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CPC Always Puts People Above Everything Else

Published

5 years ago

July 3, 2020

John Okeke

At the critical moment when China aims to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and eliminate poverty, the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrated the 99th anniversary of its founding on July 1.

For a party that fights for the eternal wellbeing of the Chinese nation, the centenary only ushers in its prime of life.

With greater faith, conviction and confidence, all Party members are walking in a Long March of the new era, overcoming challenges with great courage and seizing every day to strive for great undertakings.

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 is a special witnessed to the remarkable performance of the CPC. Facing the epidemic, China has waged a resolute and all-out people’s war against the virus. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Chinese people have made major strategic achievements in their response to the virus through concerted efforts and tremendous sacrifice.

Such great practice spoke volumes for the marked political advantages of the CPC’s leadership and China’s socialist system, and the Party’s lofty philosophy of serving the people at all costs. It also showed the political character of the communists who stay true to the Party’s founding mission and have the courage to shoulder responsibilities. Besides, it demonstrated the monumental force unleashed when the Party and all Chinese people were united, and revealed that the CPC, a large party, has always been vital during its near century-long journey.

Facing the storms in the course of China’s revolution, construction and reform, the CPC remains unchanged in its original aspiration and mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.

Rather than seeking political interests of its own, the Party always gives top priority to the interests of the people. This is what distinguishes the CPC, a Marxist political party, from other political parties.

Since its founding, the CPC, relying closely on the Chinese people, has surmounted numerous obstacles and accomplished monumental achievements that have gone down in the history of the Chinese nation. It has helped China realize a tremendous transformation: the country has stood up, grown rich and is becoming stronger.

The CPC has braved thorny paths over the past 99 years and completed an extraordinary journey with unremitting endeavors. It is the people that have given life and prosperity to the Party, and the people are the Party’s foundation, lifeblood and strength, enabling it to move forward against all risks and challenges, from one victory to another.

“Only by remaining true to our original aspiration, keeping our mission firmly in mind, and keeping on striving, could the Party stay young and live,” said Xi, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Some moments are always vital for the development of history. For China, the year 2020 is characterized by standing at the conjunction point of the two centenary goals. Having withstood the test of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Chinese people are making the final push for attaining the first centenary goal – the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, an aspiration of the Chinese nation throughout centuries. This will be a milestone in the process of realizing national rejuvenation.

Based on this achievement, China will also embark on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious.

Both domestic and international development environments are facing more complicated and severe challenges, which calls on the world to foster new opportunities in crises and create new prospects amid changes.

Only by continuing to follow a philosophy of people-centered development, putting the people above everything else, relying closely on them, and delivering benefits to them can the Party surmount all the obstacles and usher in a bright future.

“To secure a better life for the people is what we aim to achieve in everything we do,” Xi said. Efforts must be made by the CPC to normalize epidemic prevention and control and ensure people’s health and safety, crack the “hardest nut” of extreme poverty to sustain high-quality poverty alleviation and promote economic and social development to meet the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life.

All Party members need to have a clear understanding of major policies and strategies of the country and the Party, and regard the benefit of the people as their greatest political achievement. They should firmly implement the tasks of keeping employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign and domestic investments, and expectations stable and ensuring security in job, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments and guarantee that the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and arrangements will be firmly put into practice.

Meanwhile, the Party members should keep in mind both the domestic and international situations, have a stronger sense of responsibility, respond to the people’s needs, worries and difficulties, always remain true to their aspiration, and work in concert with the people, so as to ensure that the 1.4 billion Chinese people can live a prosperous life.

Socialism and happiness are achieved through concrete action and hard work. The Party has led the people in accomplishing missions that seemed impossible and creating miracle upon miracle through painstaking efforts.

To achieve poverty elimination, build a well-off society and create a brighter future calls for the hard work of the people. Despite the difficulties and obstacles the CPC may face on the road ahead and in the process of development, it must remain committed to upholding the principal position of the people in the country and showing respect for the creativity of the people. Besides, the Party should unite and lead the people to work harder and forge ahead, and rely on them to create new and even greater miracles.

Halfway to achieving its two centenary goals, China must race against time and keep up with the time.

Rallying more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, the Party members need to enhance their consciousness of maintaining political integrity, thinking in big-picture terms, following the leadership core, and keeping in alignment with the central Party leadership, have confidence in the socialist path, theory, system and culture, and resolutely uphold Xi Jinping’s core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the whole Party and uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized and unified leadership.

Remaining committed to putting the people front and center, they should also seize the time, and strive to write a more brilliant chapter in the Long March of the new era and make outstanding achievements that can win the recognition of the people and stand up to the test of history.

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Presidency Refutes Afenifere’s Deceitful Statement on President Bola Tinubu’s Midterm:

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Chief Sunday Dare

The statement from a factional Afenifere group raises serious concerns about a penchant and deliberate attempt to find faults and trade in deceit instead of objectivity. The group has found it challenging to accept that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s comeback story is firmly underway.

The rebellious Afenifere claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s performance over the past two years has witnessed a regression in human development, economic mismanagement, and democratic backsliding.

This is a jaundiced view, echoing the view of opposition politicians, one of whom the group supported in the 2023 election.

A balanced assessment based on available data reveals a more objective and progressive picture, with significant achievements amid the challenges expected from a country like Nigeria with decades-old problems.

Beyond its confounding conclusions based on prejudice, the statement raises the following issues. With the ensuing point-by-point clarification, it will become clear that the group’s position is neither grounded in facts nor logic.

Economic Reforms and Their Impact

The factional Afenifere’s claim that Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, have led to “unmitigated sufferings” and “economic deforms” seeks to draw attention to some of the challenges but overlooks the macroeconomic gains. The removal of the fuel subsidy, announced on May 29, 2023, saved the government over $10 billion in 2023 alone, reducing fiscal strain and redirecting funds to other sectors. Unifying the foreign exchange market and the naira’s floatation aimed to address distortions in the currency market, boosted foreign reserves to $38.1 billion by 2024 and achieved a trade surplus of N18.86 trillion for the country.

Under the Tinubu administration, Nigeria’s annual inflation rate fell to 23.71% in April 2025 from 24.23% in the prior month. Food inflation, the most significant component of the inflation basket, remained elevated but moderated to 21.26% from 21.79%

While these figures indicate stabilisation, the immediate impact on ordinary Nigerians is not lost. The government’s cash transfer programme, which provides funds to the poorest households and benefits over 5.7 million households, is a credible outreach.

However, dismissing the twin policies as “unforced errors” ignores the unsustainable nature of the previous subsidy regime and multiple exchange rate systems, which were draining public finances. A more balanced critique would acknowledge the necessity of reform while emphasising the need for better-targeted social safety nets.

As of today, the Tinubu administration has recorded over 900,000 beneficiaries of the Presidential Loan and Grant Scheme, over 600,000 beneficiaries of the Students’ Loan Scheme, NELFUND, N70,000 minimum wage, NYSC monthly stipend increase from N33,000 to N77,000, Free CNG kits distributed to thousands of commercial drivers across Nigeria with CNG buses rolled out in partnership with state governments, leading to a significant drop in transport costs. The administration also recorded over $10 Billion FX debt cleared, Federal account allocation to states growing by 60%, enabling more local development projects, N50 billion released to end the perennial ASUU strikes, and over 1,000 PHCs revitalised nationwide with an additional 5,500 undergoing upgrades.

The administration also disbursed N75 Billion in palliative funds to states and LGs for food distribution and cash transfers, over 150,000 youths are being trained in software development, tech support and data analysis under the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) project, over 20,000 affordable housing units under construction under the renewed Hope cities program launched across Nigeria, N200 Billion in Loans to farmers and agro-processors. Other gains: over two million Nigerians are now connected to new digital infrastructure and community broadband hubs and public WiFi projects, 3.84% GDP growth in Q4 2024 (highest in 3 years), over $50 Billion in new FDI Commitments, Net Foreign Exchange Reserves up from $3.99 Billion (2023) to $23.11 Billion (2024), over $8 Billion in new oil and gas investments unlocked, and over $800 million realised in processing investments in solid minerals in 2024 and inflation as at April was down to 23.17%.

It is now pertinent to inquire from opposition leaders about alternative strategies they would propose in contrast to this administration’s extensive list of significant achievements currently benefiting Nigerians in real-time.

Cost of Governance and the Oronsaye Report

The assertion that the Tinubu administration has failed to implement the Oronsaye Report and instead increased governance costs is inaccurate. The Oronsaye Report, which recommends the merger or scrapping of government agencies to reduce expenditure, has not been fully implemented and has drawn criticisms; it must be noted, however, that the administration has made some efforts to improve fiscal discipline. The fiscal deficit was reduced from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, and the debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from nearly 100% in 2022 to under 40% by 2024. The government also recorded over N6 trillion in revenue in Q1 2025, partly due to removing Ways & Means financing and fuel subsidies. These steps demonstrate fiscal prudence and will eventually translate into immediate, tangible relief for citizens. The administration is working earnestly to address these optics and prioritise cost-cutting measures, including implementing the Oronsaye Report, to restore public trust.

Allegations of Prebendalism and Corruption

Afenifere’s claim that the administration favours “the privileged and connected” through corrupt palliative distribution and mega-project allocations is questionable. Reports of palliatives being mismanaged or distributed through unverified channels have no doubt surfaced, raising concerns about transparency.

The administration has taken steps against corruption, such as suspending Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu in January 2024 over alleged fund diversion, signalling some commitment to accountability. Critics may argue that more systemic action is needed, but dismissing all the efforts as propaganda overlooks these initial steps.

Without abusing Presidential powers, the administration is working on expediting action on all pending investigations and prosecution of corrupt practices. At the same time, critical agencies are collating credible evidence on ongoing corruption litigations. It must, however, be noted that in 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured a record-breaking 4,111 convictions, marking its most successful year since its inception. They recovered over N364 billion and significant amounts in foreign currencies, including $214.5 Million, $54,318.64, and 31,265 Euros.

The EFCC achieved its single most significant asset recovery in 2025, with the final forfeiture of an Abuja estate measuring 150,500 square meters and containing 725 units of duplexes and other apartments. The EFCC concluded the final forfeiture and handed the estate to the Ministry of Housing in May 2025.

Democratic Concerns and Centralisation

Afenifere’s accusation that the Tinubu administration is pursuing a “one-party state totalitarianism” and undermining democratic institutions is unsupported and lacks merit. The claim of neutralising the legislature and judiciary is also a false alarm.

The public should note that the Supreme Court has upheld opposition victories in states like Kano, Plateau, and Abia, suggesting judicial independence. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faced criticism for allegedly appointing individuals said to be ruling party affiliates, but no evidence confirms these appointees are card-carrying APC members.

The allegation that the Tinubu government cracks down on peaceful protesters is primarily unfounded. It is a regurgitated rhetoric deployed under previous administrations as a reflection of broader challenges in Nigeria’s democratic culture.

The issue of the State Police is more complex than the oversimplified approach of the factional Afenifere’s statement. Every administration policy is subject to security impact assessment before implementation, and there is a difference between the State Police being widely advocated and a Police State that critics may blame the Federal Government for if implemented without caution.

Security and Social Welfare

Contrary to the impression created, the administration’s security record is impressive. Over 13,500 terrorists, bandits, and insurgents have been neutralised and 7,000 arrested in the past year, though there is still some news of abductions and violent attacks. The administration’s proactive response to security-related matters has paved the way for more farmers to return to their farms, impacting food production and supply.

The administration also embarked on agricultural initiatives, including tractor procurement, fertiliser distribution, and increased mechanisation.

The government has also not relented on its Regional Development drive as the administration succeeded in establishing Development Commissions across 6 Geopolitical zones (South West, North West, North Central. North East, South East and the Niger Delta) to empower communities and accelerate developments.

Political Climate and 2027 Elections
The claims of government-sponsored conflicts within opposition parties lack concrete evidence and should be ignored.

Economic reforms are undoubtedly laying the foundation for long-term stability, with GDP growth at 4.6% in Q4 2024 and a Fitch B credit rating upgrade as evidence. Moody’s Investors Service’s latest upgrade of Nigeria’s rating from Caa1 to B3, with a Stable Outlook, indicates that the Tinubu administration is on the right path.

The government is not oblivious to some discontent and difficult times among Nigerians. There is an urgency to deliver more tangible results, which is guaranteed given the impressive performance of the administration in just two years.

Afenifere’s statement saw the cup as half empty. On the contrary, it’s half full. Under President Tinubu’s administration, some of Nigeria’s hydra-headed problems are being tackled headlong.

The administration has achieved fiscal improvements, such as reduced deficits and increased revenues, which will eventually translate into meaningful microeconomic relief for most Nigerians in the short term, even as the government moves to address these issues with greater empathy and transparency.

The administration’s demonstrable priorities are securing the nation, fixing the economy, and improving human capital development.

Responsible citizens and political leaders must work collaboratively with the administration to address the challenges and counter disinformation, as highlighted in the admonition against fake news and deceptive AI videos.

Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is turning the corner. From stabilising the naira and curbing inflation to reducing debt burdens and

expanding access to education and health, the administration delivers bold reforms with actual results. With improved security, regional inclusion, anti-corruption measures, and institutional rebuilding, Nigeria’s comeback story is not yet complete — but it is firmly underway.

– Sunday Dare is the Special Adviser to Mr. President on Media and Public Communications.

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