The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has described the national broadcast made by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday as an attempt to hoodwink Nigerians into voting for him after his over three years of failed leadership.
A statement issued by the spokesman of the coalition, Ikenga Ugochinyere in Abuja noted that the president had not been able to fulfil the three-pronged promises he made to Nigerians in the 2015 electron including tackling insecurity, corruption and reviving the economy.
The statement said: “Almost four years down the line, can we say of a truth that he has met the expectations of Nigerians on any of the three?”
“On security, under the watch of President Buhari, killer herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers and cultists have snuffed the life out of thousands of Nigerians in their unabated massacre across the country. Graves of these helpless Nigerians who Buhari and his clueless government failed to protect are littering Benue, Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba and many other states that have witnessed such barbaric killings. Under his watch and command, thousands of Shiites Muslims were killed and buried in mass graves.”
“On the economy, under the leadership of President Buhari, many foreign investors have run away from the country because of the unfriendly environment created by his government.”
According to reports from the National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate continues to increase under the present administration and Nigeria got a gold medal in poverty when it was named World Capital of poverty, overtaking India. According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, over 300 companies have shut down business and counting.
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“Data from the World Poverty Clock show that Nigeria now has over 87 million people living in poverty. The World Poverty Clock is a tool to monitor progress against poverty globally and regionally.”
It provides real-time poverty data across countries. Each April and October, the World Poverty Clock data are updated to take into account new household surveys and new projections on country economic growth from the International Monetary Funds’ World Economic Outlook.
“On the fight against corruption, President Buhari has been treating corruption allegations against his men with aloofness while going overdrive to nail those he perceived to be opposed to him and his government, even when some of them are innocent.
“If indeed President Buhari is fighting corruption, let us ask the President what has happened to the petition and allegations of over N100 billion corruption case against Alpha Beta Ltd touted to belong to the National Leader of APC, and allegations against Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Amaechi, Adams Oshiomhole, Godswill Akpabio, Orji Kalu, Babatunde Fashola, Babachir Lawal, Abdulrasheed Maina, Ibrahim Magu and even Abdullahi Ganduje who was caught on tape collecting kickbacks in foreign currency?”
“What has he done about the corruption allegations in NEMA, NHIS, NSITF and NNPC? No wonder the National Chairman of the President’s party openly and shamelessly said that once politicians join the APC, their sins are forgiven!
“Apart from these, President Buhari has disdain for the rule of law and court decisions. He has been flouting the provisions of the nation’s constitution which he swore to uphold. Sambo Dasuki and El-Zakzaky are still in detention despite that different courts have granted them bail severally. He does not respect the doctrine of separation of power.” He had tried unsuccessfully to use his cronies in the National Assembly to unlawfully change the leadership there.
“They went to the extent of stealing the Senate’s mace at a time. He has also taken his onslaught to the third arm of government, the judiciary. President Buhari at a time ordered a midnight raid on the homes of Judges. Just on 25th January, he suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, in a manner we have rightly described as a judicial coup.”
The statement further said: “Therefore, opposition political parties declare this government useless to our people and we urge the people to sack it during the forthcoming general elections.”
“The only way out is for Nigerians to give the sole coalition candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar under the PDP umbrella, the chance on Saturday, Feb 16 to be our President from May 29.”
“The Atiku plan to get Nigeria working again contains deliverable economic revival plans, security of lives and properties and restructuring among others.”
“We call on the people of this great country to rise up and defend their lives by voting out this clueless government on February 16.”
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