The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that his administration has no moral rectitude to pontificate on corruption. “President Muhammadu Buhari has soiled his hands in corruption”, the said.
In a statement disclosed by the National Publicity Secretary and Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party accused Buhari of presiding over the most corrupt and incompetent administration in the history of Nigeria. PDP flays Buhari’s assault on Atiku’s campaign
The party equally accused Buhari of becoming a threat to the coming elections, noting that he is funding his campaign with looted funds. The statement reads: “The PDP, out of respect for the Office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, had severally refrained from calling out President Buhari on his various indictments for corruption even during his era as a military ruler.
“A clear reading of Mr. President’s statement today shows that he is not yet aware that Nigerians have decoded his mastery of concealments of corruption in his Presidency and are no longer interested in his failed self-acclaimed fight against corruption.
“President Buhari presides over the most corrupt and incompetent administration in the history of our nation, for which Nigerians are very eager to go to the polls on Saturday to vote him out of office. “If Mr. President were to be aware, he would have discovered that his entire surrounding reeks of moral, institutional and integrity corruption.
But since he has consistently claimed not to be aware of anything around him, it is imperative to let him know that the fish in his pond is rotten from the head. “Clinical examples can be drawn from his campaign council. Nigerians are aware that not a few members of this council have been indicted on malfeasance bordering on corruption
“Is it not strange therefore that President Buhari who wants Nigerians to perceive his administration as fighting corruption, will cast a net into the ocean and bring out only corrupt people to run his campaign? Youth network condemns suspension of CJN, vote buying
“The truth is that Nigerians have seen more than enough of the fake fight against corruption and have come to a conclusion that President Buhari is merely paying lip services to this fight. He has no intention to do it and even if he had the opportunity to govern perpetually, he will never fight corruption.
Meanwhile, the PDP in Kaduna State yesterday called for the “immediate release” of Mr. Ben Bako, the Director (Media), of its Campaign Council.
Bako, a former commissioner of information in the state, is currently under the custody of the Department of State Services, over alleged hate speech and public incitement.
The PDP demanded for Bako’s release at a press conference yesterday in Kaduna. The conference was addressed by the Deputy Director of the State Campaign Council, Mr Danjuma Bello-Sarki.
“We are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ben Bako, who has been harassed and illegally detained without trial for more than 24 hours,” he said.
According to him, the Director, Directorate of State Service in Kaduna State, Ahmadu Idris, invited Bako to his office in Kaduna on Saturday. The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in Kaduna State have protested against the recent arrest of its Campaign Director Media Committee of the Isa Ashiru Gubernatorial Campaign Team, Mr Ben Bako, by security operatives for undisclosed charges.
PDP members in the state have also disclosed plans to arrest the former State Governor and Party Chieftain, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and some other top chieftains of the party.
The Deputy Director of Ashiru’s Campaign Organisation, Danjuma Sarki, revealed that the State Director of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) Ahmadu Idris placed a curious invitation to Bako before he was arrested and whisked away to Abuja.
According to Sarki, “As a law abiding citizen with nothing to fear or hide, Bako dutifully honoured the invitation of the DSS after informing many members of the campaign team”.
“We are very much aware that, long before now, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, under the leadership of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has penciled down a long list of influential PDP members in the state for intimidation, arrest and detention over spurious charges few days to the general elections”, Sarki alleged.
Among those listed for arrest, he explained are “former Governor of Kaduna State and former National Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi”.
Also penned for arrest is former Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Kaduna State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Felix Hyat and former Kaduna State Chairman of the PDP, Yahaya Yaro Makama and Kaduna State Secretary of the PDP, Comrade Wusono”.
Sarki further disclosed that, “We are also aware that several youth leaders of the PDP in the state, women leaders and staunch supporters of the PDP, including some public commentators are also to be locked up shortly before the elections”.
“The plan is to lock away 150 leaders of the PDP at the State and Local Government Areas on trumped up charges of hate speech during campaign rallies”.
“The intention is to send fears and weaken the spirit of the campaign. Or to stir crisis in the state”, Sarki noted.
“But, unknown to Governor el-Rufai and the DSS, the more he arrests us, the stronger the PDP gets. It is too late to reverse the determination of the traumatised people of Kaduna state”.
“They have been fleeced by a narrow group of friends and family under a government of tyranny, propaganda, bigotry, disunity and backwardness”.
Condemning Governor El-Rufai on his recent threat to local and global peace, Sarki said; “If anyone deserves impeachment, arrest or arraignment for hate speech over the years, it has to be Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state”.
“The world today is still outraged by the murderous threat of Governor Nasir el-Rufai to International Election Observers, when he vowed that should any of them intervene contrary to the designs and expectation of the APC during and after elections, they would return home in body bags”.
“Curiously, the Presidency came out in full support of that crude, barbaric bravado which carries a costly diplomatic price, should any harm befall any International Election Observer in the course of their legitimate duty in Nigeria during the polls”.
“From his call for violent assault to the three Senators in Kaduna state; his denigrating reference to the Pope over his rejection by the electorates in Kaduna State and his latest threat, el-Rufai remains the greatest albatross to local and International peace in Nigeria today. Not Mr. Ben Bako of the PDP”, Danjuma stated.
“The PDP in Kaduna state will not be drawn into any violent conflict no matter the provocation. Let us reiterate for the records; The PDP in Kaduna state is determined and totally committed to a violent free polls. No member or supporter of the PDP must be involved in breaking the law. In the same manner, the PDP is solid serious about ensuring that every vote cast in the state, counts.”
“We are calling on our members and supporters to ensure that they come out in large numbers and vote. They must ensure that their votes are counted, recorded and securely moved to the next collation centre. On this, we are ready to use every legal means to protect our franchise”.
“No amount of intimidation, threat, blackmail and illegal use of state force will deter us from this aspect”, he stated.
The Deputy Director General demanded for the release of Bako from detection custody.
According to him, “The DSS has become compromised and partisan in Kaduna state and we say no to such development.
“We believe that Kaduna State Director of the DSS, Ahmadu Idris will not be neutral in the 2019 general elections and we call for his immediate redeployment”, Sarki stated.