...Every
discerning mind knows that this administration is not executing a credible
holistic war against corruption because it is a product of corruption,
surrounded by corrupt persons...
Press Statement
PDP Exposes
Corruption Under APC Government…Says President Must First Purge Party And
Government
The Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) says despite the “holier than thou” posture of the present APC
government, there is incontrovertible evidence that grave corrupt practices are
ongoing and allowed to fester by associates and cronies of government,
including former and present APC governors and
others who played major roles in financing his campaigns with stolen state
funds.
The party said this has created
a system that is neck deep in corruption, while the government hoodwinks
unsuspecting public with propaganda.
PDP National Publicity
Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Thursday, said while the party
is not averse to the fight against corruption, “the onus lies on the APC-led
Federal Government to wage a credible holistic anti-corruption war by first
purging itself of unclean association and coming out clear on sleazes already
going on in government quarters since it took office in May.”
“Whereas the PDP restates its
respect for the person and office of the President as well as our support for
the war against corruption, it is incumbent on us to alert Nigerians of the
prevailing circumstances around this government that are capable of
fundamentally undermining good governance if left unchecked.
“Charity, they say begins at
home. For the APC-led Government, it has now become a question of “physician,
heal thyself”. Every discerning mind knows that this administration is not
executing a credible holistic war against corruption because it is a product of
corruption, surrounded by corrupt persons; a factor apparently responsible for
its obvious blind eyes to huge sleazes now being perpetrated in government
agencies by persons claiming closeness to the President.
“It is indeed alarming that in
so short a time, an administration that rode to power on claims of
anti-corruption credentials, has broken the records in constitutional
violations and abuse of regulations, especially in its adamant stance to run a
government without the statutory components of a full cabinet, thereby creating
loopholes for APC interests to invade key government agencies for inflated
concessions, allocations, jobs and other financial sleazes.
*Olisa Metu
“How else can one explain the
deliberate constitutional violations in the appointment of heads of financial
handling federal agencies; such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
and the Asset Management Cooperation of Nigeria (AMCON), without due process of
ministerial consultations and legislative clearance, as the case may be?
Is this a scheme to open up these key finance institutions for malpractices and
turn them into cash cows for APC interests?
“This is in addition to ongoing
maneuverings in the oil sector, where clandestine moves are on to award oil
refining licenses to cronies without the due process of open bidding, as well
as statutory guidelines and checks by the Department of Petroleum Resources
(DPR).
“Similarly, we invite Nigerians
to note that the APC-led administration has not been forthcoming on how it has
been depleting the funds it inherited in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and
other government savings. Are they the source of the funds now being circulated
to pay back huge contributions for APC Presidential campaign expenses?
“Furthermore, we wish to draw
the attention of all Nigerians to the fact that this administration, for
obvious reasons, has deliberately turned a blind eye to the corrupt acts of
most APC leaders, who as governors, ministers and labour leaders have been the
worst corrupt set of people ever to bestride the political landscape of the
country.
Otherwise, how else can one
explain the deafening silence by the government to the public outrage over the
massive looting of public funds by some past APC governors?
“How can the Federal Government
explain its continued silence to the current indignation in one of the
prominent south west APC state over corruption issues, including but not
limited to alleged mismanagement of N32 billion SURE-P fund; N78 million state
money allegedly spent on the personal website of a former APC governor, who is
also accused of inflating a N2.1 billion contract for the construction of
pedestrian bridges, N25 billion for 1.36 kilometre link
bridge, US$200 million World Bank education fund while leaving behind N500
billion debt arising from alleged reckless spending?
“Why has the Federal Government
maintained a sealed lips on charges of looting, diversion of state funds as
well as the embarrassing accusations of stashing away of billion of naira state
funds in foreign banks by a former APC governor of a South South state?
“What about the reprehensible
pillaging of state treasury by the last APC administration in a prominent North West
“What is the Federal
Government’s stance on yet another prominent APC governor in the Northwest who,
as a former minister, was indicted by the Senate for corrupt practices and
embezzlement of over N32 billion proceed from the sale of government property,
for which he was disgracefully declared unfit to hold public office by the
highest law making body in the land?
Apart from financial
corruption, we draw the attention of Nigerians to the corrupting of security
and democratic institutions in Nigeria, including the facts of nepotism in the
appointment of an Acting Chairman of INEC, a position unknown to the
constitution, and a card-carrying member of the APC as the Director General of
the Directorate of State Services (DSS), all in the bid to compromise the
system to favour the Presidency and APC interests.
“We therefore challenge
the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration to show integrity and
commitment in the fight against corruption by first cleaning its house and
coming out clear on the numerous sleazes going on presently under its watch.
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
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