The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of lying to Nigerians on financial contributions for the latter’s coming congress.
The opposition party in a statement yesterday accused the APC of diverting N6 billion meant for the development of states under its control to finance the ruling party’s forthcoming national convention.
It was reported how 24 APC governors were asked to contribute N6 billion at N250 million each towards the convention.
The APC, in a statement, however claimed in a statement that the governors were only asked to pay their dues which some of them had defaulted on.
According to the APC, the governors were requested to pay up, especially in view of upcoming party activities.
The PDP would, however, have none of that excuse.
“APC is corrupt. Our investigation reveals that many of the APC governors are being coerced under the orders of the presidency and the leadership of the party to move in huge sums of money in cash into the APC coffers, bulk of which have already been frittered away by corrupt leaders in the party and agents of the presidency,” the opposition party said.
“More saddening is that the money is being pulled from funds derived from federal bailouts and other monies budgeted for critical development projects in various communities, many of which have now been stalled, leaving the people deprived and impoverished.
“It is appalling that this is the same party and administration that have been accusing others of corruption and publishing fabricated ‘looters’ lists’ just to deceive Nigerians and divert public attention from their sleazes.”
“PDP therefore challenges the APC to publish the names of the governors, ministers and other APC political office holders, who it claims have already brought in money as well as inform the nation on why they are moving the money in cash contrary to financial regulations, if the source is not proceeds of corrupt activities.
“Up till now, the APC and President Buhari, even in their self-acclaimed transparency and integrity, have refused to open up on the source of funds for their very expensive 2015 presidential campaign, which have been revealed to have been stolen from states under their control. This time, they are again coercing governors to steal money meant for development and payment of salaries to finance their 2019 campaign.”
The party also alleged that the APC plans to take N14 billion from government coffers.
“What many Nigerians are yet to know is that the APC actually plans to rake in a total of N14 billion from government coffers, out of which it has already planned to procure expensive cars for their national officers as well as share to their leaders close to President Buhari.
“Our inquest shows that the N671 million recently reported to have been stolen from APC account by some national officers who allegedly moved the sum to their private accounts is linked to diverted public funds. There is documentary evidence and the APC has failed to offer explanations to Nigeria on that.
“The APC reeks and is completely guilty as it reasonably ought to have known that the funds it has been receiving form part of illegal activities of government officials who have been diverting funds from states and government agencies, particularly the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to fund the wasteful lifestyle of their party leaders and the 2019 re-election bid.”
Meanwhile, The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has left his country in a police state as he travels to the United States on image laundry.
Secondus, who decried the increasing intolerance and clampdown on those with opposing views from that of the President and the ruling party, warned that the situation was capable of truncating democracy.
Reviewing the activities in the nation’s polity lately as it pertains to the harassment of persons with dissenting voice on issues, Secondus said that the ruling government, aware of its underwhelming performance in governance and the accompanying consequences, has resorted to some anti-democratic antics.
In a statement signed by his media aide, ike Abonyi, Secondus said that it was now dangerous and risky to hold views that were at variance with those of the ruling establishment.
He said that the on-going clampdown on persons not in agreement with their views either in the opposition party or within the APC fold was a clear evidence of the desperation of the government to suppress free speech and association, which were indispensable requirements for democracy to flourish.
“Legislators are not safe, judges are living and working in fear, media are being harassed, security agencies have all become tools of oppression for government, and dictatorial signs are all over the place threatening our democracy.
“Their intention is clear, to intimidate and frighten people from saying the truth, but they will never succeed because the huge sacrifice made to bring this democracy to this level by Nigerians would not go in vain.
“If governance in a democracy is associated with delivery of dividends, and after three years, you have nothing to show, no amount of aggressive pressure and bullying will save such government in the hands of the voters.
“Democracy provides for a day of reckoning when we leaders must return to the people to renew our mandate, that hour has come, and only a government that has nothing to show can resort to intimidation and harassment of those telling them the truth,” Secondus stated.
The PDP national chairman, therefore, called on “the international community, particularly the United States and all agents of democracy, to note all the anti-democratic indices in Nigeria, and be on alert because the motive is clear: to truncate democracy, if the people reject them at the polls.