Posted by Sufuyan Ojeifo, Abuja on
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd.) has cursed those who took foreign loans that got Nigeria into external debt crisis, declaring that they cannot escape the punishment of God.
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd.) has cursed those who took foreign loans that got Nigeria into external debt crisis, declaring that they cannot escape the punishment of God.
Speaking in Abuja Thursday night at a reception organized in his honour by the Kogi Peoples Forum, Ali stated that"to take loans without anything on ground to show for it is criminal. God will punish such loan takers".
He however commended the recent debt relief that President Olusegun Obasanjo negotiated for the country, saying that "the debt relief is the second independence of Nigeria after the 1960 independence.
"It is now that we can say we are independent. President Obasanjo wiped out sixty per cent of our entire external debt stock".
He also commended the indigenes of Kogi State for their commitment to national unity, pointing out that concerted efforts should be made to develop the Confluence State.
"We have so many resources and we are not afraid of anybody on the issue of resource control; we have more than sixteen mineral resources in Kogi. What we need is skilled personnel and commitment on the part of government both at the State and Federal level to harness the resources, particularly the iron ore", he said.
Speaking earlier, the State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris called for closer interaction among indigenes in the interest of accelerated development of the State.
According to him ""We are all brothers; nobody is leaving Kogi State for the other, be you Ebira, Igala or Yoruba. We will all salvage Kogi State together. I will give you all the support you need in this regard"".
In another development, Col. Ali (retd.) has warned Nigerians against the activities of ""political contractors"" whom he said were in the habit of going about with a promise to deliver crowds for individuals seeking elective positions, advising that such people should desist from it ahead of the 2007 elections.
He made the declarations in his office Thursday when he received the Executive Committee of the Kogi State Chapter of the party.
According to him: ""We must shun political violence. Those creating problems in our party do not want to leave the PDP. They want to remain and make their points. But in the process of making your points, do not use violence. Again, do not be a political contractor.
""There are people who have no jobs to do, other than politicking. There are people who go about promising to gather crowd for politicians come 2007. They make such promises as if people are sheep and goats.
""They go about causing confusion by promising people positions. The party''s leadership will punish those involved in such activities if such reports get to us at the party''s headquarters"".
Ali used the occasion to clarify media reports that he had endorsed Governor Idris for the 2007 governorship election in the State, explaining ""I told the crowd at Idah that as a people who are minority in Nigeria, we must reduce friction in the name of seeking positions, by allowing the Governor to complete his term in office.
""Somebody is on a horse, riding it; you have to support him. Do not let him fall down. Do not heat up the polity. People were carrying placards about 2007 elections when we are two and a half years away from the polls. This is not right. That was the message in Idah, and not what a section of the media reported"".
He called on all political leaders in the State to disband their local militia and armies, which they use to terrorise their opponents. He said that what the political leaders should do was to sell their agenda to the people instead of resorting to the use of violence to intimidate the opponents.
According to him: ""We must all understand that we all in Kogi State are minority in Nigerian politics; anybody who arrogates majority is just using it as a relative terminology. Do not divide yourselves. When you do so, you lose chord.
""I am imploring all leaders in Kogi to disband local militia, armies, whether in government or outside. Sell your materials to the people and win their hearts. You do not need violence to win elections, whether you are in government or outside government.
""When you are in power, ensure that equity, justice and fair play reign. People want performance. I advise those in power to plant ""Iroko trees""-hospitals, roads, schools, water, etc. Those ""Iroko tress'' are your posters for your next elections, and not the number of militia you can amass. Each senatorial zone should see an ""Iroko tree"", rather than giving your money to printers to put papers on the wall as campaign strategy"".