ACN supports insurgency, PDP alleges

[PeoplesDaily]

By Lawrence Olaoye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of trying to use the press as a subterfuge to hide its support for insurgents and to whittle the current efforts by the Federal Government to end acts of terrorism in the country.

The ruling party which threw its weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan said contrary to the claims by the ACN, no part of the Presidential Order proscribing terrorist groups, directly or indirectly violated any provision of the constitution or impinged on the freedom of the press in the country.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement made available to newsmen described the allegation by the ACN, that the Order was aimed at gagging the press, as despicable and a clear indication of how far the opposition party can go to distort facts to support violence and cause disaffection among Nigerians.

"Our attention has been drawn to a statement sponsored by opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in which, in its usual homage to falsehood, deceit and distortion of facts, tried to suggest that the recent Order by President Goodluck Jonathan proscribing groups engaged in acts of terrorism violates the constitution and (is) aimed at stifling the press.

"This deliberate distortion of facts clearly betrays ACN's support for such groups as well as the heinous attempt to whittle efforts by the Federal Government and well-meaning Nigerians to end insurgency in the country", the statement said.

"For the avoidance of doubt, no section of the Order stifled the press; violated or seeks to violate any provision of the constitution. Instead, the Order reinforced the provisions of the constitution guaranteeing the security and welfare of all Nigerians.

"Section 5 (1), of the Order which the ACN is kicking against prescribes a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years ''for any person who knowingly, in any manner, directly or indirectly, solicits or renders support for the commission of an act of terrorism or to a terrorist group.

"The ACN is feverish because the Order defined "support" to include ''incitement to commit a terrorist act through the

The post ACN supports insurgency, PDP alleges appeared first on Peoples Daily Newspaper, Nigeria.

Peoples Daily Newspaper

[Folami David]

Political parties in Nigeria are all having all sort of rifts right now and it does not make any sense to anyone. They need to sort things out.