The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of taking political advantage of calamities that have befallen Nigerinsa under his watch, saying giving N5 million to each family that lost a relative in the Immigration recruitment exercise after one year is not only belated, but aimed at currying votes.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party wondered why it took the president a whole one year to act on the promise he made to the families, adding that but for the coming elections, the president would have simply ignored the families, in his usual style.
‘’The truth is that this President was forced to act because of the elections. Otherwise, why has it taken one year for the President to
redeem his promise to the bereaved families? “Why has his administration not sanctioned those who sent innocent job seekers to their early graves after extorting them?
“Why is the Interior Minister, Mr Abba Moro, who presided over the deaths, still in office, virtually dancing on the graves of those innocent youths?
‘’Sunday, March 15 will mark one year since those vibrant youths
were lured to their deaths by a callous Federal Government that failed them in all ramifications, including the security of their lives and the assurance of their welfare, the raison d’etre of any government.
It is therefore utterly reprehensible, immoral and wicked for the same administration to seek to make political gains out of the needless tragedy,’’ it said.
APC said Jonathan, in his desperation for re-election, has also sought to take political advantage of other tragedies, including the Buni Yadi massacre of school children and the abduction of Chibok girls ‘’After refusing to even visit the families of those school children in Buni Yadi and Chibok, the President suddenly woke up and started sending delegations to meet with them, all this because he needs votes. As a parent himself, how will the President feel if he had been so treated?
Why must the President put his re-election over and above everything else, including the welfare and security of Nigerians? Is there no limit to desperation,’’ the party queried.
It said Nigerians are keenly aware of the fact that this President has suddenly woken up from his deep slumber and become artificially
hyperactive, making repeated visits to regions that he had neglected in the past six years and doling out hard currencies even at a time the naira was taking a beating, all for election purposes.
“No one is fooled by the antics of a desperate President, and in the fullness of time, Nigerians will show President Jonathan and his
cohorts that they are not impressed by his pretend governance,’’ APC said.
Meanwhile, Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), David Paradang, has again condoled with the families of victims of last year’s Immigration recruitment mishap across the country.
It is exactly one year today, March 15, that 15 applicants died in stampede that occurred at various centers where thousands of job seekers turnout to participate in recruitment exercise into the NIS.
In a condolence message to mark the sad event last night, the Paradang regretted the loss suffered by the families while commending heroics of the late applicants.
He maintained that the supreme sacrifice paid by the 15 applicants in their quest to serve their nation will forever remain evergreen in the minds of officers and men the Nigeria immigration service.
Following that tragic incident, Jonathan cancelled the entire recruitment exercise, while promising automatic employment into the NIS to three family members of each the victims of the recruitment mishap
Paradang noted that it is gratifying that the President on Friday kept his word by honouring these dead Nigerians as he promised, even as observed the challenge faced by the authorities in identifying real beneficiaries of the presidential promise.
