… Buhari-led APC government appears set to return Nigeria to dictatorship, says PDP
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were back in the trenches once again on Sunday.
While the APC described looting of the nation’s treasury under the PDP, from which it recently wrested power, as spine-chilling and mind-boggling, the latter expressed fears that the governing party is eroding the basic tenets of democracy.
A press statement by the APC was issued by its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while his counterpart in the PDP, Olisa Metuh, penned the opposition party’s position.
The APC accused the former ruling party of “massive looting”, adding that nothing but the total recovery of the funds would be acceptable to all patriotic citizens.
According to Mohammed, “anyone who attempts, either by deeds or words, to sabotage the recovery efforts is not a patriot and deserves nothing but public opprobrium.”
A National Peace Committee led by former military ruler, General Abdulsalami Abubakar has advised President Muhammadu Buhari against probes, urging the new government to concentrate on governance.
But the APC, which thanked Nigerians for their overwhelming support for the Buhari administration “in its tough but important task of tracing and recovering the loots,” pledged to ensure “that the looters face justice.”
Mohammed stated: ”It is absolutely gratifying that Nigerians are vehemently opposed to the few who would rather have the government of the day turn a blind eye to the looted funds and, in their words, carry on with the process of governance.”
He continued: ”Truly, what sort of governance can go on if the billions of Naira in a few hands are not recovered? In the first instance, the government needs every kobo of the funds it can muster to bring about the change it has promised Nigerians. Secondly, leaving such hair-raising funds in the hands of the few looters is dangerous, because they can use the funds to destabilize any government. In fact, no one will be surprised if the looters use their dirty funds to sponsor public demonstrations against the government’s determination to recover the funds.
”Thirdly, allowing those who privatized the commonwealth to get away is offering a thumbs-up for looting. No responsible government will do that.”
The party said that already, the looters have embarked on a relentless and an increasingly-bold campaign to discredit the government of the day and sabotage the funds’ recovery process, using newspaper columnists, ‘talking heads’ and otherwise respectable opinion leaders.
”They and their paid hirelings have tried to employ sophistry to muddle the waters, but Nigerians are much wiser, and will not succumb to the dirty antics of the looters’ megaphones,” it said.
APC said it is necessary to remind Nigerians of the kind of massive looting of the treasury that took place in the past few years, so they can better appreciate the seriousness of the issue at stake. It therefore listed some instances of the looting as follows:
– 3.8 trillion Naira out of the 8.1 trillion Naira earned from crude oil (2012-2015) withheld by NNPC
– 2.1 billion US dollars from Excess Crude Account unaccounted for
– Department of Petroleum Resources’ unremitted 109.7 billion Naira royalty from oil firms
– 6 billion US dollars allegedly looted by some Ministers of the last Administration
– 160 million barrels of crude worth 13.9 billion US dollars lost between 2009 and 2012
– 15 million US dollars from botched arms deal yet to be returned to Nigeria
- 13 billion US dollars in NLNG dividends mostly unaccounted for
- 30 billion Naira rice waiver
- 183 billion naira unaccounted for at the NDDC
The party said the listed ‘missing’ funds constituted just a tip of the iceberg since they are mostly from a few sectors of the economy, mostly the oil sector, and were discovered even before the forensic audit now being undertaken in some key areas.
”The level of looting that went on in other sectors is better imagined, hence the need for all Nigerians to rally around the Buhari Administration to recover the loots, bring the looters to justice and to put in place measures to prevent such looting in the future,” it said.
On its part, the PDP alerted Nigerians and the international community that all is not well with the nation’s democracy.
The PDP said that the Buhari-led APC government appears set to return Nigeria to dictatorship.
It called on well-meaning Nigerians who have found themselves in the APC, especially, those who at one time or the other, were pupils of the teachings and visions of the founding fathers of the PDP, to rise above the shallowness of their temporary enclave and join in this major defence of democratic ethos.
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The statement by Metuh reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after a thorough review of the political developments in the country since the All Progressives Congress (APC) took office at the center, alerts all Nigerians and the international community that all is not well with the nation’s democracy.
“This fear is derived from the facts of some conscious actions and inactions of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government that undermine critical institutions of democracy, emasculate the constitution and ostensibly set the stage for a return of dictatorial regime in Nigeria”.
Metuh stated that despite claims of being a converted democrat, President Buhari has allowed, under his watch, an incessant violation of sections of the nation’s constitution, a development that has become a huge threat to democracy and the stability of the nation.
It added, “For instance, how can this government explain the fact that a major institution of democracy like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been deliberately debilitated to the extent that it can no longer perform its statutory responsibility for lack of quorum?
“Nigerians are aware that before his tenure expired on June 30th, the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega wrote to President Buhari, intimating him of the fact that the tenure of majority of the national commissioners will expire before August, yet the President never acted, resulting in the present crisis in the commission, where more than 80% out of the statutory 13 members remain vacant, even as eleven states of the federation are also without Resident Electoral Commissioners.
“We note that this anomaly is in addition to the uncertainty surrounding the controversial appointment of an Acting Chairman of INEC in the person of a national commissioner whose tenure has since expired, not minding that there is no provision for an acting chairman of INEC in our constitution.
“This development has completely enervated the commission from carrying out its functions as stipulated in part 1 of 3rd schedule of the 1999 constitution as amended, thereby putting our electoral system under severe threat.
“We ask, if not for a possibility of an ulterior motive to inject a constitutional crisis and undermine the nation’s democracy, why should President Buhari wait to be urged before he upholds his responsibility of forwarding replacements to the Senate for confirmation so as to enable the commission effectively carry out its constitutional responsibilities to the nation?
“Could this be a ploy by the APC-led government to use a decapitated INEC to conduct the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa to pave way for their planned ‘capture’ of the two PDP states?
“Is the weakening of INEC not part of the plot to use the commission to put the PDP in precarious position in various electoral tribunals to the advantage of the APC?
“Furthermore, Nigerians are witness to the undue interferences of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the activities of election tribunals in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and other PDP states, where electoral officers are being harassed, intimidated and detained, ostensibly to influence judgments against the PDP.
“Akin to these are reported cases of abuse of security agencies by the APC-led government. Of particular note is the July reprehensible sealing of Rivers state local councils by the Police, who also barred members of caretaker committees, that were duly appointed by the state government to take charge of the councils following the pronouncement of the court.
“Also, of grave concern is the adamant stance of this administration in running a government without the statutory components of a full cabinet as prescribed by the constitution, even when the negative consequences of this strange and totalitarian tendency are taking serious toll on the economy and the polity in general.
“The intolerance of the APC and the glaring insensitivity of this government, in spite of the outcries of well-meaning Nigerians against their undemocratic leanings, raise fears about the future of our democracy and the general health of our dear nation.
“For example, how can we begin to explain the venom and disparagement with which the APC has been attacking our highly revered national leaders in the National Peace Committee, which has as members, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, respected clerics; Archbishop John Onaiyekan and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kuka, retired justices of superior records as well as others highly respected patriotic Nigerians, for daring to counsel Buhari’s government on some observed undemocratic tendencies and processes.
“The crass attacks are more astonishing, considering the much appreciated role these great Nigerians played in ensuring a peaceful and violence free 2015 general elections.
“This is especially as we have no reason to believe that such weighty attacks from the President’s party can come without his approval, more so as the APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who authored the statements was not part of the meeting between the President and the Peace Committee.
“The PDP and indeed all discerning Nigerians are therefore left with no other option than to conclude that there is a clear agenda to undermine critical institutions of democracy, intimidate Nigerians and pave way for dictatorship in the land.
“In view of the developments, the PDP, as a party that nurtured and sustained democracy in Nigeria for 16 years, beckons on all lovers of democracy within and outside the country, to rise up to the occasion and impress it on President Buhari and his APC to imbibe, in its totality, the tenets of democracy and the rule of law in the general interest our dear nation.
“In raising this alarm about disturbing national issues, we however wish to reiterate our earlier position that the PDP, as a responsible and patriotic political party, is not in any way averse to the fight against
corruption, as long as it is carried out within the ambits of the due process of the law.
“Our nation is a state built on the principles of freedom and social justice; the essentials of democracy, where ‘sovereignty belongs to the people, from whom government, through the constitution derives all its powers and authority’ for the good of all, irrespective of creed, class, political, ethnic or gender considerations; tenets that must be protected and upheld at all times.
“Finally, we call on some well-meaning Nigerians who have found themselves in the APC, especially, those who at one time or the other, were pupils of the teachings and visions of the founding fathers of the PDP, to rise above the shallowness of their temporary enclave and join in this major defence of democratic ethos”, it stated.
In another statement, the PDP accused the APC of bandying imaginary figures. Metuh described the APC’s statement as reckless, irresponsible and highly provocative.
He said that the APC’s allegations against the previous administration was to suit “a heinous purpose.”
Metuh said that the APC exhibited emptiness and disgusting desperation for public approval.
He added: “In trying to escalate their stock-in-trade of lies, wild allegations and falsehood, the APC failed to understand that their baseless fabrications are capable of throwing an unsuspecting nation into chaos.
According to the PDP, “the spate of fabrications by Lai Mohammed has become a sickening source of worry for well-meaning Nigerians including those in his party”. The opposition party called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC as a party, to call their spokesman to order before he plunges the country into crisis with wild and unsubstantiated claims.
The PDP said instead of engaging in unnecessary playing to the gallery, the APC-led government should get serious with the fight against corruption by investigating and prosecuting corrupt persons, while
moving on with the demands of governance, especially in fulfilling their numerous campaign promises for which they were voted into office at the centre.
