party, the aged and people living with HIV/AIDS would also enjoy free health care.
On industrialisation, the APC said that it would conduct a state by state census of ailing industries.
This, it explained, would enable it to establish an industrial resuscitation fund.
The party added that it would create new development banks that would make affordable credits available for industrial growth.
On job creation, the APC said that it
would maintain “a sound macro-economic policy environment, run an
efficient government and preserve the independence of the Central Bank
of Nigeria.”
The party said that it would make the
economy one of the fastest growing economies by achieving a real GDP
growth of 10 per cent annually.
The APC also promised to amend the 1999
Constitution and the Land Use Act “to create freehold/leasehold
interest in land matching grants.”
The Interim National Chairman of the
party, Chief Bisi Akande, had before the unveiling of the manifesto,
said that Nigeria and its citizens were “in a state of near
permanent trauma.”
He noted that Nigeria had for many years been confronted with multi-dimensional challenges, including socio-economic crises.
“The result is that the nation and its citizenry continue to exist in a state of near permanent trauma,” he said.
Akande stated that in over 50 years of
its independence,Nigeria had suffered seven coups, which resulted in 28
years of military rule.
Akande said, “Trapped in a vicious
cycle of political crises, social upheavals and economic
under-development, Nigeria has become, not only one of the most unstable
countries in the world, it is also, regrettably, one of the poorest
despite its huge human and material resources.”
He said the APC would confront the
challenges facing the country. The challenges, according to him, can be
grouped into seven.
They include national unity and
integration; perennial threats to security, law and order; and
ensuring rapid economic growth with equity people-centered economic
management. Others are consolidating Nigeria’s emerging democratic
tradition; human development; and instituting a sustainable management
of the environment.
Akande stated, “The philosophy
underpinning the coming into being of the APC therefore is the
determination to bring the country back from the brink of collapse,
despair, and possible disintegration; reposition it decisively on the
route to emerging into a modern stable democratic nation, with a
productive economy that is based on equity and justice for all
citizens.”
He said the party would harness the abundant energies, enterprise and intellect of all Nigerians to move the country forward.
The interim chairman said, “We believe
that at the core of the paralysing challenges confronting Nigeria today
is the failure of governance which is manifested in the continuing
inability of the Nigerian state.”
According to him, Nigeria should assume
its proper place in world affairs commensurate with its size and status
as the leading black nation in the world.
Akande added, “To the APC therefore,
the objective of governance is the single-minded and unrelenting efforts
to confront these challenges and the eventual materialisation of a
united, peaceful and democratic nation, with a productive and constantly
growing economy; which provides significant opportunities for all its
citizens.”
“A large part of the APC’s agenda in particular will centre on the Nigerian youth.”
The Peoples Democratic Party however faulted a claim by Akande that Nigeria was in near trauma.
It said Nigeria’s economy was growing
consistently, stressing that the Gross Domestic Product had also been
rising at seven per cent for the past three years.
“The Nigerian economy is one of the
fastest growing economies in the world. In Asia, Europe and even
America, the economy is either in recession or growing at one per cent,
but our GDP has been growing at seven per cent for the past three years;
anybody who does not know this is either not in this country or he is
mischievous,” the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Tony
Okeke said.
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We are tired of hearing this gramar while not tell or support The present administration to work for Nigerians, Are we not oNe? APC Is too desperate of which they will loose this election
ReplyDeletePower is our right, healthcare is our right. It's easy to talk when they are not there. Rail? Did their main promoter not cancel rail in Lagos? The first stumbling block to our rail system ? They want to consolidate what has already been started. Nigerians are not fools , all apc wants is power!
ReplyDeleteThe APC is even frustrating the government's moves of developing the country. Her members are not patroitic!. The manisfestoes is not different from the previous ones we have been told. Away with all of you!. We cannot be hookwinked any further.
ReplyDeleteAPC needs to understand the economics potentials of this country before coming onboard.PDP has been consistently achieving yearly 7% increase in GDP for the past three years. Now, if APC is targeting 10% yearly increase in GDP,i foresee no significant difference from the present regime.
ReplyDeletePDP and ACN is like choosing between the fire and the frying pan.
ReplyDeleteNo comment
ReplyDeleteThe devil we know is better than the angels annoucing there coming, pls oga jona con2nu ur good work, we re behind u. Dnt trust dis armour personal carrier aka APC
ReplyDeleteNana girl trust me no Devil is good. All d devil does is to kill, steal & destroy. An angel is always an angel.
Deletemay God punush this okeke wit everlasting purnishment.if u want pdp rule, let them rule ur state only.
ReplyDeleteonly thing that remain constant is change, lets try another party if they fail us, four years is around the corner then we(masses) send them packing. Me personally am tired of promise and fail. sure P is no more sure, we cannot continue with this, lets try another party to see if they are different from each other. My opinion, BE GUIDED.
ReplyDeleteI understand d fact dat pple are tired of hearing d same promises frm government but anoda fact is dat d PDP as presently constituted has FAILED dis country,we need new hands to steer d affairs of dis country,wen d PDP came into power in '99 we accepted dem with open arms n hearts,let's try something else cos PDP is no longer working,if 16 yrs isn't enuff to put dis country on d path to greatness,then I dnt think any amount of time wld be enuff for dem,I'm not a particularly partisan person n dats why in d last elections I voted for jonathan at d Federal level n for Fashola at d state level,but I feel betrayed by him n his cohorts,nigerians are more enlightened nw,in 2015 I knw there'll be a paradigm shift in d way we vote,dat election won't be party-based where pple just vote for one party,its gonna be performance based,its gonna be issue-based,for those seeking re-election,it'll be a case of "wat have u achived during ur first tenure dat makes u deserve a 2nd tenure"..spraying a few bundles of mint naira note won't cut it anymore..dodging election debates where ur developmental,economic priorities n other issues will be discussed will count against u on d day of d election..so I say..let's wait n see wat d APC has to offer cos d PDP isn't an option to continue with
ReplyDeleteIst Anonymous, yes APC are anxious to take power from PDP because Nigerians are tired and need freedom from the hands of clueless group.
ReplyDelete@ 3rd anonymous, I guess you are out of your senescence perhaps you have one. APC came on board just yesterday and you are complaining so what have they done in the donkey fruitless years in power?
Power must change hands.
THE MAJOR ISSUE WE NIGERIANS FIND DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS IS CHANGE. WHETHER APC WILL DO BETTER OR NOT, LETS GIVE CHANGE A CHANCE. FANS DON'T KEEP SUPPORTING A COACH WHO IS NOT DELIVERING NEITHER DO A COACH HOLD UNTO A PLAYER WHO IS NOT PERFORMING.
ReplyDeleteEVEN IF ANOTHER PARTY WILL BE WORST THAN PDP, LET IT BE PROVEN. ATLEAST WE WILL KNOW BETTER. AMERICANS, BRITANS, GHANIANS ETC HAVE VOTED FOR DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE LAST TEN YEARS OR SO. THEY KNOW WHICH IS BETTER. LETS VOTE ANOTHER PARTY AND SEE WETHER PDP IS THE BEST OR THE WORST. CHANGE! LETS TRY ANOTHER MENU!
It is unimaginable for anybody resident in this country to want to continue with this kangaroo government by PDP. Your God's given five sense organs are for u to differentiate pain from pleasure so that u can can choose correctly for urself. PDP has inflicted enough pain on us. It is time we try another party/candidate irrespective of the persons ethnic background; if the party turns out not to be our awaited messiah, then we move on to choose another until we get to the promised land. For fisrt anonymous, we are tired of this clueless govt. and as for APC or other parties not being too different, when we get to the bridge WE CROSS IT
ReplyDeleteThe current GDP growth of 7% has not removed Nigerians from increasing poverty. PDP government continue to award new project contract but old contracts and projects are uncompleted and abandoned. How does that benefit Nigerians?
ReplyDeleteIf you do not give APC the chance, it will be impossible to make any comparative assessment with PDP. Only few Nigerians are enjoying the current situation in Nigeria today and most of them are PDP leaders only.
It is time for Nigerians to tell PDP to exit the leadership of Nigeria. There is corruption everywhere. Poverty is visible everywhere, even in GRAs where rich people stay.
PDP is another name for corruption. Nigerians do not need PDP.