Vatsa dumps APC after 13 Years, accuses Niger government of poor governance, abandoned projects

Vatsa dumps APC after 13 Years, accuses Niger government of poor governance, abandoned projects

By Mohammed Baba Busu

Former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Niger, Hon. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, has announced his departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) after 13 years, accusing the party of betraying Nigerians’ trust and abandoning the principles upon which it was founded.

Vatsa, a founding member of the APC who joined from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc in 2014, announced his decision in a press briefing, citing concerns over governance, integrity, accountability and the state of democracy in the country.

He said his decision was difficult but necessary to protect his integrity, adding that the party had departed from the ideals and promises that inspired its formation.

“Even though the attitude of our political leaders at all levels in the country in recent times clearly shows that there is no morality in politics, some of us, however, still have moral and integrity to protect,” he said.

Vatsa alleged that the APC had failed to fulfil its promises to Nigerians, arguing that the party had become dominated by individuals whose conduct its founders had previously criticised.

According to him, only about 10 per cent of the party’s founding members are currently in government across the country.

He recalled the political struggle that led to the formation of the APC and the promises of a better Nigeria made to the electorate, expressing disappointment that thev party had allegedly departed from those commitments.

The former commissioner further accused the party of tolerating corruption, electoral malpractice and impunity, saying efforts by some of its members to draw attention to unfulfilled electoral promises through public statements had yielded no positive results.

Vatsa said he had consequently been labelled an opposition voice within the party.

Turning to Niger, Vatsa described the performance of the present APC-led administration as disappointing, alleging that it had failed to deliver meaningful development despite increased federal allocations and substantial borrowing.

He described the administration as the worst since the return of democratic governance in 1999, a claim he attributed to what he called poor project execution, abandoned infrastructure and the absence of tangible results from government spending.

The former commissioner alleged that several projects initiated or undertaken by the administration had remained incomplete across the state, despite increased revenue accruing from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

He also accused the government of failing to demonstrate sufficient progress in fulfilling its campaign promises, saying that attempts to raise concerns about governance had resulted in dissenting voices being treated as enemies.

Vatsa further alleged that the administration was seeking the support of political figures it had previously criticised in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

The former commissioner raised concerns over the state government’s borrowing, particularly an alleged N1.5 trillion loan, which he said the administration had acknowledged obtaining before reportedly expressing regret over the amount.

According to Vatsa, the governor had indicated that N500 billion would have been sufficient for the road projects under consideration.

He consequently questioned the whereabouts of the remaining N1 trillion, alleging that several road projects had nevertheless been abandoned.

Vatsa also expressed concern over the state’s debt obligations, warning that the loans could impose a significant financial burden on future administrations and generations.

He called attention to the remodelling of the IBB Specialist Hospital, alleging that the project, initially valued at N11.8 billion, had increased to N18.2 billion without completion.

The former commissioner described the project as one of the most questionable undertakings of the present administration and demanded accountability over the expenditure.

Vatsa also criticised the state government’s “New Niger” development agenda, describing the slogan as inconsistent with the realities confronting residents.

He equally faulted the government’s agricultural initiatives, particularly the Niger Food programme and the administration’s proclaimed agricultural revolution.

According to him, the programmes have failed to deliver the expected results in food production and security.

“The media propaganda called Agric Revolution on this administration is another broad day light fraud in the history of Niger State. Billions gone down the grain but no farm anywhere,” he alleged.

Vatsa further claimed that no grain had been harvested under the initiatives during the administration’s first three and a half years.

He maintained that the government needed to demonstrate tangible achievements in agriculture, infrastructure and other critical sectors rather than rely on publicity.

Vatsa said his decision to leave the APC was informed by his conviction that political leadership must be guided by integrity, accountability and respect for the electorate.

He stressed that the promises made to Nigerians during the party’s formation and its electoral campaigns should translate into measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.

The former commissioner urged greater scrutiny of public expenditure, particularly government borrowing, infrastructure projects and agricultural programmes, insisting that the people deserved explanations for projects that had remained incomplete.

He concluded that the state government’s “New Niger” slogan had failed to reflect the situation on the ground, reiterating his disappointment with the direction of governance in Niger.

It would be recalled that Vatsa served as Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Niger and was a prominent APC chieftain before announcing his decision to leave the party.