N5,000 stipend: Group to drag Buhari, APC to court

BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

ABA- A group, South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, has threatened court action against President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruing All Progressives Congress, APC, over the inability of the Federal Government to commence the payment of the monthly Five Thousand Naira (N5,000 stipend) to unemployed Nigerian youths.

President Buhari and his party, the APC had during their campaigns promised to drive its Change policy through certain programmes which include payment of N5, 000 monthly stipend to unemployed Nigerian youths.

The group said it is worried by the antics of APC senators who rejected a motion at the floor of the Senate seeking to compel President Buhari to fulfill his campaign promise on the payment of 5000 Naira monthly stipend to unemployed Nigerians.

In a statement by SEPA, titled “Our Intention to Sue President Buhari And APC Over Non-Payment of N5000 Monthly Stipend to Nigerian Unemployed Youths”, signed by its President, Ebere Uzoukwa, the group insisted that having successfully entered into a bond with Nigerians including the youths through its campaign promises, President Buhari and his party owe Nigerians the obligation of fulfilling their promises including the immediate payment of the N5,000 monthly stipend to unemployed youths.

The statement read, “The South East Progressives Assembly(SEPA) wishes to convey its intention to challenge the non-payment of the monthly Five Thousand Naira(N5000) stipend promised to unemployed Nigerian youths by the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari during the campaigns.

“Our decision to explore legal option on this very particular issue is largely hinged on the overriding fact that APC’s manifesto which contains some of its campaign promises and that of President Buhari undoubtedly remains the real bond between Nigerians and the governmental the day.

“President Buhari presented himself to Nigerians as a man of great reputation, sincerity and truth. He promised Change as well as certain programmes and policies that shall drive the expected Change policy. This among others include the monthly payment of 5000 Naira stipend to unemployed Nigerian youths.”

SEPA lamented that rather than commencing the fulfillment of some of the campaign promises six months after the party’s victory, the group said it is shocked that President Buhari and APC resorted to exhibiting certain actions that smacks of deceit and incompetence in governance.

“The growing tradition of denying campaign promises, proclamation of Nigeria as a broke and most corrupt nation by Mr. President while in foreign countries, propounding excuses on alleged failures of the immediate past government, inability to define policies and direction, alleged refusal to continue some of the lofty programmes and projects inherited from the past administration, perceived selective fight against corruption, alleged political vendetta against perceived political opponents, exclusion of the south east and south south zones from the inner cabinet of the executive and perceived sectionalism judging by the actions and body language of Mr. President, have largely cast serious doubt on the sincerity, uprightness, truthfulness and overall reputation of President Buhari,” the group said.