Speaking at the opening of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) South East Zonal Executive Council meeting, Mr. Ekweremadu expressed dismay at the handling of the Nigeria’s economy by the All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government.
He listed the reduction in value of the Naira which exchanged for about N250 to a dollar at the parallel market as well as lack of clear-cut economic blue print as major causes of hardship on the populace.
“Traders who depend on forex are now trapped,” he said at the event in Enugu on Saturday. “In the next six months Onitsha and Alaba markets will shut down. If government does not do anything, I’m not a prophet of doom, but I believe if nothing urgent is done to reverse the ugly development, we will have revolution in our hands.”
“Both our nationals and foreigners are worried; we need to inform APC that Nigerians are dying, unless APC changes style, Nigerians will in 2019 be begging PDP to come back,” he said.
The Deputy Senate President said his party, the PDP, supports the fight against corruption, but it must not be selective and should follow due process and not media trial.
He said PDP is currently facing trying moments but it will come out stronger. He also frowned at the development in the Kogi governorship elections where he alleged that APC governor-elect contested without a deputy.
Yahaya Bello of the APC was declared winner of Kogi governorship election after he defeated incumbent governor Idris Wada of the PDP. Mr. Bello’s election was, however, marred in controversy after he was selected by his party to replace Abubakar Audu who died after he won the main election. Mr. Audu’s deputy, James Faleke, has rejected his nomination as deputy to Mr. Bello and instead asked to be declared governor.
Also at the PDP meeting on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, challenged the APC-led government to publish the names of those who have reportedly returned stolen funds. He said such people should be tried and jailed if convicted.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently said the government would publish the names of ex-public officials who served in the Goodluck Jonathan administration and were secretly returning stolen public funds to his administration.
Earlier while welcoming the delegates, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the South East, Austin Akobundu, said the South East remains one of the geo-political zones in the country where the party was dominant. He urged members to take up the challenge of helping to rebuild the party.
Premium Times.
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