ADC alleges govt using public funds to quash protest

The African Democratic Congress has cautioned the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to stop the movement of money and deployment of security apparatuses across the country to stop the proposed hunger strike slated to start from August 1, 2024.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr Raph Nwosu, expressed disappointment over the government’s plan to stop the strike and demanded to know why President Tinubu was scared about the protest.

Nwosu spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State during the official commissioning of the State Campus and Youth Development Centre along Udotung Ubo Street, on Saturday.

“This morning, I tweeted that why are you people scared of protest? You are telling people who are hungry not to strike? And you have marshelled security apparatuses, every arsenal to stop that strike, moving money from legislators to everywhere. The executive members of the cabinet have been giving money to stop the strike.

“Why can’t you bring the money for people to find food to eat, is it a democracy or dictatorship?” he asked.

While noting that the abuse and ‘rape of the country’ must stop, the ADC chairman disclosed that his party was carrying out a crusade aimed at moving Nigeria forward.

He stated that billions of dollars misused in Akwa Ibom State alone in the last 24 years was enough to develop a city in America.

He said “the abuse and rape of this country must stop. We are carrying out a crusade and the crusade is that Nigeria must move forward. If I tell you within the last 24 years the billions of dollars that have been spent in Akwa Ibom, it will develop a big city in America.”

He tasked his members to embark on an aggressive membership drive, stressing that the party’s presence must be felt in every nook and cranny of the country.

“In 2027, we must take over the Aso Rock villa, all the state government houses including that of Akwa Ibom must be under our control to give Nigerians a better leadership, we can only achieve this by multiplying our membership drive and getting people to see why we have better plans for the country,” he said.

On his part, the state chairman of the party, Mr Dick Udom expressed the party’s readiness to win the state gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections in 2027.

“The two big parties have failed the people and they are eager to give us a chance to make the difference in 2027. We are not going to rest on our oars until we achieve that goal,” he said.

The newly appointed member Board of Trustee of the party from Akwa Ibom state, Dr Godwin Umontuen said the party has remained steadfast in advocacy and defence of good governance in Nigeria, stressing that they will make a big difference by being at the forefront of governance in Nigeria from May 2027.