Youth Group Accuses Presidency of Persecuting Saraki

By Ugo Aliogo

Youths under the aegis of Congress of Nigeria Youth Leaders (CONYL) have accused the presidency and some forces in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of prosecuting the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

The group noted that evidence in public domain on the ongoing trial of Saraki has shown that the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is been used by “some vested interests in the ruling party and the presidency to settle cheap political scores.”

The group expressed frustration that the prosecution is drawing the government backward, stressing that the executive and legislative arms of government ought to be working together towards ameliorating the sufferings of Nigerians, “instead they engage themselves in cat and mouse fight.”

The Convener of CONYL,  Yinka Dallas, who disclosed this to journalists at a media briefing yesterday in Lagos, noted that Saraki’s trial had given credence to the earlier insinuations that government agencies are been used to victimise imaginary and perceived opposition of the government.

He lamented that the ruling party has been concerned with the infighting in the party rather than ameliorating the sufferings of Nigerians, stressing that this does not augur well for the growth of democracy.

Dallas also noted that the current anti-corruption war is aimed at personalities who are not in the good books of the government, adding that this is a sad commentary on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

He expressed disappointment on the part of the federal government on the current fuel scarcity, noting that the administration has remained clueless on how to address the issue, and the Nigerians have had to go through untold hardship.

“Knowing that the economy is reliant on petroleum, the scarcity of the product have led to almost 300 percent inflation of the price, thereby leading to a general increase of goods and service in the market,” he added.

Dallas added: “The fight between the major leaders of the party was not the reason Nigerians especially the youths mobilised and voted massively for them during the last general elections, rather it was because they wanted their conditions to improve. But one year has gone by, and their sufferings have been compounded.

“The Fulani herdsmen have increased the tempo of their violence on innocent villagers and farmers, a good example is the Agatu massacre where than 100 villages were destroyed and scores of people killed.

“Electricity have not fared better either, mega watts have continued its embarrassing fall. The country with its trillion of cubic gas deposit, coupled with rivers to power dam and solar system has reportedly generated zero mega-watts last month.

“The country has now been turned to a ‘generator state’ with virtually every household and business running on 24hrs generator. All basic necessities of life, expected from governments around the world, are non-existent in Nigeria.”

He further called for the setting up of a high powered education summit which will involve all stakeholders in the education sector, in order to bring a lasting solution to the decline of the sector, stressing that the sector is experiencing serious retrogression and the government is not showing the desired attention.  

On his part, the Lagos State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Deji Elumoye, called on Nigerians to support the federal government its efforts to bring the desired change to the nation.

 

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