Coalition Group Blast APC over N100 million Presidential Forms
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has been belittled over the outrageous rate for the sale of its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms, at N100 million.
The Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly, COSMBYLA, has said the enormous rate portrays the party as a cesspool of corruption.
Recall that Empire had reported that the APC had tagged its presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms at N100 million, governorship, N50 million; N20 million for senatorial and N10 million for the House of Representatives forms.
Since its announcement, there have been several criticisms. Adding its voice, the coalition has, in a statement in Makurdi, said if the annual salary of a president is N14,058,820, why would an aspirant get the whopping sum of N100 million to purchase his nomination forms.
The statement was jointly signed by the President-General, Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, Goodluck Ibem; President, Benue Youth Forum/Coordinator Forum of Middle Belt Youth Presidents, Terrence Kuanum; Coordinator, South West Forum of South-West Youth Leaders Forum, Shittu Waheed and the President, South-South Youth Forum, Tito Zuokumor.
The coalition asserted that “the approval of these outrageous fees for mere Nomination and Expression of interest forms of a party in power portrays the party as a cesspool of corruption.
“We are aware that the annual salary of the President of Nigeria is N14,058,820.00k. In four years, it would be N56,235,280. How will someone apply for a job with N100 million, other campaign expenses exclusive to earn N56,235,280?
“If an APC presidential aspirant brings out N100 million to purchase his party’s presidential forms, spend all the monies needed to campaign around the country and settle political party heavyweights, if the person eventually wins and is sworn in as President, our country’s treasury will be emptied.
“President Buhari has failed Nigerians, and we cannot pretend. He was there when his party announced these prices. He has confirmed to Nigerians that all this time he contested for President, he was not contesting to be President so that he can build Nigeria.”
“How can one explain that when President Buhari came into office, one Dollar was exchanged for N160, and now under his watch, the same one Dollar is N590. Foreign investors were coming in to invest in our economy, but today all of the investors have left because of insecurity.
“No food for Nigerians to eat because the murderous Fulani terrorists parading as herdsmen are killing Benue farmers and the indigenes so that they can take over their ancestral lands. A state like Benue, which is the “food basket of the nation”, cannot feed itself now, let alone feed the nation because of the nefarious activities of the terrorists. Nigerians are tired of this administration.”
As the ruling party begins its sale of forms today, what are your thoughts about the concern raised by the coalition?
