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PDP Orders Buhari To Issue Fresh New Year Message
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday described President Muhammadu Buhari’s New Year message as completely uninspiring, tasteless, repetitive, vacuous, saying it failed to “galvanize any form of hope” for a despairing nation like Nigeria.
The party also asked Buhari to withdraw the “unnecessary remark” about his intention to stand down from the exalted seat in 2023, saying the President and the All Progressives Congress, APC, would have no other option than to leave office in 2023.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said President Buhari “should have the courage to issue a fresh new year message to show remorse for the corruption, incompetence, and misrule of his administration as well as admonish the APC against “its crass insincerity, violence and divisive machinations that have brought so much pain, anguish and despondency to our nation”.
The statement read: “President Buhari should stop presenting a picture as if he has the option to continue in office beyond 2023.
“The PDP holds, in total submission to the letter and spirit of 1999 Constitution (as amended), that it is not an issue of ‘standing down’ or not being ‘available’ for a future election, but a decided and inevitable position as contained in our constitution that he must quit office after two terms which will end in 2023. President, therefore, does not have any other choice before the law.
“Whether President Buhari likes it or not, he and his APC will exit the arena at the end of this tenure. History is replete with lessons from those who sought to stretch our nation beyond her limits.
“Moreover, President Buhari and his APC ought to have known by now that Nigerians have moved ahead and cannot wait to see them go.
“The citizens are no longer swayed by empty promises and false performance indices as replete in President’s new year message.
“Our party restates that President Buhari should, therefore, end this showboating by issuing a fresh new year message to demonstrate a commitment to electoral reforms by returning the 8th Assembly Electoral Act amendment bill, which he refused to sign, to the National Assembly without any further delay.
“He should also be prepared to waste no time in signing the bill into law when retooled to meet current exigencies and passed by the current National Assembly.
“President Buhari should also order the immediate prosecution of those who perpetrated violence in the 2019 General election as well as the Governorship elections in Ekiti, Osun, Bayelsa and Kogi States where thugs and compromised security agents were used to unleash mayhem and killed innocent compatriots who came out to perform their civic responsibility at the polls.
“Mr. President should apologise for the violation of human rights, attacks on institutions of democracy, disobedience to court orders and constitutional violations under his administration as well as order an immediate investigation and prosecution of all those who played roles in these ugly episodes.
“Furthermore, the PDP charges President Buhari to use the opportunity of a fresh New Year Message to apologise for his administration’s failure to secure the nation and for plunging our country into a biting economic recession occasioned by the incompetence, corruption and unbridled treasury looting in his government which led to the degrading of our nation from one of the world’s fastest-growing economies to world’s poverty capital with an excruciating unemployment rate, decayed infrastructure and accumulated $83 billion debt.
“Such course of humility in showing remorse, seeking help and getting competent hands to manage our economy and security system should be the legacy that Mr. President is expected to pursue without which history cannot be kind to his administration and his APC”.
President Bola Tinubu has officially flagged off the 2024 main Christian pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan.
This was contained in a statement by the Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations of Christian pilgrimage, Celestine Toruka, and published on the Commission’s official X handle on Monday.
The president, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urged pilgrims to view their journey as an opportunity to strengthen their faith in God.
He noted that the theme of the 2024 pilgrimage, “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration,” aligns with the vision and agenda of his administration.
The president called on the intending pilgrims to pray for the progress of Nigeria, Lagos State, and their families.
Tinubu warned the pilgrims against absconding while in the Holy Land, stressing that there is no better place than home.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has urged Nigerians to expect a reduction in the pump price of the product within the week.
It should be recalled that last week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, and the Dangote Refinery reduced the ex-depot price of petrol to N899 per litre in Lagos.
PETROAN President, Billy Gilly-Harry, spoke on when the price change will take effect while appearing on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.
“But I believe from today when members start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at this new price reduction, it will reflect in the market.
“But also I’ll give kudos to some of our members, some of the leaders in PETROAN, you know, that have done so well, especially in Abuja, for even reducing their prices to below N1,000 before even this announcement.
“So, we don’t encourage our members to try to sell products at a loss because our focus is to serve Nigerians. And the only way we can serve Nigerians is when we have the resources to be able to do that.
“The resources can only be there if we’re making marginal profit enough to pay for the cost of money and make sure that we continue to do business. So, never mind, you’ll see the translation of this reduction of prices in the retail outlets hopefully within the week,” he said.
According to him, the inability of members to sell in line with the new ex-depot price is due to some of them having old stocks that were bought at higher prices.
The PETROAN boss commended Dangote Refinery and NNPCL for the reduction in the price of the commodity.
Federal Government has declared Wednesday, December 25, 2024, Thursday December 26, 2024, and Wednesday January 1, 2025 as public holidays to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year respectively.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government extended warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.
In a statement, Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to
foster harmony and strengthen bonds across families and communities.
The minister also called on Nigerians to remain committed to the peace, unity and progress of the nation for national development.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” Tunji-Ojo, said.
He assured citizens of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
While wishing Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025, the minister expressed his confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s Administration ushering in the new year, a better and prosperous economy that will be the envy of the world.
Tinubu unveils 2024 Christian pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan
Reduction in fuel pump price to reflect at filling stations within the week – PETROAN
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