Press Statement
*Buhari
Buhari’s $300,000 Saga:
We Have Been Vindicated- PDP….Insists On Truth Commission
The Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) says the denial by President Muhammadu Buhari on the
alleged benefiting from funds relating to the arms deal scandal, and the
consequent controversy trailing it underscores the need for a more neutral and
transparent body like an
independent National Truth Commission to examine all issues relating to
handling of security votes and campaign funding without interferences from the
government.
The PDP in a
statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on Wednesday
said the leak that President Buhari benefited from the office of the former
National Security Adviser against the convention of dealing with the office of
the SGF also stresses the fact that the war against corruption should be
holistic, transparent and not politicized.
“We
challenge this administration to a no-holds-barred public inquisition on all
issues of security votes and campaign expenses. This is more so as we have
evidence that President Buhari and the APC budgeted and spent billons of naira
corruptly sourced for their Presidential campaign, in addition to on-going
sleazes in the system under the APC government.
“Furthermore,
this current orchestrated and selective war against corruption should not be an
excuse to justify the onslaught by the government against democratic
institutions, especially the judiciary, wherein judicial officers are now being
hounded and coerced in the desperation to take over key PDP states of
Akwa-Ibom, Taraba and Rivers.
“Today’s
Court of Appeal rulings against Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and our
federal legislators are clear fall-out of President Buhari-led government’s
muzzling of a session of the judiciary, a development that portends grave
danger to our democracy and the much desired peace and stability in the
volatile region of the Niger Delta, especially coming on the heels of APC
induced violence that led to the inconclusiveness of the Bayelsa state governorship
election.
“We are very
worried that our country, now under the command of President Buhari, is
gradually sliding into a police state with observed bloodthirsty tendencies by
obviously compromised security operatives for which the citizens now live in fear.
“For
instance, how can this government explain its indifference to the recent
senseless bloodletting in Zaria , Kaduna state where the military clashed with an Islamic
group resulting in loss of lives, as well as the mindless attack and killing of
some unarmed protesters in Onitsha ,
Anambra state by security agents?
“Also
embarrassing to democracy is the flouting of judicial pronouncements, the
growing erosion of personal freedom, violation of fundamental rights of
citizens and brutal manhandling of suspects facing various trials, as amply
evidenced by the case of the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, who, while
on bail was openly beaten by security operatives.
“We note that
these developments are in direct contrast to democratic environment created by
the PDP in the last 16 years where the rule of law and freedom of citizens were
allowed to reign.
“Of utmost
concern is the unprecedented and frightening polarization of the country coming
as direct consequence of the undemocratic tendencies of the Buhari
administration. In the last seven months of this dictatorial and divisive
regime, there has been an alarming escalation of inter-and intra religious and
ethnic hostilities that clearly threaten national cohesion and stability.
“We
therefore caution this government to come to terms with the fact that this
nation cannot afford to contain, at this time, undue and avoidable pressure
coming ceaselessly from its totalitarian tendencies and actions.
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity
Secretary
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